Sacramento CA, July 24, 2007 – VSP Vision Care announces the 10 year anniversary of its Sight for Students™ program, which provides free comprehensive eye exams and prescription eyeglasses to low-income, uninsured children. Since the program’s inception in 1997, VSP’s funding of 79 million dollars has delivered free eyecare to 410,000 children nationwide.

VSP President and CEO Rob Lynch states, “Investing in the community is at the heart of VSP’s mission as a company. Sight for Students™ doesn’t just give children glasses, it provides them with academic opportunity.”

Sight for Students™ grew out of VSP’s commitment to the America’s Promise Alliance, a non-profit program founded in 1997 by General Colin Powell, USA (Ret) and dedicated to making children a national priority.

VSP works with non-profit community organizations to deliver Sight for Students™ eyecare, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Communities in Schools, Head Start, National Association of School Nurses, Prevent Blindness America, and YMCA of the USA. These organizations distribute VSP vouchers for free eyecare to children in need, who then visit VSP eye doctors for comprehensive eye exams. More than 94 percent of children who have these exams also need and receive free prescription glasses. This underscores the important role that Sight for Students™ serves for children who lack access to eyecare.

VSP CFO and Sight for Students™ co-founder Patricia Cochran reflects on how the program helps thousands of children see clearly, “This is one of the most satisfying aspects of my job. I recently read a thank you note from little boy in Chicago describing the difference that his glasses made in his life, ‘My teacher noticed that I started to smile a lot more. I can see so much better!’ These stories inspire us and VSP looks forward to continuing the program for years to come.” 

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) recently presented their corporate service award to VSP for its commitment to helping children through Sight for Students™. Working together, VSP and its network eye doctors have provided free eyecare to 155,000 children who NASN identified as needing access to care. NASN President Donna Mazyck states, “Good vision is essential for a child to achieve academically and we are pleased to be able to partner with VSP.” 

For more information about Sight for Students™ please visit www.sightforstudents.org.

###

VSP Vision Care provides comprehensive eyecare benefit plans to 51 million members nationwide. VSP's Sight for Students^SM program has helped more than 400,000 low-income/uninsured children receive free eyecare services since its inception in 1997. Recognized by FORTUNE magazine for eight consecutive years as one of best places to work in America, VSP ranks “Highest in Member Satisfaction Among National Vision Plans, Three Years in a Row” by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit us online at vsp.com.