Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington
Glasses4Scholars Grant Proposal
Mission and History
Founded in 1936, the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington (POB) is dedicated to the improvement and preservation of sight and quality of life by providing services and education, and by championing healthy vision and innovation to everyone in our area. POB’s history begins with the story of May (Collins) Vories, a New Orleans native and committed advocate for the visually impaired. May sought to bring evidence-based blindness prevention and eye health information to our community. She was instrumental in establishing the D.C. Society for the Prevention of Blindness in collaboration with Dr. William H. Wilmer, the founding director of the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine the nation’s first university eye clinic
More than eight decades later, POB remains committed to creating, expanding, and adapting our vital services based on the community’s needs. We serve as Greater Washington's vision health leader and educator, dedicated not only to blindness prevention but to improving and preserving sight and quality of life for all community members. Our goal is to reduce the economic, social, and emotional impacts of vision loss among children and adults in our community To advance this goal, we deliver the following programs:
1. Glasses4Scholars offers free screening, eye exams, and eyeglasses to K-12 students in underserved communities.
2. Affordable Adult Eyeglasses offers prescription eyeglasses, including frames, to disadvantaged adults at reduced costs or free.
3. See For Yourself Glaucoma Screening and Education Pilot Program offers free screening and linkages to treatment for people who risk developing the irreversibly blinding condition.
4. Low Vision Support Program provides wrap-around services, including free resource navigation, assistive devices, and technology training for people with chronic vision loss.
Board of Trustees, Staff, and Volunteers
POB is headed by a 26-member Board of Trustees composed of local professionals in ophthalmology, medicine, community development, law, finance, and nonprofit management. Our Board President, Jennifer Valentine, is the Chief Financial Officer for Kaiser Permanente. She has 18+ years of experience in business planning and financial modeling in the healthcare industry.
POB maintains a sensible and sustainable system of governance. Local professionals in ophthalmology, medicine, community development, law, finance, nonprofit management, and other disciplines compose our 26-member volunteer Board of Trustees. Members may participate in up to three committees, organized around specific organizational needs and tasks. Our committees include finance, fundraising, human resources, medical advisory, special events, nomination, property, communications, retail shops, strategic planning, and eyeglasses.
The Board meets five times yearly to review program data and map long-term strategies. Some committees, such as Resale Shops and Finance, meet more frequently. A committee nominates board members and officers and presents the list of nominees before the May board meeting. New members can also be added on a rolling basis, as identified. POB has 16 full-time paid staff and 17 part-time paid staff Volunteering with POB is another direct pathway to Board
Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington Glasses4Scholars Grant Proposal
service POB utilizes more than 150 medical (such as eye doctors and medical residents) and non-medical volunteers for immediate assistance and administrative duties
Volunteers play a crucial role in extending POB's capacity to deliver care. Volunteer roles range from professional medical positions – such as eye doctors, to community groups who collect eyeglasses recycled eyeglasses on our behalf, to staff at our revenue-generating thrift shops to support our work In the past year, 250 community members generously volunteered their time to support POB
Population Served & Geographic Scope
Funding from the (name) Foundation will support POB’s Glasses4Scholars program, which brings critical eye health services to thousands of children in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland’s Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Our work to improve the quality of vision for children lacking the resources for proper eye health dates back to POB’s origins in 1936. For more than 87 years, POB has furthered that tradition by empowering thousands of vulnerable children to dream bigger and see a bright future - all at no cost to families A child’s good vision should not depend on their family’s ability to pay POB’s evidence-based programs help position children for a lifetime of success - academically, socially, and professionally
The American Academy of Optometry finds that one in five preschoolers has a vision problem, and by the time they enter school, one in four kids will need corrective lenses Across D C , Maryland and Northern Virginia, we estimate that more than 100,000 students need glasses to see the board, read books, and do their homework
Poverty remains a significant barrier to detecting and treating vision health issues Because economically disadvantaged students are up to three times more likely to have undetected or untreated vision problems, vulnerable children in under-resourced homes face an increased risk of vision loss due to untreated vision impairments
Students need clear vision to succeed in and out of the classroom While local schools have made laudable efforts to screen kids, a report by the American Academy of Optometry National Health Interview survey found that 61% of children do not follow up with an eye doctor after receiving abnormal screening results Proper vision is closely linked to academic and career success
Researchers estimate that 80% of what a child learns is through their eyes Because education is such a crucial avenue to economic and social mobility, untreated vision challenges place children at a significant disadvantage due to factors beyond their control
Our average Glasses4Scholars participant is a young girl in grades K-3 who speaks another language besides English at home Her parents/caregivers juggle multiple jobs to secure basic necessities like food and shelter The family grapples with severe resource constraints, and they lack adequate insurance coverage, making eye health services She attends a Title I school where she is among the 40% or more of enrolled students eligible for subsidized meals Her parents/caregivers know that she needs eyeglasses, but they must choose between taking her to the eye doctor and working to put food on the table Other barriers to receiving care include transportation costs, language constraints, and the lack of eye doctors in her neighborhood Her story mirrors that of her peers currently encountering identical societal hardships limiting their potential to become tomorrow’s leaders
Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington
Glasses4Scholars Grant Proposal
Program Overview & Goals
Glasses4Scholars is our oldest and largest program. Traditionally, we reach 7,000 students a year. Following a partnership with the Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust and the US Department of Education, we are poised to serve close to 20,000 students in the upcoming school year Our signature program offers free screening services, treatment as appropriate, and referral services for kids with complex vision care needs This program reduces the economic impact of seeking care among families by providing POB hosts events at central locations where children traditionally gather, including schools, daycare facilities, and places of worship
One in four children needs glasses to see the board, read a book, or participate in class Poverty obstructs the advancement of most of the children we serve across the region According to the National Center for Children and Families, an alarming 42% of students in the D C Metropolitan area experience poverty Additionally, while underprivileged children are 33% less likely to see an eye doctor, they are more likely to have vision problems Unfortunately, eye health is often considered a tertiary need in most communities where the immediate necessities of shelter, clothing, and food take urgent precedence As a result, kids in need are up to three times more likely to have undetected or untreated vision problems, leading to almost double the risk of severe vision impairment (Davenport, 2018) Poverty is a significant obstacle impeding a student’s access to essential eye care
Poor vision hinders a child’s ability to see clearly, hampering their learning and diminishing self-esteem – starting a domino effect from the classroom into their everyday lives Students may become disconnected, leading to lower grades, behavioral issues, and interactions with the justice system Addressing common pediatric eye problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), amblyopia (lazy eye), and strabismus (turned eye or crossed eyes) ensures that students can better focus on their classwork Furthermore, a pair of eyeglasses could dramatically improve educational and professional opportunities later in life There is an increased risk of eye disease and vision impairment among Americans of all ages who are poor, unemployed, or have less education Early vision health intervention is vital for a child’s overall development
POB’s Glasses4Scholars is an "eye doctor's office on wheels" that provides essential eye health services for disadvantaged K-12 students at Title I schools where at least 40% of all enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price meals During a clinic visit, kids receive screening and, as needed, eye exams and eyeglasses Providing school-based care knocks down barriers, including caregivers' time away from work, transportation costs, and treatment fees This bold, innovative plan ensures kids have the tools to succeed, regardless of their economic background Our program begins with the simple premise that if children cannot see well enough to read their books, participate in class, or do their homework, they will fall behind due to factors beyond their control
POB has several goals, including:
a) Expanding access to safety-net eye health services for families with nowhere else to turn for critical care We will collaborate with community hubs, including schools, libraries, places of worship, and daycare facilities, to ensure that kids have multiple avenues to access timely and affordable care in their neighborhoods
b) Raising awareness of the significance of proper vision POB periodically hosts training sessions to educate the community
Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington Glasses4Scholars Grant Proposal
c) Sustaining data-driven decisions We are reimagining data practices across all programs with support from The World Bank Group and the Urban Institute to ensure we deliver effective and equitable care throughout the District
Expanding access to safety-net eye health services for families with nowhere else to turn for critical care We will collaborate with community hubs, including schools, libraries, places of worship, and daycare facilities, to ensure that kids have multiple avenues to access timely and affordable care in their neighborhoods
Raising awareness of the significance of proper vision. POB periodically hosts training sessions to educate the community.
Sustaining data-driven decisions. We are reimagining data practices across all programs with support from The World Bank Group and the Urban Institute to ensure we deliver effective and equitable care throughout the District.
Expanding access to care, collaborating with local institutions, and evaluating program efficacy are closely tied to our organizational goal to create, develop, and adapt our vital eye health services based on the needs of our community.
An award from the (Name) Foundation will bolster our capacity to meet the increasing need for affordable vision health services, especially among underserved kids. Together, we can help unveil a world of boundless possibilities, one clear-eyed student at a time.
Students can expect the following services at a Glasses4Scholars event:
1 Screening from a trained POB staff member or a nurse at their school;
2 An eye exam by a volunteer licensed eye doctor at the location;
3. If recommended by the eye doctor, students handpick two pairs of frames from our extensive collection;
4. An optician fits and measures students to ensure a proper fit; and
5. POB delivers eyeglasses to the host location approximately three weeks later.
Bringing essential eye health services to neighborhood schools knocks down common barriers for families, including time, transportation, and cost. Traditionally, the path from vision screening to getting one pair of eyeglasses requires scheduling three separate appointments - one with an eye doctor, a second with an optician, and a third to pick up eyeglasses. In addition to transportation costs, multiple trips may require the caregiver to take time off work and pay for the care of other siblings, further eroding finances. By providing full-cycle services from screening to eyeglasses acquisition, Glasses4Scholars saves scarce family resources.
