Philanthropic Problem-Solvers

Webinar Series:

Vision To Learn November 19, 2014

GLR Campaign

Webinar Team

Lauren Maddox

Director, Investor Relations

Lacy McAlister

Program Assistant, Investor Relations

Susanne SparksSenior Consultant

Network Community Support Centerand webinar organizer

3

2015 Learning OpportunitiesAnticipated

FEBRUARY

• Philanthropic Problem-Solvers Webinar Series

MARCH

• Funder Huddle, The Funders Network, March 16–18

APRIL

• Funder Huddle, Council on Foundations, April 24–28

MAY

• Philanthropic Problem-Solvers Webinar Series

FALL

• Funder Huddle, Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families (GCYF)

• Funder Huddle, Grantmakers for Education (GFE)

• Funder Huddle, Southeastern Council of Foundations (SECF)

• Funder Huddle, The Collaboration Conference, co-hosted by Grantmakers

for Effective Organizations & Philanthropy Southwest Philanthropic

• Problem-Solvers Webinar Series GLR

• Network Community Regional Meetings

Ralph Smith and Austin Beutner

Vision To Learn Webinar Team

Rebecca Dudovitz, MD, MSPediatrician and health services

researcher, UCLA

Gaye WilliamsExecutive Director, Vision To Learn

Blurry

November, 2014

“…The raw material in the education system—the students themselves—are often overlooked. Might there be some small, simple, cheap intervention that could help millions of students?

"One in four children, it turns out, has subpar eyesight, while a whopping 60 percent of ‘problem learners’ have trouble seeing. If you can't see well, you won't read well, and that makes school extra hard.”

Think Like a FreakSteven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

A “simple, cheap interventionthat could help millions of students…”

• 22% of children nationwide live in households below the Federal Poverty Level

Out of Reach

• 22% of children nationwide live in households below the Federal Poverty Level

• According to research, 95% of 1st

graders in California public schools who need glasses do not have them

Out of Reach

Resources

Healthcare/Access

Opportunity

Transportation

Apprehension

Tackling Barriers

Toolbox for Success

Effects of Uncorrected Vision

• Cognition is hampered− 80% of all learning during a child’s first 12 years is obtained through vision

− Low-income youth suffer disproportionately

• Physical manifestations become evident− Headaches, fatigue, eye strain

− Regular blinking or squinting

• Emotional adjustment is negatively impacted− Lowered levels of comprehension and efficiency

− Demoralization

• Educational attainment is at risk− Avoidance of reading or other close activities

− Decreased participation in class

• Long-term detrimental consequences are probable− Children who are unable to read well by the end of 3rd grade are more likely

to drop out of school

OFFERING A SOLUTION

We bring the clinic and the glasses to the children!

Offering a Solution

Elementary school children are the target population:

Vision correction can confer the biggest advantage to this age group for achieving long-term benefits

Correction can improve learning trajectories, to help kids achieve critical proficiencies (e.g., by 3rd grade)

Approach and DeliveryVision To Learn’s Approach:

Collaborate with school districts, charter schools, and youth organizations in low-income communities—primarily where Title I populations are 70% and higher

Partnered schools or groups perform mandatory vision screenings (e.g., a school nurse); and a parental consent form is sent home for those children who fail or are recommended for further evaluation

Schedule site visit by our mobile eye clinics

Our trained doctors and opticians conduct complete eye exam, free of charge

Students select and get fitted for frames

Dispense new glasses to the kids for free!

As a result of our services, over 125,000 kids have been screened for vision impairment:

Schools Visited 322

Community Organizations Visited 102

Kids Screened 125,200

Kids Examined 26,058

Glasses Provided 20,182

Widespread Need

More than 26,000 children have had eye exams

More than 20,000 children have been given eyeglasses

Research Findings/Impact Analysis

Among those sampled, 92% of teachers and 90% of parents agree that without Vision To Learn their kids would not have glasses other wise

Math GPA among All Students Reading GPA among All Students

Vision To Learn achieves positive change:

Research Findings/Impact Analysis

Classroom behavior steadied

Self-esteem and focus improved

Confidence gained

Quality of life bettered

Kids empowered

Sustainability

Public-Private Partnership is Key:25% Philanthropy + 75% Medicaid Reimbursement

2012 – 2014

25,000 children helped

100% of funding providedby Philanthropy

Long-Term

1,000,000 children helped

$25mm in Philanthropy

$75mm in Medicaid

25% 75%

Replicability

Successful pilot Evidence of positive impact

Medicaid reimbursement Public-private partnership

A “simple, cheap interventionthat could help millions of students…”

An instrument tried and true, in use for centuries

“If you can’t see, well, you won’t read well, and that makes school extra hard”