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Aug 16, 2023

Bills star Von Miller gives gift of sight to WNY kids

Long before he was a ferocious NFL pass rusher, Buffalo Bills star Von Miller was a second grader learning to wear glasses for the first time. “And it wasn’t cool back then. It wasn’t cool. It was not

Long before he was a ferocious NFL pass rusher, Buffalo Bills star Von Miller was a second grader learning to wear glasses for the first time.

“And it wasn’t cool back then. It wasn’t cool. It was not cool to wear glasses,” Miller said.

Fast forward a couple of years and a couple of Super Bowl rings later, and Miller proudly sports the specs.

“I don’t know what type of football player I would be if I didn’t wear contacts or I wasn’t able to see,” he said.

A special day for a bunch of kids who are getting glasses with the help of @VonMiller and @VonsVision58. They unveiled Von’s Locker filled with frames which will be kept at Atwal Eye Care. #Bills pic.twitter.com/yjjfhAi8Rd

Miller is making sure more children see the same opportunities he did. Through his foundation, Von’s Vision, 200 kids from Western New York are getting new glasses. After having their eyesight screened back in May, the youngsters picked up their fresh frames at a reveal party inside Highmark Stadium.

"I’m very, very excited to meet Von and that I got my glasses," said Julianna Wells, 8, of Lancaster.Wells began telling her mother, Ashley, that she wanted to wear glasses last school year. As it turned out — she actually needed them.

“I think it’s definitely affecting her. She would struggle. All of a sudden we noticed this year she was struggling with reading at home,” Julianna’s mother Ashley said.

But hopefully, the new glasses courtesy of Von’s Vision will help make things a little easier.

“So I can concentrate on my schoolwork,” Julianna said.

“And great for me without vision insurance and definitely a huge plus,” Ashley added.

Miller has teamed up with Atwal Eye Care on Von’s Locker, filled with frames for students in need throughout the year.

“And I can only imagine what some of these kids go through in the classroom, not being able to see the board, or not even knowing they have vision problems. So it’s very special to me to be in a situation like this to be able to give the gift of sight,” Miller said.

This is the second year Miller has held the event in Buffalo since he joined the Bills before last season.