The Henry J. Austin Health Center recently received a $75,000 gift from the Credit Union of New Jersey (CUNJ) to support HJAHC’s partnership with Vision To Learn, which provides free eye screenings, exams and prescription glasses to children from the Trenton School District.
“At Credit Union of New Jersey, we believe in giving back to the community and supporting organizations that make a positive impact on people’s lives,” said Andrew L. Jaeger, president/CEO of the Credit Union of New Jersey, which is a longtime NJBIA member.
“We are inspired by the dedication and compassion of the teams at Henry J. Austin Health Center and Vision to Learn and are honored to contribute to their mission,” Jaeger said. “By working together, we can help improve the health and wellbeing of the Trenton community,”
In underserved communities, like Trenton, 95% of students who need glasses do not have access to them. This can lead to a host of issues, including headaches, difficulty focusing in class, and falling behind in reading. The consequences can be dire: students with uncorrected vision problems are more likely to fail at least one grade and can fall behind in reading at grade level by third grade, a critical milestone in preventing dropout.
HJAHC and VTL share the values of breaking down barriers of access to essential health care by bringing services directly to schools and students in need. Over 60% of HJAHC patients fall below the poverty line and are most often uninsured. The center provides patient-centered integrated health services to those who need it most in the Mercer County community.
With the help of CUNJ’s philanthropic gift, which will be paid over three years, HJAHC will provide vision screenings to 448 children and enable 179 students to receive comprehensive vision exams and prescription glasses, most of whom would not otherwise have access and whose vision needs would go untreated. The health center started the eye screenings and exams this past February and will continue to raise funds until all children in the Trenton Public Schools are covered.
“We are grateful to receive this philanthropic support from the Credit Union of New Jersey,” said Kemi Alli, MD, CEO of HJAHC. “Thanks to their gift, we will provide Trenton students with vision screenings, exams, and prescription glasses. Partnerships like this one continue to help underserved communities in Trenton by breaking down barriers to healthcare.”
Visit www.henryjaustin.org/vision-for-trenton-youth for more information about the VTL program at HJAHC.
