Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and dream without vision problems standing in the way.
That’s why SEE Vision Care (SVC) joined United Way of Santa Barbara County’s national award-winning “Fun in the Sun” program this summer. Through this partnership, SVC provides free vision screenings to students participating in the summer learning and enrichment program, helping to identify potential vision concerns early and ensuring children have the support they need before returning to the classroom.
Created in 1997, Fun in the Sun is a nationally recognized summer learning program serving hundreds of students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade across Santa Barbara County. The program combines academic instruction with hands on activities, social and emotional learning, field trips, health and wellness, and enrichment opportunities that help students continue learning throughout the summer.
Providing vision screenings during this Fun in the Sun program removes barriers that families face with accessing routine eyecare, helping students stay healthy and ready to succeed.
Why Healthy Vision Matters
During the event, Rose Levy, Director of Strategic Partnerships for United Way of Santa Barbara County, expressed the importance of addressing vision problems in young children:
“We know that we need to have healthy eyes and good vision to be able to read, to learn, to interact with others, to play, and to grow. It’s such an important part of academic success and of strong communities,” she said.
SVC’s participation in “Fun in the Sun” is an excellent way to help local children receive consistent care:
“Getting high-quality medical care can be a barrier for families,” Levy explained. “Making sure that these exams are happening, and that they are happening regularly, is incredibly important. Many kids participate in ‘Fun in the Sun’ for multiple years, so they’re getting eye exams every summer to catch problems if they arise.”
Students Share Their Dreams
Throughout the day, students eagerly participated in their screenings, excited to learn about their vision and pick out a pair of sunglasses afterward.
“You don’t think of a medical exam as something necessarily exciting, but the students were really excited to get it done, pick out their sunglasses, and some of them were asking what was on their form,” Levy shared. “It was exciting to tell them that they passed and that their eyes were perfect. It was exciting to engage students in their own health screenings and learning about their bodies.”
Among those who were screened was eleven-year-old Owen (pictured above), who dreams of becoming a doctor one day. Owen expressed that sight is especially important for his future career:
“If I [can’t] see, I can’t help my patients,” he said.
David, also 11 years old, shared that being able to see helps him navigate the world safely.
“[Sight is important] so you can see around and maybe not bump into people.”
And 9-year-old Laritza (pictured below), who hopes to own an ice cream shop one day, explained that clear vision is important for learning: “[You need sight] so you can learn more,” she said.
Healthy vision supports every part of childhood, from learning in the classroom and playing with friends to pursuing future dreams.
The Value of Community Partnerships
Levy also emphasized the importance of building community partnerships that make programs like this possible:
“At United Way we love our community partners. We couldn’t do what we do in the Santa Barbara County community without all of our partnerships. We rely on the strength and expertise of partners across the community to create valuable, comprehensive programs filled with different experiences and opportunities for kids,” she said.
Levy added that providing vision screenings for children at “Fun in the Sun” helps make families aware of available resources, and educates them on the importance of regular care:
“Awareness is a huge impact that this has. Making sure families know if their child needs further evaluation, but also understanding that our health includes our eye health. That can be an important part of thriving as a student and learning success.”
The SVC team is grateful for the opportunity to participate in this summer program; special thanks to United Way of Santa Barbara County for their collaborative efforts. Together, we are supporting the health of local children!
