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.

About Zenni Optical
Zenni pioneered the online eyewear industry in 2003 with a mission to make eyewear affordable and accessible for everyone. With complete prescription pairs starting under $10, Zenni offers adults and children the freedom to see clearly and express themselves through a wide selection of high-quality prescription glasses, sunglasses, protective eyewear, and non-prescription frames—curated with fashion, function, and style in mind. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the company has upended the traditional retail model to become the leader in U.S. online eyewear, with over 70 million frames sold worldwide. Zenni is proud to be the Official Eyewear of the San Francisco 49ers, Boston Celtics, Monster Jam, Team Liquid, and more. Zenni has collaborated with designers and tastemakers on exclusive collections, including Chase Stokes and George and Claire Kittle. For more information, visit zenni.com/press.

About Bring Change to Mind
Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) empowers young people to build connected, empathetic, and supportive school communities where conversations about mental health are welcome and stigma-free. Actress and activist Glenn Close co-founded the nonprofit organization in 2010 in response to a critical need to normalize conversations about mental illness. Since then, BC2M has expanded to include an evidence-based, student-led High School Club Program, launched in 2015, followed by a Middle School Program piloted in 2020. Today, BC2M Clubs operate in 43 states across more than 615 middle and high schools, empowering more than 100,000 students to take a proactive approach to their mental health through peer connection, resilience-building, and increased access to support and resources. For more information, visit bringchange2mind.org.

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SOURCE Zenni Optical

The Article Examines How Packaging Choices Affect Shipping Costs, Product Protection, Labor Efficiency, Storage, and Long-Term Operating Expenses.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What makes packaging truly cost-effective? HelloNation answers that question inan article featuring insights from Packaging Expert Kyle Reger, Regional Sales Manager at Jamestown Container Companies in Rochester, New York.

The article explains that evaluating cost-effective packaging requires looking beyond the price of an individual box. While procurement teams often start with the purchase price, the article notes that packaging decisions affect nearly every step of the supply chain. Shipping efficiency, product protection, labor requirements, storage needs, and overall operational performance all contribute to the total cost of ownership.

According to the HelloNation article, one of the most significant factors influencing packaging costs is product protection. Packaging that fits products properly helps reduce damage during transportation and handling. Fewer damaged shipments can lower replacement expenses, reduce return shipping, minimize customer service issues, and prevent production delays. The article explains that even modest improvements in damage rates can create substantial savings when spread across large shipping volumes.

The article also describes how packaging design directly influences shipping costs. Oversized boxes often increase dimensional freight charges while requiring additional filler materials. Right-sized packaging improves freight efficiency by maximizing trailer space, increasing pallet utilization, and moving more products in fewer shipments. These improvements help organizations control transportation expenses while maintaining reliable product protection throughout delivery.

The HelloNation article emphasizes that packaging evaluations should carefully consider labor costs. Packaging that assembles quickly or simplifies packing lets employees work more efficiently. Small improvements in box design or packing methods can reduce repetitive tasks and speed up production. Over thousands of shipments, saving only a few seconds per package may translate into meaningful labor savings for many organizations.

Storage efficiency is another area where packaging choices influence long-term value. The article explains that packaging designed to nest efficiently or ship flat can reduce the amount of storage space required for inventory. Better organization also makes packaging materials easier to access during daily operations, helping warehouse teams work more efficiently while reducing unnecessary handling.

Throughout the article, Packaging Expert Kyle Reger explains that procurement decisions should consider the full operational impact of packaging, not just the initial purchase price. The article encourages procurement teams to compare product damage rates, freight expenses, labor efficiency, storage capacity, packaging consistency, and compatibility with existing workflows. Considering all these factors together provides a clearer picture of total packaging costs.

The article further notes that successful packaging decisions come from understanding how every stage of the supply chain connects to the next. Poorly fitting packaging may create unnecessary waste, require excess packing materials, slow production, increase freight expenses, or contribute to avoidable product damage. By considering the broader operational picture, organizations can identify cost-effective packaging solutions that improve efficiency while supporting dependable day-to-day operations.

What Makes Packaging Cost-Effective Beyond the Box Price features insights from Kyle Reger, a packaging expert in Rochester, New York, on HelloNation.

