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.