Aug. 3, 2021 — Aligning with the back-to-school season, Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) and FitnessGram by The Cooper Institute are partnering to raise awareness about the importance of clear vision and physical activity among teachers, school nurses, and school staff through EVF’s Champions for Sight program. 

FitnessGram is promoting EVF’s “$5,000 Reasons to be a Champion for Sight” sweepstakes, which is running until Sept. 30.

“At The Cooper Institute, we focus on the ‘whole child’ and recognize that vision is a key component of academic achievement and physical fitness,” says Laura DeFina, M.D., president and CEO of The Cooper Institute. “Our priority with this important partnership is to raise awareness about good vision and the role it plays in helping students achieve better fitness and academic success.” 

Teachers, nurses, and school administrators can enter the sweepstakes (which is free to enter and win) at 5000reasons.com. Chances of winning can be increased by following EVF on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and sharing the contest through email, text and their social media. The organizations also encourage parents to share the sweepstakes with these individuals at their kids’ schools.

What’s in store for the winners? One $2,500 cash prize, four $500 cash prizes, and five $100 cash prizes. Four of the $100 prizes will be awarded from Aug. 16 to Sept. 7 to educators who follow EVF on Instagram, like a post, and tag two colleagues. The remaining six winners will be selected on Oct. 7.




"As America’s children head back to school, EVF wants to ensure they have the clear vision they need to succeed,” says Becky Palm, EVF president and executive Director. “FitnessGram is a widely used and respected tool, and we are delighted to partner with The Cooper Institute to help schoolchildren get clear vision and to support dedicated educators.”

The FitnessGram assessment, developed by The Cooper Institute in 1982, currently assesses health-related components of fitness of more than 10 million students across the U.S. in more than 20,000 schools. Furthermore, EVF shares that since 80% of what kids learn through age 12 is visual, sight is a crucial component impacting all aspects of a child’s life—from socialization to the ability to perform well in physical activities. 

Learn more about EVF’s vision programs here.