Zenni, Chase Stokes and Bring Change to Mind Support Student Wellness Through Free Vision Care and Mental Health Programming

Partnership provides vision care and styles from Zenni x Chase Stokes collection to nearly 300 New York City high school students

NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As young people navigate the growing importance of both physical and mental wellbeing, Zenni Optical, actor and longtime brand ambassador Chase Stokes and nonprofit Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) are coming together to highlight an often-overlooked connection: the role eye health can play in overall wellness.

On October 7, Zenni and Chase brought their commitment to accessible vision care to Manhattan Early College Academy (MECA) in New York City, providing students with free vision screenings and exams, and gifting them styles from the Zenni x Chase Stokes collection, complete with EyeQLenz™ with Zenni ID Guard™ lenses. Students from MECA's BC2M Club also led a group activity and discussion focused on mental health and wellness.

Together, the partners screened nearly 300 students, with more than half of those screened needing new or updated prescriptions.

"Eye health is an important part of overall wellbeing, and we know that when young people can see clearly, they can better engage with the world around them," said Veronica Alcaro, VP of Brand at Zenni. "We're proud to partner with Chase and Bring Change to Mind to bring vision care directly to students and make quality eyewear more accessible. At Zenni, we believe clear vision should never be considered a luxury, and everyone deserves access to the quality eyewear they need to see, learn and experience the world around them with confidence."

The partnership comes at a particularly meaningful time, with World Vision Day on October 8 and World Mental Health Day on October 10, creating an opportunity to consider how different aspects of health and wellness intersect. Research has found associations between vision impairment and mental health among young people, reinforcing the importance of considering eye health as part of overall wellbeing.

For Chase Stokes, the initiative builds on his ongoing commitment to making vision care more accessible while encouraging young people to prioritize their overall health and wellbeing. As part of the experience, Chase connected directly with students during a meet-and-greet at the school, handing out prescription eyewear styles from the Zenni x Chase Stokes collection.

"Taking care of your health means taking care of the whole person, and that includes both your vision and your mental wellbeing," said Chase Stokes. "I'm proud to partner with Zenni and Bring Change to Mind to bring these resources to students in New York City. Hopefully, this experience reminds young people that taking care of themselves can start with something as simple – and important – as making sure they can see clearly and having an open conversation about how they're feeling."

As part of the activation, Bring Change to Mind helped broaden the conversation beyond eye health, giving students an opportunity to engage directly with their peers around mental wellbeing. BC2M's student-led programming encourages young people to challenge stigma and create more open conversations around mental health in their communities.

"Creating spaces where young people can talk openly about their mental health is essential to building healthier communities," said Pamela Harrington, Executive Director at Bring Change to Mind. "We're excited to partner with Zenni and Chase to show students that wellness is interconnected. Whether we're talking about taking care of our eyes, our minds, or our relationships with one another, giving young people the tools and space to prioritize their wellbeing can make a meaningful difference."

The NYC activation builds on Zenni and Chase's shared commitment to expanding access to vision care and empowering young people to prioritize their overall health, with clinical services provided by Optical Academy. By bringing together vision screenings, eyewear and mental wellbeing resources, the programming reinforces a simple message for students: wellness means caring for the whole person.

About Zenni Optical
Zenni pioneered the online eyewear industry in 2003 with a mission to make eyewear affordable and accessible for everyone. With complete prescription pairs starting under $10, Zenni offers adults and children the freedom to see clearly and express themselves through a wide selection of high-quality prescription glasses, sunglasses, protective eyewear, and non-prescription frames—curated with fashion, function, and style in mind. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company has upended the traditional retail model to become the leader in U.S. online eyewear, with over 70 million frames sold worldwide. Zenni is proud to be the Official Eyewear of the San Francisco 49ers, Boston Celtics, Monster Jam, Team Liquid, and more. Zenni has collaborated with designers and tastemakers on exclusive collections, including Chase Stokes and George and Claire Kittle. For more information, visit zenni.com/press.

About Bring Change to Mind
Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) empowers young people to build connected, empathetic, and supportive school communities where conversations about mental health are welcome and stigma-free. Actress and activist Glenn Close co-founded the nonprofit organization in 2010 in response to a critical need to normalize conversations about mental illness. Since then, BC2M has expanded to include an evidence-based, student-led High School Club Program, launched in 2015, followed by a Middle School Program piloted in 2020. Today, BC2M Clubs operate in 43 states across more than 615 middle and high schools, empowering more than 100,000 students to take a proactive approach to their mental health through peer connection, resilience-building, and increased access to support and resources. For more information, visit bringchange2mind.org.

SOURCE Zenni Optical