If the children are our future, then Davis Vision has their sights set firmly forward. The company recently partnered with the New England Patriots and the Boys & Girls Club to provide free eye screenings to 124 children ages six through 18. Held at the Jordan Boys & Girls Club in Chelsea, Mass.—a familiar location for the kids—the clinic gave each child either a thumbs-up evaluation or a voucher for a free follow-up exam and free prescription glasses at the local Cambridge Eye Doctor’s office. Some children even left with sunglasses and other giveaways, including an autographed New England Patriots jersey that one lucky visitor won in a raffle.

“The children were excited, and the representatives from Davis Vision’s Cambridge Eye Doctors and the Patriots were enthusiastic and very engaged with the children who participated. Everyone really enjoyed the day,” says Michelle Perez, the Jordan Center’s director of operations.

For many of the children, the Davis Vision evaluation was the first eye screening they had ever attended; 46 of them were in need of corrective eyeglasses and follow-up care.

“Unfortunately, many of these kids may not have received the needed vision correction in a timely manner if it hadn’t been for the screening,” says Tom Rosa, vice president of store operations and marketing for Davis Vision. “Our hats are off to the Jordan Boys and Girls Club organization for helping to make these positive outcomes a reality.”

To follow the success of its vision screening clinics sponsored throughout 2007, Davis Vision has scheduled a full slate of clinics for 2008. Screenings are planned for Buffalo, N.Y.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Carlisle, Pa. and Houston as well as various YMCA locations nationally. More screening clinics will be added to the 2008 schedule in the months ahead.