Paramount partners with non-profit to provide free eyeglasses to students

Paramount Superintendent Ruth Pérez stands with a student receiving a new pair of eyeglasses. Nearly 100 Los Cerritos School students were provided new eyeglasses through a partnership with nonprofit Vision To Learn.

PARAMOUNT – Smiling widely and testing out their new eyewear, nearly 100 Los Cerritos School students were provided new eyeglasses by the nonprofit Vision To Learn on Dec. 6 as Paramount Unified teamed with Vision To Learn to address visual challenges throughout the district. 

Through an expansive project organized by the Paramount Rotary Club, about 600 Los Cerritos School students were offered screenings in October and eye exams in November.

The kids found to be in need of prescription glasses were allowed to pick out their own frames before receiving the new glasses this month.
 
“Watching students with vision impairments put on new glasses was like unlocking a whole new world,” Los Cerritos Principal Hilda Verdugo said. “None of this could have happened without the collaborative efforts between Vision To Learn and our student health office technician, Maria Saura. They worked with teachers and parents to make sure all the kids in need were served and we are grateful for their efforts.” 

This is the first year Paramount schools have partnered with Vision To Learn and the District plans to expand the project to reach more of its nearly 16,000 students. Early reading comprehension is a point of emphasis for the Paramount community and the District is taking extra measures to ensure healthy vision for its students.

Vision To Learn began in 2012 and has served more than 60,000 children. Vision To Learn optometrists work out of a mobile clinic that travels to a different school every day. Students are examined on the bus and, if glasses are prescribed, they choose their frames from a wide selection of colors and sizes.

The glasses are delivered to the students at school within three weeks. All of Vision To Learn’s services – from the exam to the glasses – are provided free to the children.

“This project has been a really eye-opening experience for not only our students, but their parents and our educators,” Paramount Superintendent Dr. Ruth Pérez said. “By providing eyeglasses to our children in need we are giving them the tools they need to be at their best and removing barriers to their success.”