We aim to ensure that underserved K-12 learners – with nowhere else to go – have the eyeglasses they need to succeed in school. To achieve this goal, we will:
1 Provide school-based vision health services to 2,000 local students;
2. Provide eye exams to children identified as needing further medical care;
3. Provide two pairs of prescription eyeglasses to kids in need of corrective lenses; and
4. Connect children with complex needs beyond the reach of our mobile clinic to accessible, affordable vision health services.
Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington
Glasses4Scholars Grant Proposal
Program Evaluation and Impact of Glasses4Scholars
We value program evaluation and see it as an essential avenue to identify areas of improvement in serving our community. POB’s Measurement & Evaluation (M&E) team tracks progress toward our stated goals, analyzes data, and provides insights to staff and organizational leaders Our M&E team operationalizes program data to help staff, the Board, donors, and other program partners understand our impact, map emerging trends, and ensure we provide care responsive to local needs
High-quality eye care creates an immediate and lasting impact. Where many just see a pair of eyeglasses, Glasses4Scholars ensures that students experience the world in a new light.
Through eye health education, detection, and treatment of common vision challenges, POB expects several outcomes. Glasses4Scholars will increase the number of children with best-corrected vision, raise awareness of children's vision issues, and decrease preventable vision loss among children. Additionally, for the children who participate in the program, corrected vision eliminates needless suffering and boosts self-confidence, allowing kids to fulfill their potential
Other positive outcomes include:
1. Students are better positioned to succeed in school. A 2016 Johns Hopkins Center for Research and Reform in Education study found that students who received eyeglasses showed gains similar to two to four months of additional education compared to students without glasses. For students on the lower end of academic achievement, especially girls, receiving glasses equated to four to six months of additional learning.
2 Children from a traditionally underserved demographic gain a gateway to medical care –Recognizing that families may be under-or uninsured, the program provides medical referrals to children Children may receive a referral to the Children's National Hospital, a program partner providing charity care options, and a list of local doctors accepting Medicaid, sorted by ZIP Code
3 Families in need save scarce resources – The economic costs of children’s vision disorders amount to $10 billion annually, with families shouldering 45% of costs Providing accessible vision care ensures underserved families can dedicate scarce resources to essential needs, including food and shelter
4 Stopping disease progression before severe and permanent damage occurs – Untreated vision challenges may worsen and become more difficult to treat, placing heavier burdens on kids and their families Treating kids early reduces the chances of permanent vision loss
5 Fostering academic excellence - Untreated visual impairments may lead children to disengage from their education and leave school early By providing free vision health services, our program helps keep kids in school and on the path to fulfilling their potential
Community Partners
Several partners play a significant role in program implementation We have partnered with more than 200 local Title I schools to provide services throughout D C , Northern Virginia, and Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties of Maryland While several local schools have been enthusiastic about the Glasses4Scholars, we prioritize Title I schools - academic institutions in high-needs communities Schools are organic program partners because they have consistent access to many students with nowhere else to turn for affordable and accessible vision care
Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington Glasses4Scholars Grant Proposal
Community hubs, nonprofits, and places of worship hosting vision health events include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, Educare Washington, Latin American Youth Center, Martha’s Table, Trinity Presbyterian Church, and Washington Tennis & Education Foundation, among others Host partners organize clinic dates, coordinate care, and serve as a distribution point for eyeglasses POB continues to explore formal agreements with local school districts We also had the pleasure of conducting a vision screening for local youth at Martha’s Table here in Washington D C to further our method of providing those in need with eye health care during the previous fiscal year Along with these and other thriving partnerships, POB continues to explore formal agreements with local school districts and other community organizations across the Greater D C area
Local medical institutions and university hospitals remain an essential group of program partners through oversight and volunteerism Leaders from renowned medical institutions, including MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Howard University Hospital, Children's National Hospital, and the National Institutes of Health - National Eye Institute, provide program oversight In addition to ensuring all POB programs provide medically-backed interventions and solutions, their residency programs also support Glasses4Scholars by providing licensed eye doctors for our clinics
This program remains a vital asset for students in the area who are struggling due to limited access to eyeglasses Teachers report back immediate positive changes among students receiving eyeglasses - students who once sat quiet and frustrated during class now eagerly raise their hands A student’s improvement is made clearly apparent to the teachers who notice the student who once sat quiet and frustrated during lessons is now eagerly raising their hand and elevating the personal investment each has in their educational career
Highlighting (Foundation Name)’s Philanthropic Support
Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington appreciates all donors who invest in our mission The (Name) Foundation will benefit from our plan to promote your impact via our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and through our newsletter that reaches members within our community and beyond POB looks forward to sharing with our growing network how your foundation’s donation helped to broaden the outreach of Glasses4Scholars to offer vision health care to deserving students in need across the Greater Washington area
(Foundation Name)’s Award
An award of $5,000 for Glasses4Scholars from the (Name) Foundation would make a substantial impact on POB’s effort to reach more students in need of better eye health POB thanks the (Name) Foundation for the opportunity to apply for this grant Together, we will help transform the lives of the region’s vulnerable students through POB’s Glasses4Scholars