Your 522 pairs of donated glasses are starting to come to fruition with the kids.

Representatives from VSP joined Sacramento Kings mascot Slamson to celebrate with students and teachers at David Reese Elementary in Elk Grove, CA.

Visit VSP on Instagram to see more pictures from the game, and thank you for donating to the Eyes of Hope program!

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For every pair of glasses donated by Kings fans at the game game, VSP also directed a free eye exam and new glasses to a local child in need from the Elk Grove Unified School District!

Check out photos from the special night on the VSP Vision Care Instagram page and learn more about getting involved with the Eyes of Hope program.

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The entire day was documented on the Sister Brother Style blog HERE.

And in case getting a sneak peek of the photo shoot wasn’t enough, Sister Brother Style is also hosting a giveaway for two  pairs of court-side tickets for the March 22^nd game against the Utah Jazz at Power Balance Pavilion as well as a pair of designer sunglasses!

Altair's Chris O. and Tyreke's older brother Reggie Evans

Doc, Tyreke & Reggie Evans

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A loyal Sacramento Kings fan donates a pair of glasses to the VSP Eyes of Hope program

On Friday, March 9, Sacramento Kings fans enjoyed a thrilling win by the home team over the defending NBA Champions, the Dallas Mavericks. However, the Kings weren’t the only ones who came away victorious after the night.

The game was also the VSP/Kings Eyes of Hope Game, as VSP teamed up with the Kings to collect gently-used glasses from Kings fans for the Eyes of Hope program. Through the VSP Global eyewear donation program, VSP partners with communities across the U.S. to help serve the more than one billion people globally who can’t afford or don’t have access to eyewear.

Because glasses don’t have an expiration date, the program provides a simple way for the community to help make a difference by donating their gently used eyeglasses. Once VSP receives donated glasses, they’re refurbished, cleaned, and labeled to distribute to those in need through world missions.

Thanks to the tremendous generosity of Kings fans, a whopping 853 pairs of glasses were collected for the Eyes of Hope program! Plus, for every pair donated, VSP is donating a free eye exam and a pair of glasses to a student in need in the Sacramento-area.

Since inception of the program in late 2008, the Eyes of Hope program, in partnership with VSP network doctors, clients and members, has collected and distributed more than 115,000 pairs of glasses to those in need across the globe.

“I was floored by the amount of glasses that were being donated. I was acting as a runner during the event and picking up the glasses from the other volunteers at the different entrances and bringing them back to our central table. In 15 minutes, an entire box would be full from one entrance. Some people brought in bags of 10 to 20 pairs of glasses. One individual even took the glasses off of his face and donated them, that was pretty incredible.

This was my first real exposure to the Eyes of Hope program, and when looking at some of the glasses collected, it was just a good feeling to know they were going overseas to someone that could use them. As VSP Global expands, I think charitable outreach efforts such as this become even that much more important.”

- Aaron Morris, VSP Vision Care employee and volunteer at VSP/Kings Eyes of Hope Game

VSP Vision Care president Jim McGrann and VSP providers Ryan Nakamura, OD, and Aaron Lech, OD with Sacramento-area students showing off their VSP gift certificates

LISTEN: VSP Vision Care president Jim McGrann discusses the Eyes of Hope program on the Sacramento Kings pregame radio show prior to the game:

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How do you give back to the community? Tell on us on Facebook, Twitter or comment below.

We also need your help! There are more than one BILLION people in the world without access to eyecare and eyewear. We’re teaming up with the Sacramento Kings to collect your gently used pairs of eyeglasses, which we will refurbish and help distribute to those in need around the world. So if you’re going to the March 9th Kings game against the Dallas Mavericks–or even if you’re in the area–bring those extra eyeglasses to the game. (Too far to drive? No problem, find out how you can help in your community. It’s easy and it’s free!)

Stay tuned for more information about Eyes of Hope and the Sacramento Kings.

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If you’re like me, then you’re probably looking at your smartphone, tablet, computer or other electronic devices for a good portion of the day. Have you ever experienced blurry vision, dry eyes or a headache from using these devices for too long without a break? If so, then you have felt some of the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), just like I have.

We recently polled our Facebook fans with the same question and discovered how common these conditions are, as 100% of participants have experienced them! Check out the hilarious VSP Vision Tips to learn how you can protect your eyes AND find out how you can enter to win a Samsung Galaxy Tablet or an experience fit for a King at a Sacramento Kings game!

