The halls of Trinity River Campus will be overflowing Friday for the second year with youngsters getting a chance for a better view of life. Free glasses are expected to be given to as many as 800 children during Kids Vision Fest 2013 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tarrant County College (TCC) downtown campus.
TCC students with children ages 5 to 12 who qualify based on need established by the 2012-2013 Federal Poverty Guidelines are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity, presented by the Alcon Foundation, Essilor Vision Foundation, TCC and Kids Vision for Life Coalition.
Research shows that 80 percent of learning is the result of what is seen. As a result, many children with uncorrected vision lack literacy skills causing them to fall behind in school creating life-long struggles with unemployment and other social issues.
The impact of vision on society is the topic of the community roundtable at 10 a.m. in the Energy Auditorium (TRTR 4008). Among those joining Tarrant County College Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley as featured speakers are:
- Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price
- Tarrant County Commissioner Andy Nguyen
- Jim Schlossnagle, TCU head baseball coach and Team USA head baseball coach
- Jim Lites, president and CEO of the Dallas Stars
- Jeri Pfeifer, Ph.D., superintendent of Everman ISD
- Rick Weisbarth, OD, vice president of professional affairs – Alcon; and
- Howard Purcell, OD, chair of the vision committee for the Essilor Vision Foundation.
As an extra bonus from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., attendees can meet three-time Stanley Cup winner and current Dallas Stars assistant coach Andy Moog who will be on hand signing autographs and taking photos upon request at Kids Vision Fest.
Hope to see you there!
