Back-to School Vision Screenings

August 6, 2023 | Irvine, California

After two years of planning and fundraising, ECN Purpose had its inaugural event for their Mobile Eye Health Program on August 6, 2023!

ECN Purpose partnered with local nonprofit, Operation Be Kind, for their annual “Back-to-School” event helping Title I schools in Orange County. The event took place at Motion Fitness in Irvine, who provided the event space.

Invited students were given the opportunity to select backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, clothes, and school supplies in preparation for the upcoming school year.

With its Mobile Eye Health Clinic, ECN Purpose was onsite providing vision screenings by Edward Tran, O.D. and John Monteleone, O.D and distributed educational material regarding how vision can affect learning.

ECN Purpose believes this event made a lasting impact on the lives of children who attended with their families.

Seeing our Mobile Eye Health Program come to fruition and witnessing our van in action—screening 58 students in the community—was truly a dream come true!
— Aspasia Shappet, Founder & CEO
ECN Purpose Mobile Health Unit

The care Dr. Edward Tran provided during his first volunteer experience with ECN Purpose was outstanding. “He was amazing to observe with the kids, so kind and gentle in his tone and manner, and the kids appeared to feel safe and well cared for during his service,” added Ms. Shappet.

Dr. Tran, a Summa Cum Laude graduate of UC Irvine and Southern California College of Optometry, opened Hello Optometry in April 2021 with co-owner, Dr. Michelle Cho, located in the city of Orange. They are building a patient base of locals in Orange County and look forward to having those moments where the doctor-patient relationship solidifies.

ECN Purpose Mobile Health Unit

If you see the ECN Purpose Mobile Eye Health van, please remember the good we are doing by engaging with communities in need to help address the gap in vision care and eye health education.

Elizabeth Tran, a soft-spoken optometric assistant, volunteered her time at the event under the guidance of Dr. Edward Tran.

Her bright smile lit up the room, making her especially welcoming to the elementary students she served with ECN Purpose. Currently studying to become an optometrist, Elizabeth is sure to be an asset to the profession.

ECN Purpose Mobile Health Unit

With his expertise and amazing ability to teach, Dr. John Monteleone has been instrumental in developing the ECN Purpose Mobile Eye Health Program guidelines. He also proudly serves on the Board of Directors for ECN Purpose.

“Dr. M”, as he is affectionately called, practices at Centerpointe Optometry in La Palma where he has provided warm and inviting family-centric care to Orange County patients for over 40 years.