For Immediate Release
August 5, 2025

Contact: David White
david@publicblueprint.com
(936) 332-1380

The Twenty20 Ministries program connects students directly with optometrists to access low or no-cost vision care.

Friendswood, TX — As students prepare to go back to school, the Texas Optometric Association (TOA) is highlighting optometrists across the state who are making vision care more accessible to students. One standout example is Light Up Learning, a program led by Twenty20 Ministries that connects students to local optometrists for low or no-cost eye care. For the 2025-2026 school year, the program is set to connect students in over 50 schools with 26 different optometry practices in the area.

Launched in the 2024-2025 school year, the program has awarded 20 vision care scholarships in partnership with 10 schools across two school districts, Friendswood ISD (FISD) and Clear Creek ISD (CCISD). Nine optometrists from six local practices are actively serving scholarship recipients. Twenty20 Ministries collaborates closely with teachers, school staff, and community leaders to identify students with vision needs, provide exams, and connect families to the care their children need.

“We started Twenty20 Ministries and Light Up Learning with a simple but powerful mission: to ensure no child’s education suffers due to an undiagnosed vision problem,” said Dr. Reagan Ratcliff, founder of Twenty20 Ministries. “The growth we saw in just the 2024-2025 school year — and the outpouring of support from local teachers and doctors — tells us there was a real need for this service. We’re excited to build on this momentum and reach even more communities across Texas.”

Following the successful first year, Twenty20 Ministries has planning for rapid expansion, with 43 more schools ready to enroll in the program, and 20 more optometry offices in the greater Houston area planning to join for the upcoming school year.

“The Texas Optometric Association is incredibly proud to support innovative programs like Light Up Learning,” said Beth Robinson, President of TOA. “This effort exemplifies the critical role optometrists play not just in health care, but in empowering children to succeed academically and personally. I am honored to have been a participating doctor this first year, and we look forward to seeing the program continue to grow and change lives across Texas.”

Clear vision is essential for learning, development, and overall well-being. By meeting children where they are — in their schools and communities — Twenty20 Ministries is helping to remove barriers and build healthier futures.

Both children and adults should receive a comprehensive eye exam every year to support lifelong eye health and academic success. Parents can easily find a trusted optometrist by visiting the Texas Optometric Association’s Find a Doctor page: https://texas.aoa.org/find-a-doctor.

About Twenty20 Ministries
Twenty20 Ministries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization aiming to provide eye care and quality eyewear for children in need. Their goal is to help the vision-impaired children reach their full potential in education and life, supported by a community of caring and supportive optometrists, pediatricians, schools, and strategic partners. Twenty20 Ministries launched the Light Up Learning Scholarship Program at the beginning of the 2024 academic year. More information can be found at: https://twenty20ministries.org/our-program/

About the Texas Optometric Association
Founded in 1900, The Texas Optometric Association (TOA) represents more than 5,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students, and optometric technicians across the State of Texas. The TOA advocates for the profession of optometry at every level and works to advance excellence in eyecare for every Texan.

To learn more about the program or to schedule an interview, contact David White at the information above.

For Immediate Release
August 5, 2025

Contact: David White
david@publicblueprint.com
(936) 332-1380

half Helen Eye Clinic provides local schools with vision care field trips to receive comprehensive eye exams and glasses

Austin, TX — As students prepare to go back to school, the Texas Optometric Association (TOA) is highlighting optometrists across the state who are making vision care more accessible to students. For uninsured children in the Austin area, half Helen Eye Clinic has been dedicated to providing high-quality, continuous, and cost-effective treatment. In 2024, half Helen provided 409 comprehensive eye exams to local elementary and middle school students, and in partnership with Warby Parker, provided 366 pairs of glasses to those in need. The team at half Helen hopes to expand upon these services for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

“In the last school year alone, we provided over 400 comprehensive eye exams and 366 pairs of glasses to students in Central Texas. These are more than just statistics; they represent students who can now see the board clearly, engage in class, and feel confident among their peers,” said Chelsea Elliott, Founder and Executive Director of half Helen. “I feel proud to be part of an organization that makes a difference for our kids,” finished Elliott.

In 2024, half Helen opened a brick and mortar office, where they partner with local elementary and middle schools to host vision care “field trips”, bringing students directly to the clinic for comprehensive eye exams and glasses fittings.

Prior to their brick and mortar location, half Helen served local Austin-area students via a mobile clinic program, known as optical Prime. From 2021 to 2024, the program provided 3,725 eye-exams and provided prescription eyeglasses to 3,206 students across 13 Central Texas school districts.

