Atlanta, GA– (May 23, 2024) – Prevent Blindness Georgia is honored to announce that it has received a generous grant of $10,000 from The Sandy Springs Society. This funding will allow PBGA to certify vision screen 1,000 preschoolers and elementary students in first, third, and fifth grades throughout the Sandy Springs Community during the 2024 – 2025 academic year.
“We are deeply grateful to The Sandy Spring Society for their belief in our mission of preserving sight and their investment in our certified vision screening efforts,” said Jill Thornton, CEO & President. “This grant will enable us to reach more young children who are unaware they are living with eye conditions and diseases or that they need prescription eyeglasses. Together, we can ensure all children in the Sandy Springs Community are “Vision Ready to Learn”.”
The grant will be used to provide certified vision screening for 1,000 preschoolers and elementary students in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades. This effort aligns with PBGA’s mission to preserve sight and prevent blindness. This is a critical step to addressing Atlanta’s literacy crisis that is compounded by unaddressed vision issues. Studies show that more than 50% of Atlanta students are not reading proficiently by the third grade—a pivotal milestone for future academic success and lifelong opportunities. For many children, this challenge is exacerbated by undiagnosed or untreated vision problems, which directly hinder their ability to read, learn, and thrive.
Eighty percent (80%) of learning happens visually, yet too many children in Atlanta’s underserved communities lack access to basic eye exams and corrective eyewear. Currently, there are approximately 138,000 elementary students in underserved communities across Metro Atlanta, and of those, it is estimated that more than 40,000 require prescription eyeglasses but lack access to eyecare.
Without clear vision, students struggle to keep up in the classroom, and their literacy skills—and confidence—suffer as a result. The consequences are profound: poor literacy and vision are linked to higher dropout rates, limited career opportunities, and cycles of poverty that are difficult to break.
Vision and literacy are the building blocks of opportunity. Together, we can help Atlanta’s children see a brighter future—both literally and figuratively.
About Prevent Blindness Georgia
Founded in 1965, Prevent Blindness Georgia (PBGA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve sight and prevent blindness for all Georgians. Our goal is to have no Georgians needlessly lose their eyesight from preventable vision loss. We offer an array of services designed to provide a continuum of care at the local level throughout the state for children and economically disadvantaged adults. The organization works to educate and advocate for better eye health and safety and to train others about best practices in vision screening. Through the support of generous donors, Prevent Blindness Georgia offers its services free of charge to those it serves. To learn more, visit: www.georgia.preventblindness.org.
