Transitions Optical Honors Tampa Native as Part of ‘Early’s Angels’ Series on CBS News’ ‘The Early Show’

Transitions Sponsors Tampa Literacy Outreach Program and Provides Free Eyecare and Eyewear to West Shore Elementary Students and Children Around the Country

PINELLAS PARK, Fla., May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Transitions Optical honored Tampa native Jennifer Frances on Friday during CBS News’ The Early Show, surprising her with a gift to support her mobile literacy outreach initiative, “Bess the Book Bus.” Frances was featured as part of the show’s “Early’s Angels” series, which celebrates everyday people throughout the country who show courage and selflessness in the face of adversity and make extraordinary efforts to help others.

Through a donation made possible by Transitions Optical, Transitions is adopting West Shore Elementary School in Tampa in celebration of Frances’s efforts and will provide nearly 400 students with free eye exams and eyewear fitted with Transitions(R) lenses for those children who require it. Students and the staff of West Shore Elementary enthusiastically received this gift via a live satellite feed from the school in Tampa.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the gift of healthy sight that Transitions Optical has given the children at West Shore Elementary School,” said Jennifer Frances. “The free eye exams and glasses with Transitions lenses will help so many children that just don’t have access to proper eyecare and eyewear. When I’m reading to the children, I see so many of them squinting – this is the perfect gift to help them read clearly and maximize the benefit of their education,” she added.

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’s efforts have expanded to include a multi-city tour, distributing nearly 100,000 books and serving over 6,000 families.

“Jennifer’s mission of promoting literacy is critical, as studies show that 80 percent of a child’s learning is visual and – what many don’t realize – is that one in four children have an undiagnosed vision problem that can interfere with their ability to learn,” said Connie Falvo, Transitions Optical’s director of external affairs who presented Frances with the gift on The Early Show’s plaza in New York City. “All of us at Transitions are touched by Jennifer’s efforts and strongly believe in what she’s doing. We’re thrilled to partner with her to help children in our own community and children around the country to see better and become enthusiastic lifelong readers.”

Beyond Transitions’ support of West Shore Elementary, the company will partner with Frances during her 2009 multi-city tour to bring healthy sight to other children throughout the country.

Achieving healthy sight goes beyond passing an eye test. Healthy sight means enhancing the quality of your vision today while helping to preserve the health and wellness of your eyes for the future. Photochromic lenses, such as Transitions lenses, are the ideal everyday choice for healthy sight. As clear as regular eyeglass lenses indoors and at night, Transitions conveniently and automatically darken as light conditions change to reduce glare and improve contrast – protecting the eyes by blocking 100 percent of harmful UV rays.

For more information about Frances’s mobile literacy program, visit www.bessthebookbus.org. To learn more about healthy sight, visit www.Transitions.com.

NOTE: For high-resolution images, please contact Gina Villani at gina.villani@bm.com or visit the Media Center on www.Transitions.com for the full version of the press release.

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 photochromics to optical manufacturers worldwide. Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names.

Transitions(R) 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, the first to earn the American Optometric Association’s Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers, visit Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).

SOURCE Transitions Optical, Inc.