NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Partners Up With Warby Parker
Receiving a proper education is undoubtedly important in any child’s life, but what good is a top-notch lesson plan if the student can’t see a word that’s written on the board? New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is hoping to change that through a partnership with NYC-based eyewear company Warby Parker. The initiative will provide free eye exams and eyeglasses to students in need around the city.
“This has never happened before in the history of New York City,” de Blasio said. “This is an amazing thing and this will be a big deal for these kids.”
“For thousands of children who are ready to learn, but whose vision may be holding them back, the future just got clearer and brighter,” he added. “This is a great new partnership — one of many we are building between homegrown tech companies like Warby Parker and the city to invest in our young people and our future.”
According to WWD, the campaign will cost $10 million for eye exams in addition to the 20,000 pairs of eyeglasses that will be distributed over the next four years. Warby Parker co-CEOs Neil Blumenthal and David Gilboa and de Blasio stressed the importance of making eyeglasses look cool enough to wear so that children will feel motivated to keep them on.
Of course, Warby Parker is no stranger to philanthropy. The brand has been running its “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” campaign, which provides donations and training to men and women in developing countries so that they in turn can provide affordable eye care to their communities.
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(Photos from left: Andrew Burton/Getty Images, Warby Parker)
