ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks Foundation and Georgia’s Own Credit Union partnered with Vision To Learn, a non-profit organization that provides free vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to students in public school systems around the country, to host a special celebration at J.E. Edmonds Elementary School in Clayton County.
In honor of National Reading Month, nearly 90 students received brand-new eyeglasses along with a book of their choice. Hawks player Mouhamed Gueye alongside multi-talented comedian, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Pretty Vee, joined dedicated volunteers from the three organizations to distribute eyeglasses and interact with students.
As part of the event, each student was recognized in a graduation-style ceremony, where they walked across the stage to receive their prescription eyeglasses. In addition to receiving their new glasses, each student had the chance to select a book from the free book fair to help build their personal library and encourage a love for reading.
“Our foundation is extremely passionate about supporting children in our community, and the work Vision To Learn does to ensure kids of all backgrounds have access to reading glasses is inspiring,” Georgia’s Own Credit Union President & CEO Dave Preter said in a statement. “We are so proud to join the Hawks in this important partnership and look forward to continuing this critical work in the future.”
Parents of attending students also received a complimentary copy of Pretty Vee’s guided journal ‘The Pretty Victory: 100-Day Guide to Recenter Yourself and Find Your Purpose.’
With DJ Mo Hawk setting the tone, students captured special moments at a photo booth with members of Hawks Entertainment, including Harry the Hawk, ATL Hawks Dancers, and Flight Crew. State Farm Arena’s Chief Culinary Officer Chef G. Garvin added a flavorful touch by preparing curated meals for all students, the organizations said.
In June 2024, Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff highlighted Vision To Learn’s impact in supporting the academic success of students by securing $400,000 in federal funding to help the organization expand its services to more children in need.
Since 2017, the Atlanta Hawks Foundation has partnered with Vision To Learn to serve schools in metro Atlanta, providing students with more than 48,000 free eye exams and more than 39,000 eyeglasses to support their health and education.