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Happy Friday, everyone! This week, we’ve been focusing on the importance of eye health using the Kings VSP Vision Tips with our friends from the Sacramento Kings. We posted a Facebook poll on Tuesday asking fans when their last eye exam was, and we were very happy to see that 65% of poll participants have received an eye exam in the past year!

Receiving regular eye exams is a critical component of your health care routine. Learn more fun facts about eyecare by watching these silly Kings VSP Vision Tips today!

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Tyreke Evans sports a vest on the USO tour

This past week, Tyreke Evans took a weeklong tour in Hawaii with the USO to show support for the troops. Tyreke joined seven other top names in basketball—Derrick Rose, D.J. Augustin, Al Horford, Robin Lopez, Brook Lopez, JaVale McGee, and Mike Miller—on the tour. Throughout the week, the stars led basketball clinics for children, toured military facilities, and played one-on-one with service members. The players also faced off in two intense games, with Tyreke scoring the winning point in one of them! I talked with Tyreke just after he returned and asked him a few questions about his experience.

Why did you get involved with the USO Hoops for Troops?
I got involved to support the troops and                                                                families who give up so much for the                                                                    freedom we enjoy.

Tyreke jumps to make a shot during one of the USO games. Photo courtesy of the USO.

What was your favorite part of the trip?
I liked talking to the troops about their war experiences. Most of the guys I talked to were around my age.

How did you like playing in the basketball games while you were there?
It was an honor to perform for our troops.

I saw some pictures of the players trying on military gear. What were you doing?
We played a simulated game at the barracks. Brook Lopez put on the armor piercing suit and got bit by the attack dog like they do in training.

Did you get to meet anyone in particular that stood out?
One of the wives told me that I was her husband’s favorite player. I played basketball with their son at the kids’ clinic, and she said her husband was currently stationed overseas and would be happy to hear about this.

What was the overall experience like for you?
I was a baby when my brother, Doc, served in Desert Storm. This made me appreciate him even more now that I’m older and understand what these troops do for the love of our country.

Check out some more photos from the event below. 

 

Tyreke gathers with troops and other players while in Hawaii. Photo courtesy of the USO.

Tyreke and other NBA stars hold a basketball clinic for children. Photo courtesy of the USO.

Tyreke and the other NBA players gather around a tank. Photo courtesy of the USO.

The children practice drills during a basketball clinic.

Tyreke signs autographs at one of the USO games.

For more information about the USO, to learn more about Hoops for Troops, or to see more photos of the tour, visit the USO homepage.

About Tyreke Evans and VSP Vision Care:
VSP Vision Care is proud to be the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Tyreke Evans. Tyreke plays professional basketball for the Sacramento Kings and was named 2010 Rookie of the Year. He’s the fourth rookie ever to average 20 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game. The only other players to accomplish this were Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Not only is good vision a critical component for being successful in sports, it’s also an important part of every day life. Be sure to follow VSP Vision Care on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with Tyreke’s Activities.

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VSP Vision Care, Positive Coaching Alliance, Chris Johnson Basketball Academy and Sacramento Kings star Tyreke Evans hit the court to host a free basketball camp for 200 underserved Sacramento students. The camp started yesterday and runs through today at the Dr. Ephraim Williams Family Life Center in Sacramento.

The young campers have been shooting hoops, participating in basketball drills and engaging in question-and-answer sessions with Tyreke. Campers who qualify for VSP’s charity program have also enjoyed a free eye exam performed by VSP Optometrists and glasses in the on-site VSP mobile eyecare clinic.

“Having good vision is critical both on the court and off,” said Evans. “This basketball camp has given me an opportunity to increase awareness about the importance of vision, while spending time with some of my most important fans, Sacramento kids.”

“My favorite part was getting to meet Tyreke because he answered one of my questions and he was really fun,” said 11-year-old Davante, who had the opportunity to play a round of the popular shooting game “knockout” with Evans on Thursday. “I kept thinking, ‘I hope Tyreke doesn’t get me out (in “knockout”),’ but he did!”

Healthy vision is essential to a child’s ability to learn and achieve their academic potential. Since vision problems can begin at an early age, children should receive regular comprehensive eye exams — at 6-months-old, 2-years-old, before kindergarten and every year following.

Follow the action on Twitter by following @VSPVisionCare and @TyrekeEvans. Stay tuned to the VSP Facebook page to see video highlights from the Tyreke Evans and VSP Vision Care Basketball Camp. Plus, check out photos from the camp here.

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