Going Back to School Never Looked Better Thanks to "Eye Care for Kids"

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 21, 2003 -- As children across the country prepare to go back to school, some are getting a new look at life thanks to PPG PROSTARS Certified Auto Glass Technicians through the Eye Care for Kids program. From Monday, August 25, through Friday, September 5, PPG PROSTARS will donate a portion of the proceeds from windshield repairs and replacements to provide eyeglasses for disadvantaged children.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030806/CLW005LOGO )

"Many school programs and nonprofit organizations provide eye exams to children who need them," said Paul Rice, director of PPG PROSTARS, "but few programs actually provide the eyeglasses themselves for kids who can't afford them."

According to the World Health Organization, over 12 million school-age children, or one in four, have some form of vision problem. And, if vision problems are not corrected, they can lead to poor school performance and higher failure rates. Additionally, it is estimated that 39 percent of children live in or near poverty. (Editor's Note: See Fact Sheet attached.)

Eye Care for Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing prescription eyeglasses to children who need but cannot afford them, will work with other nonprofit organizations across the country to identify children who have the optical and economic need for eyeglasses. These organizations will present the children and their families with certificates on behalf of PPG PROSTARS that can be redeemed for one pair of quality eyeglasses at various local eyeglass retailers.

PPG PROSTARS are professionals distinguished by training, certification and experience who specialize in the repair and replacement of automotive glass. In the event of an accident, the windshield enables the passenger airbag to function properly and minimizes roof collapse. PPG PROSTARS are dedicated to safety and encourage car owners to keep their vehicles safe by having all windshield damage properly replaced or repaired; this way they can just relax and enjoy the view. It was with this in mind that the Eye Care for Kids program was developed.

"Growing up today is tough enough," said Rice, "we're just trying to help kids enjoy the view, to see a brighter future for themselves, by giving them access to eyeglasses that we hope will help them excel in school and improve their overall quality of life."

To schedule an appointment for windshield repair or replacement, or for more information on the Eye Care for Kids program, call 1-866-2-THEPROS, or visit www.ppgprostars.com .

  Points of Interest

  The Reason:

   - Thousands of motorists delay getting chips in their windshields
     repaired every year; now, in addition to safety, there's another reason
     why they should have it done.
   - From August 25 through September 5, participating PPG PROSTARS
     Certified Auto Glass Technicians across the country have pledged to
     donate a portion of the proceeds from windshield repairs and
     replacements to provide prescription eyeglasses for disadvantaged
     children.
   - It is estimated that nearly 25 percent of school-age children in the
     U.S. have vision problems. Visual impairment in children is associated
     with developmental delays and the need for special education,
     vocational and social services. The economic impact of visual disorders
     and disabilities in the U.S. is estimated at $22.3 million in direct
     costs and another $16.1 million in indirect costs annually.

  The Program:

   - Eye Care for Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing
     prescription eyeglasses for disadvantaged youth, will work with local
     nonprofit organizations to locate children who have the optical and
     economic need for eyeglasses. They will then distribute certificates to
     the families of these children, which they can use to purchase one pair
     of prescription eyeglasses at local eyeglass retailers.
   - 26 PPG PROSTARS shops in 14 states from Maine to California are
     participating in this, the program's inaugural year.

  Your Windshield, Your Safety:

   - The windshield is a critical safety component. In the event of an
     accident, it enables the passenger airbag to function properly and
     minimizes roof collapse.
   - As such, car owners are encouraged to keep their vehicles safe by
     having all windshield damage properly repaired or replaced.
   - Most insurers will cover the cost of the deductible for a windshield
     repair.

  For More Information:

   - To find out more about the Eye Care for Kids program and to locate a
     participating PPG PROSTARS in your area, call 1-866-2-THEPROS, or
     visit www.ppgprostars.com .

  Children and Eyesight
  FACT SHEET:

   - It is estimated that nearly 25 percent of school-age children in the
     United States have vision problems.
                               - American Optometric Association

   - There are more than 10 million visually impaired children in America.
                          - National Parent Teacher Association

   - Vision problems affect one in twenty preschoolers and one in four
     school-age children.
                               - Prevent Blindness America

   - Eighty percent of what children learn is acquired through the visual
     processing of information. Vision is a dominant process in the growth,
     development and academic performance of children.
                               - Joel N. Zaba, MA, OD

   - At least 20 percent of individuals with learning disabilities have been
     found to have prominent visual information processing problems.
                               - American Optometric Association

   - Visual impairment is one of the ten most frequent causes of disability
     in America. In children, visual impairment is associated with
     developmental delays and the need for special educational, vocational
     and social services.
                              - Healthy People 2010 Conference

   - A study of adolescents adjudicated delinquent found that 74 percent
     failed at least one vision test.
                              - American Foundation for Vision Awareness

   - In 1995, the economic impact of visual disorders and disabilities in
     America was estimated at $22.3 million in direct costs and another
     $16.1 million in indirect costs each year.
                              - Healthy People 2010 Conference

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AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840

NOTE TO EDITORS: This is a revised version of a release issued over PR Newswire on August 6. Sponsorship of the Eye Care for Kids program has changed.