Help Us Bring Clear Vision to 3,000 Yakima Valley Students

Why Vision Matters for Learning

Did you know that 25% of Washington State students have vision issues that affect their ability to learn? Without proper vision correction, these children face serious educational challenges.

A landmark 2024 study revealed startling facts: [Access Study]

Schoolchildren with poor vision learn approximately half as much as those with good or corrected vision
Globally, vision problems result in the equivalent loss of 6.3 million years of schooling every year
A child who receives glasses in primary school and wears them until age 18 will earn 78% more over their lifetime
School vision programs can yield returns as high as $65 for every $1 invested

The Problem in Our Community

The Yakima Valley (Educational Service District 105) has more than 66,000 students. That means approximately 16,500 children have vision issues impacting their learning. Many of these students cannot access eye care or glasses in their community due to financial barriers, transportation challenges, or lack of local resources.

Our Solution: School Optometry

Near Vision Institute is pioneering a new model of care—School Optometry—that brings comprehensive vision services directly to students in their schools.

Schools have nurses, counselors, psychologists, and therapists. Why not optometrists? We're changing that.

What We Do

Through our EYE See Clinic mobile unit, we provide:

Complete eye exams right at school
On-site eyeglasses dispensing
Vision screenings and triage
Functional vision evaluations for IEPs
Referrals for serious eye health concerns
Connection to local resources for families

We currently serve 10 of the 24 school districts in the area, including Highland, Yakima, Wapato, Mt. Adams, Toppenish, Granger, Mabton, Sunnyside, and Wahluke.

Our Goal: $100,000

With your help, we will:

✓ Purchase equipment for expanded mobile clinic services ✓ Hire a full-time optometrist based in the Yakima area ✓ Serve 3,000 students annually with eye exams and glasses ✓ Create a sustainable program that continues serving children for years to come

What This Means

A full-time school optometrist will provide:

100 mobile event days serving all 24 school districts (averaging 10 visits per month over 10 school months)
2,000+ students receiving eye exams and follow-ups through mobile clinics
80 local base event days serving another 1,000+ students
Sustainable funding through 80-90% Medicaid reimbursement, with grants and donations serving uninsured students

The Impact of Your Gift

Every donation helps us reach more children who desperately need vision correction to succeed in school. We're not just providing glasses—we're opening doors to education, opportunity, and a brighter future.

Your support will directly benefit children in the Yakima Valley, establishing a sustainable system of school optometry that will serve the community for many years to come.

Join Our Vision

We're asking for two things:

Make a contribution of any amount to help Yakima area school children see clearly and learn successfully
Share this campaign with your friends, family, and community contacts

Together, we can ensure that every child has the vision they need to reach their full potential.

Near Vision Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization pioneering school optometry across Washington State.

For more information, contact: pearson@nviglobal.org

Learn more at: www.EYESeeClinic.org

School Optometrist for Yakima Valley

Help us recruit, equip, and train an eye doctor to serve student vision needs

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