Bess the Book Bus Kicks Off the 2011 "Success is in Sight Tour"

PINELLAS PARK, Fla., May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Transitions Optical is pleased to announce today the launch of Bess the Book Bus' 2011 "Success is in Sight Tour," which will bring free books, eyecare and eyewear to children in need at schools, shelters and after-school programs across the country.

With help from Transitions in 2010, Bess the Book Bus founder Jennifer Frances drove Bess around the country distributing more than 65,000 books to more than 10,000 underprivileged children in 37 states. At each stop, Bess educated children, parents and teachers about the important connection between healthy vision, reading and learning.

This year, the Book Bus is planning to travel through 44 states, with the goal of reaching more than 20,000 children and distributing more than 100,000 books along the way.

"I am looking forward to another successful tour and to witness first-hand the impact new books and new eyeglasses can have on the lives of these children," said Frances.  "Throughout the past several years, I have seen how vision problems can severely affect a child's ability to learn and their self-esteem, which is why I strongly believe in the combined mission of Transitions and VSP to educate consumers everywhere about the important connection between vision and literacy."

As part of the 2011 tour, Transitions Optical and VSP^® Vision Care will participate on-site at events alongside the Book Bus with their 40-foot, state-of-the-art mobile eyecare clinic named "Eyenstein."  Children will have the opportunity to climb onboard the clinic and receive free comprehensive eye exams from a VSP eye doctor and choose new prescription eyeglasses fitted with Transitions^® lenses, if needed.  

Bess and Eyenstein's first partnership event as part of the 2011 tour will take place this week at the Belk Center Park Recreation Building Red Cross Shelter in Tuscaloosa, AL. Bess and Eyenstein will also partner for events in Detroit, MI, Plymouth, WI, Harlem, NY, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, GA.  

New this year is the addition of the VSP Sight for Students^® program, a VSP charity that will provide gift certificates for free eye exams and glasses to low-income, uninsured children in even more markets that Bess visits across the country.

"With 25 percent of students in grades K-6 having visual problems that are serious enough to impede learning, educating children, families and teachers about the importance of regular, comprehensive eye exams is critical," said Kate Renwick-Espinosa, chief marketing officer of VSP Global.  "We are excited to partner with both Bess the Book Bus and Transitions Optical  to continue raising awareness and bringing eyecare services to children most in need."

To learn more about healthy sight and the partnership between Transitions, VSP and Bess the Book Bus, and to find an eyecare professional near you, visit www.eyedidntknowthat.com.

About Transitions Optical, Inc.

Transitions Optical is a joint venture of PPG Industries, Inc. and Essilor International.  The first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990, today the company is a leading provider of adaptive lenses to optical manufacturers worldwide.  Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names.

Transitions^® lenses are the ideal everyday choice for healthy sight.  They are clear indoors and at night.  Outdoors, they automatically darken as light conditions change.  Transitions lenses provide visual comfort, and enhance visual quality by reducing glare and enhancing contrast, helping you to see better today.  Transitions lenses block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays – helping to protect the health and wellness of your eyes – so you can see better tomorrow as well.

For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, visit www.Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).

About Bess the Book Bus

Founded solely by Frances in 2004, Bess the Book Bus began visiting schools, shelters and after-school programs in the Tampa area to distribute children's books and host readings for underprivileged children.  Since then, Frances' efforts have expanded, servicing more than 200 children and adults in need each week to promote literacy.  Frances gives nearly 50,000 new books each year to schools, community centers and shelters, with 2010 being the record year, distributing more than 65,000 books.  Her program continues to grow as Frances takes to the road on her third multi-city tour across the country called "Success is in Sight."  Additional support for Bess the Book Bus is being provided by CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Townsend Press, Capstone Publishers, and Candlewick Press.  For more information about the program, visit www.bessthebookbus.org.

About VSP Global

VSP Global(SM) includes VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States with 56 million members; Marchon^® Eyewear Inc., one of the world's largest manufacturers, designers and distributors of quality fashion and technologically-advanced eyewear and sunwear; Eyefinity^® which offer innovative solutions and the premier management software and technology to improve overall practice management and patient experience; VSP Optics Group, industry leaders in new technologies, production processes, service and logistics.

Since 1997, VSP has provided more than 619,400 low-income, uninsured children with free eyecare. Through relationships including those with the American Diabetes Association and Prevent Blindness America, VSP promotes the importance of annual eye exams for maintaining eye health and overall wellness. For more information, visit www.vsp.com/community.

SOURCE Transitions Optical