About Jamestown Container Companies

Jamestown Container Companies is a family-owned packaging manufacturer headquartered in Falconer, New York. Since 1956, the company has provided custom corrugated packaging, packaging supplies, displays, and contract packaging services to customers throughout the Great Lakes region. Jamestown Container Companies operates multiple facilities across New York and Ohio and is committed to delivering innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible packaging solutions.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation

Award recognizes innovation, design excellence, and impact in Engineering Design

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Invetech, a product realization company that designs, engineers and manufactures fully customizable platforms, announced that its work on the MeMed Key™ has been recognized with a 2026 Gold Good Design Award in the Engineering Design category. 

The MeMed Key™ is a cutting-edge, compact immunoassay platform designed to help address a critical challenge in clinical care: distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections rapidly enough to support timely treatment decisions. The compact, automated platform translates a complex benchtop assay into a practical diagnostic system designed for use closer to the point of need.

“Receiving the Gold Good Design Award is a meaningful milestone for the MeMed Key™. It recognizes our vision of bringing advanced diagnostic technology into clinical practice in a way that is both innovative and intuitive,” said Eran Eden, CEO and Co-founder of MeMed. 

The collaboration brought together MeMed’s expertise in host-response diagnostics with Invetech’s experience in product development and commercialization. Invetech provided end-to-end engineering and manufacturing expertise, including instrument and cartridge design, software, firmware and electronics development, systems engineering, regulatory and safety testing, manufacturing transfer, and production process validation to support commercialization of the MeMed Key™. We would also like to salute frog design for a great collaboration on industrial design and human factors engineering. These capabilities helped accelerate the commercialization of MeMed Key™ and translate a laboratory assay into a practical clinical diagnostic platform. 

The award recognizes the strength of this shared approach: combining scientific ambition, engineering rigor, human-centered design, and manufacturing readiness to create a compact platform that can support more informed clinical decisions.

“We are incredibly proud to receive this award. It recognizes the technical mastery, deep knowledge and dedication behind our work, as well as the strength of the exceptional team that makes it possible. This achievement also reflects the great collaboration with MeMed, whose partnership has been instrumental throughout the journey. We are very proud of what we have accomplished together,” said Andreas Knaack, CEO & President at Invetech.

The Good Design Awards Jury noted: “The Jury recognizes MeMed Key™ as a technically sophisticated and highly resolved diagnostic platform that successfully translates complex laboratory testing into a compact point-of-need device. The project demonstrates strong engineering integration and addresses an important global healthcare challenge relating to antimicrobial resistance and diagnostic speed. The Jury was impressed by the thoughtful systems integration, workflow simplification and careful consideration of clinical usability, noting the compelling compact form factor and accessibility of the platform with clear potential to improve responsiveness and decentralization of diagnostic testing. The Jury commends the team on delivering a commercially mature approach to point-of-care diagnostics with substantial impact for general practitioners and patients alike.” 

The Good Design Awards are among the most respected international design awards. Each entry is evaluated by a panel of more than 80 international Jurors against three core criteria: Good Design, Design Innovation, and Design Impact. The Gold Winner accolade is awarded to a limited number of top-scoring projects in each category, recognizing excellence across good design, design innovation, and design impact. 

For more information, visit: MeMed Key – Good Design 

About Invetech 

For 40 years, Invetech has partnered with leaders in diagnostics, life sciences, and cell and gene therapy to co-create breakthrough solutions that transform ideas into market-ready technologies and therapies. Whether transitioning from early process development to commercial-scale manufacturing or optimizing complex workflows, our team combines proven technologies, scientific insight and engineering excellence to deliver tailored solutions. Together with our clients, we are advancing healthcare.

To learn more about Invetech: visit https://www.invetechgroup.com/

About MeMed 

MeMed translates the immune system’s signals into insights that guide care for patients with acute infections. Its FDA-cleared MeMed BV® test distinguishes bacterial from viral infections in 15 minutes. MeMed BV Flex™, designed for capillary blood testing, and MeMed Severity™, designed to predict severe outcomes in acute infections, have received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation. Both are investigational and have not been cleared for sale.

To learn more about MeMed, visit www.me-med.com.

Contact Emily Ellinger 
Marketing & Communications Manager, Invetech 
emily.ellinger@invetech.com.au 

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SOURCE Invetech