“Studies have shown us that 40% of children who fail their vision screening are never taken to see an eye doctor. The two main reasons are a lack of transportation or prohibitive costs,” said Beth Robinson, Executive Director of the Texas Optometric Association. “That’s why it’s so important to have programs like half Helen that partner directly with schools to eliminate these barriers,” finished Robinson.

Both children and adults should receive a comprehensive eye exam every year to support lifelong eye health and academic success. Parents can find a trusted optometrist by visiting the Texas Optometric Association’s Find a Doctor page: https://texas.aoa.org/find-a-doctor.

About half Helen Eye Clinic
The half Helen Foundation was founded in 2013 by Chelsea Elliott as a mission to provide vision and hearing screenings to underserved children to promote early detection. After following a path of advocacy and expanding access to preventive screenings, Elliott’s establishment of the half Helen Foundation has led to screenings for over 68,000 children.

About the Texas Optometric Association
Founded in 1900, The Texas Optometric Association (TOA) represents more than 5,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students, and optometric technicians across the State of Texas. The TOA advocates for the profession of optometry at every level and works to advance excellence in eye care for every Texan

To learn more about the program or to schedule an interview, contact David White at the information above.

For Immediate Release
August 5, 2025

Contact: David White
david@publicblueprint.com
(936) 332-1380

Alcon Children’s Vision Center provides eligible students with no-cost comprehensive eye exams and glasses

Fort Worth, TX — As students prepare to go back to school, the Texas Optometric Association (TOA) is highlighting optometrists across the state who are making vision care more accessible to students. For Fort Worth ISD (FWISD) students, the nonprofit organization Alcon Children’s Vision Center (ACVC) provides accessible, no-cost vision care to eligible students who fail their vision screenings. During the 2024-2025 school year, ACVC provided nearly 4,500 eye exams and over 4,500 pairs of glasses and plans to do the same or even more during the 2025-2026 school year.

Launched in 2022, ACVC hosts in-school comprehensive eye exam clinics, bringing a clinic to Title 1 elementary schools across FWISD. Glasses, if needed, are provided at no cost. Eligible middle and high school students with potential vision problems, or those in need of additional treatment, can attend the physical clinic located on the Western Hills Elementary School campus free of charge. Since its founding, the program has delivered over 11,500 comprehensive eye exams and 10,900 pairs of glasses.

“Previous research has shown that 80% of classroom learning is visual, and nearly 1 in 4 school-aged children have a vision problem,” said Kendall Stout, OD, Lead Optometrist at ACVC. “Providing proper vision care is essential to students succeeding in the classroom. The FWISD educators have seen real improvement in students’ test scores, focus, and classroom behavior after utilizing ACVC’s resources,” finished Dr. Stout.

The current standard in most schools is to offer vision screenings, not comprehensive eye exams. While vision screenings can flag some potential issues, they often miss more complex or subtle vision and eye health problems that comprehensive eye exams identify. The ACVC team uses failed screenings as a starting point to identify students who most need full comprehensive exams, closing a critical gap in care. By providing this deeper level of assessment, the program helps ensure students get the support they need to thrive in the classroom.

“We’re incredibly proud to have a program like Alcon Children’s Vision Center serving the students of Fort Worth ISD. The in-school clinic visit system is unique and allows them to meet students in need, right where they are,” said Beth Robinson, President of the Texas Optometric Association. “ACVC has been able to bring their services to students who have never had access to proper vision care. This is a step towards providing them with an equal playing field in the classroom.”

Both children and adults should receive a comprehensive eye exam every year to support lifelong eye health and academic success. Parents can easily find a trusted optometrist by visiting the Texas Optometric Association’s Find a Doctor page: https://texas.aoa.org/find-a-doctor.

About Alcon Children’s Vision Center
The Alcon Children’s Vision Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to help kids learn by helping kids see. In partnership with FWISD, ACVC provides easy access to no-cost, comprehensive eye exams and glasses for eligible students of FWISD. Since its official launch in 2022, the program has provided over 11,500 eye exams and over 10,900 pairs of glasses to students and is funded through a donation from The Alcon Foundation, Inc. More information about the organization can be found here: https://alconcvc.org/. 

About the Texas Optometric Association
Founded in 1900, the Texas Optometric Association (TOA) represents more than 5,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students, and optometric technicians across the State of Texas. The TOA advocates for the profession of optometry at every level and works to advance excellence in eye care for every Texan

To learn more about the program or to schedule an interview, contact David White at the information above.