On October 8, 2025, a team from the iCare 510 vision care initiative of Tzu Chi USA Northwest Region’s Oakland Service Center visited East Oakland Pride Elementary School in Oakland, California, to conduct student vision screenings. Two optometrists participated in the vision care outreach, and the effort was warmly received by the school’s principal and teachers. During the event, the team also met a former disaster relief recipient, now a teacher at the school, who first connected with Tzu Chi after Hurricane Katrina.

Reunion and gratitude at East Oakland Pride Elementary School

“We were fortunate today to have two optometrists participate. They are very happy to join the service. We examined a total of 12 children. The principal, teachers, and staff expressed deep gratitude for Tzu Chi’s care and dedication to the children,” said Jennifer Thai (蔡麗君), Director of the Tzu Chi USA Oakland Service Center. There was also a touching, unexpected encounter during the visit to the school. “What surprised us even more was when volunteers were unloading supplies at the school entrance, a fourth-grade teacher rushed over on his motorcycle, excitedly telling us he recognized Tzu Chi. He was a survivor of Hurricane Katrina and had even traveled to Taiwan to meet Master Cheng Yen,” Thai recounted.

“Tzu Chi is the best organization I have ever seen and been involved with,” the teacher, Kenneth Basil, told Thai with emotion. “I consider it one of the greatest blessings of my life to have met Master Cheng Yen in 2009. It was an incredible experience and a tremendous honor for me.”

What I particularly admire and find deeply moving is that I have never seen an organization so filled with love, genuine love. Many describe Tzu Chi as ‘love in action,’ and I truly believe it. This is the most remarkable organization I have ever encountered.
—Kenneth Basil, 4th Grade Teacher at East Oakland Pride Elementary School

“I am deeply grateful that Tzu Chi came to our school today,” Basil continued, introducing himself to Thai with the warmth of reconnecting with family. “My first encounter with Tzu Chi was while working at a Catholic charity organization. At that time, we had just been hit by a hurricane. I was among the evacuated and one of your care recipients. Later, I became a volunteer helping others. When I learned Tzu Chi was coming to our school, I was thrilled and immediately told the principal and the staff that ‘This is the best organization you could ever engage with!’ It is a tremendous blessing that Tzu Chi chose our school as one of its stops. Thank you so much, Tzu Chi. I am deeply grateful to see you again!”

East Oakland Pride Elementary School Principal Michelle Grant also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Tzu Chi volunteers and Thai. “Thank you so much for bringing this initiative to our school. I am truly grateful for the assistance you provided to our children for their vision care. It is incredibly important for them,” said Grant. “We all know that at such a young age, it’s not just about vision when children cannot see clearly; it impacts every aspect of their learning. Therefore, we are deeply grateful that you and the optometry team are willing to come to our school to support our children. Thank you so much!”

The iCare 510 initiative unites community compassion

The iCare 510 vision care initiative is a community program operated by Tzu Chi USA’s Oakland Service Center in Northern California. The “510” references the Oakland area code and symbolizes community unity. The program provides free vision screenings and eyeglass fittings for under-resourced community members and children, improving public health and supporting eye care and clear vision for area residents.

When the Oakland Service Center launched a fundraising campaign to initiate this charitable medical service in June 2024, community support arrived immediately. By the end of June, the campaign had met its goal.

In August 2024, an iCare 510 Charity Gala, held to thank supporters and strengthen partnerships, brought together more than 300 community members. At the event, Dr. Jennifer Kim-Anh Tran, Executive Director of the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, noted that Tzu Chi has partnered with the Vietnamese community for five years and emphasized the importance of cross-cultural collaboration. Chien Nguyen, Clinton Park Site Director at Trybe, pledged to work with Tzu Chi to promote children’s health and well-being.

With collective support, the campaign raised $200,000. Subsequently, the Oakland Service Center procured ophthalmic equipment, planned service protocols, recruited optometrists, and arranged volunteer training in California’s Central Valley. By late January 2025, everything was in place: vision screening equipment, two optometrists, and a 14-member volunteer team.

According to Oakland Service Center Director Jennifer Thai, the team officially launched the vision care initiative in February 2025, providing vision screenings to schools and the community. “In March and April, we arranged for optometrists to perform comprehensive eye examinations and provide appropriate eyeglasses based on individual needs. To date, we have completed two sessions, conducting vision screenings for 102 students and community members,” shared Thai.

Collaboration makes iCare 510 possible

The success of the Oakland vision care initiative relies heavily on the full support of the Fresno Mobile Clinic team in Central California, for which Jennifer Thai expressed deep gratitude. “We are especially thankful for the selfless dedication of Steven Voon, Executive Director of Tzu Chi Mobile Clinics, and Olivia Chung, Fresno Mobile Clinic Manager. The couple travel three hours from the Central Valley each time to provide us with training and support. Their hard work and dedication are truly moving and admirable, and are crucial to our ability to provide these services,” said Thai, before also thanking volunteers from Modesto. “Yang Yingli and Manyun from the Modesto Service Center also travel long distances to support us,” she added, “enabling the smooth operation of vision care services at the Oakland Service Center and bringing light and care to community members of all ages. Our gratitude is beyond words!”

“What’s even more heartening is that our optometrists have been deeply moved by the team’s meticulous preparation,” Thai continued. “After participating with great joy and enthusiasm yesterday, they sent a text message after returning home, saying ‘Thank you and the Tzu Chi team for such wonderful prep yesterday!’” she shared, referring to the outreach at East Oakland Pride Elementary School on October 8, 2025.

Launching the iCare 510 initiative

On February 12, 2025, the Tzu Chi USA Oakland Service Center team conducted its first vision care outreach at Franklin Elementary School in Oakland, marking a significant milestone for the iCare 510 initiative. That day, they provided vision screenings to 72 children. The principal expressed heartfelt gratitude to Tzu Chi. Since 2024, Oakland volunteers have provided after-school tutoring and character education to students at this school. Now, by adding vision screenings, their care extends to children’s health.

The iCare 510 vision care initiative serves not only students but also vulnerable community members. Tzu Chi volunteers and the medical team provide free vision screenings at the Oakland Service Center almost every month, which is open to people of all ages and with no limitation on health insurance.

Currently, the Oakland Service Center cannot make eyeglasses on site because it does not have a Vision Mobile Clinic equipped for this. However, Jennifer Thai expressed special thanks for the strong support from the Fresno Mobile Clinic team in this regard as well. Once the Oakland team receives eyeglass prescriptions issued by their optometrists, the Fresno team prepares the glasses and promptly returns them to the Oakland Service Center. In this way, care recipients can receive new eyeglasses in as little as three days. Together, the teams ensure timely access to eye care for Oakland students and community members.

From disaster relief to school-based services, Tzu Chi volunteers weave bonds of good and compassion between people through love, empowering care recipients to become givers and perpetuating light and hope. The iCare 510 vision care initiative not only helps children see more clearly but also allows the community to witness the power of Tzu Chi’s love, illuminating more corners in need of care.

Written by Yingying Lee (李成林) ; Translated by H.B. Qin; Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska

Source: Protecting Student Vision in Oakland With iCare 510