Complete Story
07/17/2025
Realeyes 2024-2025 Wrap Up
1.8 million! Actually, 1,866,491 Ohio students have been educated about the importance of healthy vision since Realeyes was started in 2000. More than a million students is a staggering amount, especially when you realize a majority of those have been in one classroom at a time by our fantastic volunteers. 78,339 students were educated through Realeyes presentations in all 88 counties in the 2024-2025 year. This number exceeded the adjusted goals for the year and we’re looking forward to increasing it for the coming year.
The 24-25 school year held some promising trends for the Realeyes program. We had 26 more presenters out in schools compared to the previous year, bringing the volunteer count to 176 presenters. Together these volunteers gave more than 900 hours throughout the year. However, we really need that number to grow again this year. At our high, Realeyes had about 250 volunteers involved in one school year! Watch for a Perspectives – Realeyes Edition in August with a challenge to all of you to help us build this number.
In addition, the Realeyes staff and interns were able to create two special programs in response to feedback from volunteers and hosts of the program. Careers in Eye Care made its debut early in the year, and we wrapped up creating the pilot of Camp Realeyes in June. These programs will give our volunteers and staff more flexibility in how and when we can educate Ohio students in the future.
The Realeyes program continues to get rave reviews from school nurses and teachers, and the future looks bright as we continue to work together to reach even more students with the message of safe and healthy vision!
