JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hundreds of kids with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida celebrated Halloween a few days early for an evening of fun at EverBank Stadium on Tuesday night, while also receiving free eye screenings. The Jaguars Foundation partnered with Johnson & Johnson Vision for the ‘Sight for Kids Spooktacular.’ The event brought essential eye care to those who need it the most.
“We are so excited Johnson & Johnson Vision to be partnered with the Lions Club Foundation,” Johnson & Johnson Vision Company Group Chairman Peter Menziuso said. “It’s a partnership we’ve had for more than 20 years. We’ve been able together to give more than 50 million children comprehensive eye exams. What’s incredibly exciting, we’re bringing it to our hometown of Jacksonville where we have our headquarters. It is so exciting just to look around and see these kids having a blast, but knowing we’re helping them connect better, live better, see better through a simple comprehensive eye exam.”
Kids received eye screenings, which were conducted with the help of local organizations including Vision is Priceless, Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program, and volunteers from the Lions Clubs of District 35 L (Northern Florida). After kids finished their eye screenings, they celebrated the holiday by trick-or-treating, getting their face painted, and dancing to Halloween tunes.
“The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation has many partners and today we’re excited to partner with Johnson & Johnson,” Jaguars Foundation Senior VP & Chief Community Impact Officer Whitney Meyer said. “Johnson & Johnson and Sight for Kids, their mission is to give free eye exams to children all over the world. When we heard about that great mission, we thought what better way than pair the Jaguars fun swag with some eye exams. Something that kids can be scared of or unsure of on if it is something they want to do. We really want to instill healthy practices and begin that early so it will continue with their eye exams all throughout their life. So we thought what a better way to add some fun Halloween to it and make it a great event.”
But that wasn’t all. The children also had the chance to meet Jaguars players. Mac Jones, Tyler Lacy, Parker Washington and Cam Little during the event.
“It’s important to give back and that’s what football is all about — connecting with kids and I’ve always had a passion for hanging out with kids from Boys and Girls Club wherever I’ve been,” said Jones, a Jacksonville native who played at Bolles. “It’s really good to be here and Halloween is always fun, too. Everyone is in good spirits.”
Sight For Kids is a program by Johnson & Johnson and Lions Clubs International Foundation that provides free, comprehensive eye health services to students in underserved schools.