ESSILOR VISION FOUNDATION (EVF) and FitnessGram by The Cooper Institute are raising awareness about the importance of clear vision and physical activity among teachers, school nurses and school staff through EVF’s Champions for Sight program. FitnessGram is promoting EVF’s “$5,000 Reasons to be a Champion for Sight” sweepstakes that encourages educators to sign up for the Champions for Sight program and gives them the chance to win cash.
The Cooper Institute developed the FitnessGram assessment in 1982 to measure student physical fitness levels. FitnessGram assesses health-related components of fitness of more than 10 million students across the country in over 20,000 schools. Through this partnership, both organizations are prioritizing the importance of vision, since 80 percent of what kids learn through age 12 is visual. The ability to see clearly impacts other aspects of a child’s life as well including self-confidence, socialization and the ability to perform well in sports and other physical activities.
Teachers and school nurses are often the first adults to recognize that a child may have a vision problem. This sweepstakes comes as many kids around the country are getting ready to go back to school and reinforces EVF’s commitment to helping school staff highlight the importance of clear vision and physical activity.
The sweepstakes runs from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, 2021 and is free to enter and win. Teachers, nurses and school administrators can enter at 5000reasons.com They can increase their chances of winning by following EVF at instagram.com/evfusa, facebook.com/EVFusa, twitter.com/evfusa and linkedin.com/company/essilor-vision-foundation, and sharing the contest through email, text and their social media. Parents are also encouraged to share the sweepstakes with the teachers, nurses and administrators at their kids’ schools.
A total of $5,000 in cash will be awarded to 10 winners: one $2,500 cash prize, four $500 cash prizes and five $100 cash prizes. Four of the $100 prizes will be awarded from Aug. 16 to Sept. 7 to educators who follow EVF on Instagram, like a post and tag two colleagues. The remaining six winners will be selected on Oct. 7.
“At The Cooper Institute, we focus on the ‘whole child’ and recognize that vision is a key component of academic achievement and physical fitness,” says Laura DeFina, MD, president and CEO of The Cooper Institute. “Our priority with this important partnership is to raise awareness about good vision and the role it plays in helping students achieve better fitness and academic success.”
EVF president and executive director Becky Palm remarks, “As America’s children head back to school, EVF wants to ensure they have the clear vision they need to succeed. FitnessGram is a widely used and respected tool, and we are delighted to partner with The Cooper Institute to help schoolchildren get clear vision and to support dedicated educators.”
–Andrew Karp
