ST LOUIS, MO – Eye Thrive, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing free vision care to underserved children, is thrilled to announce a meaningful partnership with Cardinals Care, the charitable foundation of the St. Louis Cardinals, to expand its Mobile Vision Clinic program. With a generous $500,000 from Cardinals Care, Eye Thrive will launch a second Mobile Vision Clinic, doubling its capacity to serve children in need of vision care across the Greater St. Louis region.
Scheduled to hit the road in June 2025, the new clinic will help Eye Thrive reach thousands more children who lack access to critical vision care. Eye Thrive’s comprehensive service model includes school vision screenings, comprehensive eye exams onboard the clinic for kids who fail their screenings, and prescription glasses made on-the-spot, all at no cost to families or schools. In St. Louis, one in three kids fail their vision screening – nearly 10% higher than the national average. The expansion of a second Mobile Vision Clinic will enable Eye Thrive to meet growing demand and serve children more efficiently.
“Cardinals Care has been a proud supporter of Eye Thrive for the past decade, and we have witnessed firsthand the impact their services make on kids in our community,” said Michael Hall, Vice President of Community Relations and Executive Director of Cardinals Care. We are thrilled to extend our support with a $500,000 donation Eye Thrive’s capital campaign for a second Mobile Vision Clinic.”
This partnership is the latest in a series of impactful collaborations between Eye Thrive and Cardinals Care. For over a decade, Cardinals Care has supported Eye Thrive with annual grants and program support, reinforcing their shared commitment to serving children in high needs communities.
“We are deeply grateful to Cardinals Care for their steadfast support and belief in our mission,” said Kate McKearn, Chief Executive Officer of Eye Thrive. “Their generosity and commitment to the St. Louis community has allowed us to dream bigger and expand our reach. Our second Mobile Vision Clinic will be a game-changer for thousands of children, and we couldn’t be more excited to take this next step together. “The new Mobile Vision Clinic will feature a special design showcasing Fredbird, the beloved St. Louis Cardinals mascot.
As Eye Thrive prepares to double its impact, the organization remains dedicated to breaking down barriers to vision care and ensuring that every child has the chance to thrive through the gift of clear sight. About Eye Thrive
Eye Thrive’s mission is to help children thrive by providing access to essential vision services at no cost. Over the past two decades, the organization has grown into a vital community resource, impacting thousands of families each year through its mobile clinic and support services. To learn more about Eye Thrive’s capital campaign, contact Kate McKearn, CEO at [email protected] or 314.970.1221. More information about Eye Thrive can be found at www.EyeThrive.org.
About Cardinals Care
Established in 1997, Cardinals Care has invested over $31 million to support St. Louis area children, built or renovated 25 youth ball fields in local under-resourced neighborhoods, and distributed over $17 million in grants to nonprofit organizations. Since 2004, Cardinals Care has orchestrated the innovative Redbird Rookies program, a free co-ed baseball/softball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play. In addition to providing all the uniforms and equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly 2,500 kids who participate in the program each year. In 2023, Cardinals Care launched the Cardinals Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program in cooperation with Major League Baseball to provide greater baseball and softball opportunities for youth ages 14-18 in our community. To learn more about all of Cardinals Care’s programs visit cardinals.com/community and follow @CardinalsCare on X, Facebook and Instagram.
