Back-to School Vision Screenings
August 6, 2023 | Irvine, California
After two years of planning and fundraising, ECN Purpose had its inaugural event for their Mobile Eye Health Program!
ECN Purpose partnered with local nonprofit, Operation Be Kind, for their annual “Back-to-School” event helping Title I schools in Orange County. With its Mobile Eye Health Unit, ECN Purpose was onsite providing vision screenings by Edward Tran, O.D. and John Monteleone, O.D and distributed educational material regarding how vision can affect learning. The event took place at Motion Fitness in Irvine, who provided the event space. Invited students were given the opportunity to select backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, clothes, and school supplies in preparation for the upcoming school year.
We believe this event made a lasting impact on the lives of children who attended with their families.
“Seeing our Mobile Eye Health Program come to fruition and witnessing our van in action—screening 58 students in the community—was truly a dream come true!”
It’s no surprise that the care Dr. Tran provided during his first volunteer experience with ECN Purpose was outstanding. “He was amazing to observe with the kids, so kind and gentle in his tone and manner, and the kids appeared to feel safe and well cared for during his service,” added Ms. Shappet.
Dr. Edward Tran, a Summa Cum Laude graduate of UC Irvine and Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO), opened Hello Optometry located in the city of Orange in April 2021. Dr. Tran is building a patient base of locals in Orange County and looks forward to having those moments where the doctor-patient relationship solidifies.
If you see the ECN Purpose Mobile Eye Health van, please remember the good we are doing by engaging with communities in need to help address the gap in vision care and eye health education.
Under the guidance of Dr. Tran, is a soft-spoken optometric assistant named Elizabeth Tran who volunteered her time at the event. Her bright smile lit the room and was most inviting to the elementary students she served with ECN Purpose. Elizabeth is currently studying to become an optometrist and will surely be an asset to the profession.
With his expertise and amazing ability to teach, Dr. John Monteleone has been generous with his time and instrumental in developing the ECN Purpose Mobile Eye Health Program guidelines. He has been a colleague of the ECN Purpose CEO for many years and is proudly serving on the Board of Directors for ECN Purpose.
“Dr. M”, as he is affectionately called, is currently practicing at Centerpointe Optometry in La Palma where he has provided warm and inviting family-centric care to Orange County patients for over 40 years.
