Wandering around the Twin Cities region, citizens and visitors will find a rather large blue bus honoring the adored Kirby Puckett. For 12 years, Puckett played centerfield for the Minnesota Twins until his career was cut short by glaucoma. Since then and before his death in 2006, the Hall of Famer was an advocate for preventive eyecare, a passion close to his heart that still extends to the people of Minneapolis and Minnesota.

This past July at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Ogi Eyewear witnessed the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Kirby Puckett Eye Mobile introduced by the Phillips Eye Institute, Major League Baseball and the Minnesota Twins. Staffed and operated by the Phillips Eye Institute’s Kirby Puckett Education Center, the eye clinic on wheels features two fully equipped exam rooms, similar to a doctor’s office for exams and consultations. Children referred through the Phillips Eye Institute’s Early Youth Eyecare (E.Y.E.) Program will receive follow-up eyecare while providing free vision screening to children and adults around the state.

“They always remember my Dad, and this is one of the great memories they have of him—going around helping people that are in need,” says Kirby Puckett Jr. “People who can get eye screenings, that’s going to be a good thing for the community.”
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Last year, Ogi Eyewear donated over 500 frames to the cause and gave Minneapolis public school children the opportunity to receive a free pair of prescription eyeglasses. With the introduction of the Kirby Puckett Eye Mobile, Ogi Eyewear will continue with another donation to provide the local community with stylish eyewear. Learn more about Kirby Puckett and his mission at kirbypucketteyemobile.org.

—Victoria Garcia