Earlier this week, the Atlanta Hawks Foundation and Vision To Learn—the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of school-based vision care—teamed up with Learn4Life to officially launch the Atlanta Vision Project across metro Atlanta.
As part of Tuesday’s kickoff event at William M. Finch Elementary School, nearly 90 students received brand-new eyeglasses and a book of their choice. Among those on hand for the celebration were Hawks and State Farm Arena CEO Steve Koonin and executives from all three organizations.
Backed by the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, this new three-year initiative will reach about 270 underserved elementary schools across the five-county metro Atlanta region—bringing clear vision, confidence, and opportunity to thousands of students.
“We’re proud to continue our collaboration with Vision To Learn and Learn4Life,” said David Lee, Executive Vice President of External Affairs and Executive Director of the Atlanta Hawks Foundation. “It’s about more than just eyeglasses—we’re helping young Atlantans see their full potential and imagine a brighter future.”
The celebration had plenty of energy and excitement. Each student walked across the stage “graduation-style” to receive their new eyeglasses, then picked out a book at a school book fair—encouraging them to dive into reading with their fresh new lenses.
Hawks Entertainment brought the fun, with emcee Chris Marks, Harry the Hawk, the ATL Hawks Dancers, and DJ Mo Hawk all joining in to keep spirits high and smiles wide.
“This partnership is about more than glasses—it’s about giving every child a chance to fully engage in learning and see the world of possibilities ahead,” said Ann Hollister, President and CEO of Vision To Learn.
The Atlanta Vision Project aims to ensure every child in metro Atlanta has access to the vision care they need by 2028. Through a simple three-step process—vision screening, mobile clinic exams, and free eyeglasses—students receive the support they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
Since 2017, the Atlanta Hawks Foundation and Vision To Learn have already provided over 53,000 free eye exams and more than 43,000 pairs of eyeglasses to local students.
For more on how the Hawks are making a difference in the community, visit Hawks.com/community.
