Teams Score Home Run for Children's Eye Health
Davis Vision & United Concordia Dental Host Free Screenings
with New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates & Arizona Diamondbacks
PLAINVIEW, NY (Nov. 10, 2008) – For baseball fans, the season has ended. But for many of the nearly 500 children who attended Davis Vision’s fall screening clinics at the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks stadiums, a new life with healthy eyesight has just begun.
Over 100 children whose eyes were tested needed follow-up care. They received vouchers from Davis Vision (in New York) and its sister stores, Total Vision in Pittsburgh and EyeMasters in Phoenix, for a free comprehensive eye examination and a free pair of eyeglasses. As a result, these children were able to start the school year with the ability to see the chalkboard, read their books and recognize new faces.
“Regular eye examinations are so important for children,” said Laura Dyer, assistant vice president, Strategic Events & Community Relations for Davis Vision. “Many people are not aware that in the first 12 years of life, 80% of learning is visual. Children with vision problems are at a clear disadvantage in school. We are proud to be able to help some of these children.”
At the Pittsburgh vision screening, children were also given the opportunity to get their teeth checked, courtesy of dental health insurer United Concordia. Dental professionals examined the children, demonstrated how to brush and floss properly, and handed out dental health items and literature. Children who were identified as needing follow-up care were given the opportunity to receive free services at the Small Smiles Dental Centers in Pittsburgh.
“All the children were extremely excited,” said Winifred Torbert, community director of the Pittsburgh Pirates. “The Pirates are pleased to have teamed up with Davis Vision and United Concordia in sponsoring these invaluable health awareness services to very appreciative Pittsburgh children.”
Davis Vision and its co-sponsors made the screening clinic experience even more enjoyable for the kids by welcoming them with healthy snacks and gifts that included team promotional items, sunglasses, pens, candy, coloring books, crayons and lens-cleaning cloths. All attendees were given free tickets to that day’s baseball game. Their most important gift, however, was the chance for healthy vision.
The free vision screening clinics are part of Davis Vision’s ongoing efforts to provide eye care to uninsured or underinsured children. Davis Vision has a long history of involvement in local community outreach programs. In addition to hosting free vision screening clinics, it has also partnered with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, New York Children’s Vision Coalition, United Way, MercyFirst and other charities to make a difference in the community.
About Davis Vision
Davis Vision is part of the HVHC Inc. group of companies, which also includes Viva International Group and Eye Care Centers of America. One of the nation's premier managed vision care companies, Davis Vision has been providing comprehensive vision benefits for nearly 45 years, and currently serves over 55 million individuals nationwide through an extensive blended network of approximately 30,000 ophthalmologists and optometrists, in addition to many opticians and top national retail providers.
About United Concordia
United Concordia Companies, Inc., headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, is one of the nation’s largest dental insurers, with nearly 7.5 million members worldwide. In 2007, United Concordia processed more than 12 million claims and attained revenues exceeding $1.3 billion. For more information about United Concordia products, visit www.unitedconcordia.com.
