EAGLE-EYED FANS

Local business gives Birds’ Eye Mobile and Glasses Lab sendoff to Super Bowl

TREDYFFRIN » With the Eagles headed to the Super Bowl, one local business has kept an eye on their success. AMETEK, a manufacturer of electronic instruments, electromechanical devices and vision diagnosis instruments headquartered in Berwyn, has supported the team by sponsoring the Eagles Eye Mobile and Glasses Lab, which brings quality vision care to underserved children around Philadelphia.

On Friday The Eagles Eye Mobile and Glasses Lab got a pep rally send off from employees at AMETEK. The two units are headed to Minnesota for the Super Bowl. Along the way they will be stopping in four hometowns of Eagle players as they make their way to Minnesota.

The Eagles Pep Band performed along with the Eagles cheerleaders. Employees got to sit in the Eagles helmet mobile and tour the Eye Mobile and Glass Lab.

Since 1996 the Eagles Foundation has gone to 120 schools and given away 55,000 pairs of glasses, according to Megan Fesolovich, Eagles Foundation coordinator, Students are given an eye exam in the Eye Mobile, and if they are found to need glasses they are made in the Glasses Lab and given to the child at no cost to the families.

“Their eyes light up, you can see the world change as they put on the glasses,” said Ra-

chel Weiner, director of the vision program at Eagles Charitable Foundation. “I had one student who kept taking off and putting back on the glasses, she kept asking me, ‘can you see like this?’ She couldn’t believe what a difference the glasses made to her.”

While AMETEK has partnered with the Eagles Foundation for many years, they began to sponsor the Eye Mobile in 2011 when they acquired Reichert Instruments, which makes vision diagnosis instruments. Those ophthalmic and vision diagnosis instruments are used in the Eye Mobile.

According to the Eagle Foundation, one in four of all school children in the United States have a vision problem significant enough to affect learning, yet 80 percent of all vision impairment can be prevented or cured.

As they hit the road for Minneapolis, Minn., where Super Bowl LII will pit the Eagles vs. the Patriots next weekend, the lab will make four stops at schools in the home town of several Eagles players. On Monday they will be at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Ill., home town of Eagles kicker Jake Elliott. Tuesday will take them to Horlick High School in Racine, Wis., home of special teams ace Chris Maragos. Wednesday they will be in Milwaukee, hometown of offensive lineman Brandon Brooks, and on Friday they will stop at Horizon Middle School in Carson Wentz’s hometown of Bismarck, N.D. Locally licensed doctors will provide full eye exams at each location.

“At the Eagles, we believe strongly that every child should have access to comprehensive eye care,” said Christina Weiss Lurie, president of the Eagles Charitable Foundation and Eagles Social Responsibility. “If you can’t see, you can’t read. If you can’t read, you can’t learn. We’re thrilled to partner with AMETEK Foundation, Lincoln Financial Group and Essilor Vision Foundation to be able to extend our services across the country on the road to Minnesota in honor of our wonderful players.”

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA AMETEK employees Eida Green and Mariana Alonso enjoy the Eagles helmet cart during a visit to ther Berwyn office complex Friday. The Eagles Eye Mobile and Glasses Lab will be on tour on the way to Minneapolis for the Super Bowl.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Ashton Reynolds sports an Eagles hat.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA AMETEK employee Ariana Morgles enjoys the festivities.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The Eagle Pep Band and cheerleaders perform at a special sendoff Friday for the Eagles Eye Mobile and Glasses Lab with employees at AMETEK in Berwyn.