ALISO VIEJO, Calif.—After two years of planning and fundraising, ECN Purpose recently held its inaugural event for its Mobile Eye Health Program. ECN Purpose partnered with the local non-profit, Operation Be Kind, for their “Back-to-School” event helping Title I schools in Orange County, Calif. “Sight impacts everything, every day, everywhere,” said Aspasia Shappet, president and CEO of ECN Purpose, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The mission of ECN Purpose is to make access to vision care possible for the underserved population in the U.S. through advocacy, education, outreach, and connection.

“Seeing our Mobile Eye Health Program come to fruition and witnessing our van in action—screening 58 students in the community—was truly a dream come true,” Shappet said.

With its Mobile Eye Health Unit, ECN Purpose was on site providing vision screenings by Edward Tran, OD, and John Monteleone, OD, and distributed educational material regarding how vision can affect learning. Operation Be Kind of Orange County organized the event that took place at Motion Fitness in Irvine who provided the event space. Invited students were given the opportunity to select backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, clothes and school supplies in preparation for the upcoming school year.

 
 Standing next to the ECN Mobile Eye Health Unit are front row (l to r) Jeanine Rountree, Carolyn Khuu, Ranae Benoit, Dr. Edward Tran, Aspasia Shappet, Michelle Duong, Thomas Chen, ECN Purpose. Back row (l to r): Dr. John Monteleone, Cassandra Hume, Elizabeth Tran, Operation Be Kind.
  
“As a prior Title I elementary school teacher, it is rewarding to again be providing services to students enrolled in Title I schools. Vision is an important component to set up kids for success in their education,” stated Cassandra Hume, executive director of ECN Purpose.

It was Dr. Tran’s first volunteer experience with ECN Purpose. “He was amazing to observe with the kids, so kind and gentle in his tone and manner, and the kids appeared to feel safe and well cared for during his service,” added Shappet. Dr. Tran, a Summa Cum Laude graduate of UC Irvine and Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO), opened Hello Optometry in Orange in April of 2021.

Optometric assistant Elizabeth Tran also volunteered her time at the event. She is currently studying to become an optometrist.

Dr. Monteleone has been instrumental in developing the ECN Purpose Mobile Eye Health Program guidelines and is serving on the company’s board of directors. He has provided family-centric care to Orange County patients for over 40 years, currently practicing at Centerpointe Optometry in La Palma, Calif.

To donate to ECN Purpose, visit the website here.