Vision To Learn
Nonprofit operating mobile vision clinics that give students in low-income communities free screenings, eye exams and prescription glasses across 16 states.
Vision To Learn is a nonprofit that runs mobile vision clinics delivering free vision screenings, eye exams and prescription glasses to students in low-income communities. Founded in 2012 by philanthropist and former investment banker Austin Beutner, the organisation began with five children at Napa Elementary School and has since grown from a single van in Los Angeles to a nationwide operation. It describes itself as the nation's largest school-based vision care nonprofit, working on the premise that "if you can't see, you can't learn".
The clinics travel directly to schools, removing the cost and logistics that typically stand between children and eye care; all services are provided free of charge to children and their families. Since its founding, Vision To Learn has provided more than 3.8 million vision screenings, 765,000 eye exams and 638,000 pairs of prescription glasses. It now serves students in more than 860 cities across 16 states, including Los Angeles, California, Northridge, California, Hawaii and Washington, D.C.
The work spans mobile health clinics, vision screening, optometry and pediatric eye care, sitting at the intersection of healthcare, education and pediatric care. Delivery depends on partnerships with school districts, public health departments and healthcare providers. Staff and volunteers operate in a mission-driven setting focused on healthcare access for children in underserved communities.