Hawks and Georgia’s Own Credit Union Team Up With ‘Vision To Learn’ To Provide Eye Exams and Distribute Eyeglasses to Nearly 60 Students at Dunbar Elementary School

Students in Southwest Atlanta Were Called To Stage In Graduation-Style Ceremony To Receive Prescription Eyeglasses

Recently, the Hawks and Georgia’s Own Credit Union joined together with Vision To Learn, a non-profit provider that grants free eye exams and glasses to students in metro Atlanta, to host a special Season of Giving celebration at Dunbar Elementary School. Nearly 60 students received new eyeglasses of their choice and vision screenings.

“We are thrilled to continue our efforts with Georgia’s Own Credit Union and Vision To Learn,” said Hawks’ Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility Andrea Carter. “By collaborating on this season-long effort, we are ensuring the next generation of Atlantans is empowered to see a successful future in school, sports and life.”

Each student was called to the stage area in a graduation-style ceremony and walked across the stage as they received their prescription eyeglasses. The event is part of a larger collaborative initiative between all organizations, in which 5,000 students across metro Atlanta will be provided eyeglasses during the Hawks 2022-23 regular season.

“As stated by George Washington Carver, ‘Where there is no vision, there is no hope.’ Dunbar Elementary is appreciative to the Atlanta Hawks, Georgia’s Own Credit Union and Vision To Learn for giving our students the gift of vision and the gift of access to endless possibilities for educational success,” said Principal of Dunbar Elementary School Ernest Sessoms.  

The event featured members of Hawks Entertainment including Harry the Hawk and the ATL Hawks Dancers as well as the team’s in-game host Shamea Morton, who is also a co-host of “The Big Tigger Morning Show” on Audacy’s V-103 The People’s Station. Joining them were volunteers from Vision To Learn and Georgia’s Own Credit Union who helped distribute eyeglasses to the students. After students received their eyeglasses on stage, they also received a book of their choice as an effort to encourage reading while wearing their new eyeglasses.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this important partnership,” said Georgia’s Own Credit Union President and CEO Dave Preter. “It truly is an invaluable service to these children, the impacts of which are immeasurable and lifelong – from building confidence in the classroom to engaging their love of reading and discovery. I can’t think of a better gift this holiday season.”

Last month, Vision To Learn was featured in the Sunday ‘New York Times’ as a winner of Nick Kristof’s Holiday Impact Prize for their community work.

“Vision To Learn provides kids with the glasses they need to succeed in school and in life,” said Ann Hollister, President of Vision To Learn. “We could not have provided over 100,000 vision screenings, 25,000 exams and glasses to over 21,000 students without our partnership with the Atlanta Hawks.”

Children in metro Atlanta go to school every day without the glasses they need to see the board, read a book or participate in the classroom. The primary barrier is a lack of access to vision services for students in low-income communities. To solve this problem, Vision To Learn brings vision services to students at school using mobile clinic vans. The organization coordinates with school site staff and district administrative staff to schedule visits. Students are prescribed glasses and can choose their frames with the guidance of a Vison To Learn optician. All students have a wide selection of fashionable styles and colors to choose from in their size.

Since 2017, the Atlanta Hawks Foundation has partnered with Vision To Learn to service schools in metro Atlanta by providing them with more than 7,800 eyeglasses and access to free eye exams. In 2018, the Hawks and Vision To Learn visited Toney Elementary School, where more than 60 students tried on new glasses and participated in a surprise basketball clinic. In 2021, with the help of Hawks star John Collins, Vision To Learn provided eye exams and distributed eyeglasses to more than 150 Fulton County students at Camp Creek Middle School.

For more information about the Hawks efforts in the community, visit Hawks.com/community.