As outlined in our previous blog post, this summer we partnered with the Stratford Parks and Recreation Department for “FVC’s Eye Spy Fun in the Sun” initiative with the goal of educating parents about protecting their children’s eyes from the summer sun. The collaboration was a homerun! Family Vision Center is proud to announce that the winner of the Eye Spy drawing is Stratford’s own Nick Fama! He and his family will enjoy an upcoming Bridgeport BlueFish baseball game. Congratulations, Nick!

Did you know that too much exposure to UV light in children increases the risk of eye diseases, including growths on the eye and cancer as adults? Many parents forget to look beyond the sunscreen to ensure their children’s eyesight is protected while out in the sun for summer fun.

Throughout the month of July, our friends at the Stratford Parks and Recreation Department helped Family Vision Center deliver this invaluable message by distributing useful educational material through their booths at Stratford Family Day and the Southend Community Expo, and through their popular Playground Program. The community rallied around the message and eagerly took home the information to learn more about this often overlooked issue.

The children participating in the Playground Program also joined the fun by participating in Family Vision Center’s Eye Spy game. Every child who completed the game turned it into their counselor to be entered in a drawing for a family four-pack of Bridgeport Bluefish tickets, which is how Nick won the big prize.

The eight-year-old Eli Whitney School student visited the Stratford Family Vision Center office to pick up his tickets and to express his gratitude for the opportunity to attend a Bluefish game with his family. He also spoke fondly about his time at the Stratford Playground Program, citing the friendships he made as the highlight.

When we asked Nick why it’s so important to wear sunglasses and take care of your eyesight he replied, “so you can see well.” We couldn’t agree more! We are extremely appreciative of Nick, his family and Stratford Parks and Recreation for being part of “Eye Spy Fun in the Sun” and helping Family Vision Center spread this educational message throughout the community.