Twelve-year-old Jonathan Jones is extremely color blind. During Mrs. Joan Foley’s science class at Lakeview Schools (Cottonwood and Wood Lake), principal Scott Hanson, who is also color blind, brought a pair of color correcting glasses for Jonathan to try on. Family members and classmates watched as Jonathan’s world instantly changed. It was an overwhelming and beautiful moment to see Jonathan experience things around him in a whole new way.
Watch Jonathan on CBS This Morning
This incredible moment was captured on video and touched thousands of people across the world, too. It went viral, and it captured the attention of national media like ABC, CBS, The Washington Post, USA Today and more. It inspired generosity, too.
People kept asking how they could help. So, parents Carole and Don Jones created a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $350 to purchase a pair of color correcting glasses. The response was unbelievable: Over $32,000 was raised! Even better, a company that makes color correcting glasses, EnChroma, committed to match every pair purchased with a free pair. An incredible moment for Jonathan is now creating incredible opportunities for kids across southwest Minnesota!
A Visionary Partnership
With donations growing, Carole and Don Jones contacted Southwest Initiative Foundation to see how we could help. As a regional community foundation, we were able to create a solution that transforms the generous donations into color correcting glasses for kids in our southwest Minnesota region. Working with the Jones Family, EnChroma company and select southwest Minnesota schools, we have a process for families to screen their child’s vision and apply for a pair of color correcting glasses. There is no cost to families, ensuring that all kids with color blindness have an opportunity to see a whole new world!
Contact us with questions
Regarding glasses:
Nancy Fasching, Community Impact Director
nancyf@swifoundation.org
Regarding making a special gift:
Liz Cheney, CFRE, Community Philanthropy Director
lizc@swifoundation.org
Or call us at 800-594-9480.