Easy to see Tyreke cares for Chester

TYREKE EVANS took three steps up into an RV that had been converted into a VSP Mobile Eyes Clinic outside Chester City Hall. As he ducked to get through the door, volunteers greeted the New Orleans Pelicans guard as if they had been friends for years.

Evans proceeded through the vehicle and knocked on, then opened one of the exam room doors. A doctor looked around the state-of-the-art equipment and was thrilled to see the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year looking back at him. The woman who was being examined was just as excited to see Evans.

For the Chester community, it is a chance to not only meet a professional basketball player who many young people look up to, it is a chance to keep an eye on their optical health. Over the course of four days every year, the VSP Mobile Eye Clinic rolls up to Chester to give free eye exams and eye glasses for anyone who comes to the clinic.

Evans, a Chester native, is a constant face during the clinic, even helping give exams and make glasses, which are done in about 15 minutes.

According to Evans' Aunt Phyllis, "It ain't about the money," for Evans. "It's about Chester, and that's why we're proud of him."

Evans' pride in the town in which he grew up is a large reason why he wanted to get involved with VSP's program, which is completely not-for-profit. Melissa Warren, senior public relations for VSP, reached out to Evans six years ago when he was a rookie with the Sacramento Kings to see if he would get involved.

VSP's Mobile Eye Clinic started after Hurricane Katrina 10 years ago with one RV. It has grown to three vehicles and travels around the country helping communities in need.

"When Tyreke and I started working together six years ago, I asked him if there was anything we could do together or any community we could bring a local clinic to, where it would be?'' Warren said. "I'm not from the East Coast, so I didn't know Chester. He said Chester, with that being his hometown."

VSP has made Chester one of its key cities, committing to visit once a year to provide free eye care to those who need it. Evans saw the need for such a program in the city he loves, and has given him so much over the years.

"Vision is definitely important," Evans said. "A lot of kids need eye exams, especially in this city. Families get a chance to go and get free eye exams. It is important to bring something like that here.''

Not only did VSP and Evans bring the health-care aspect of giving back to Chester, there was a free basketball camp for kids in the area. Evans also helped with that.

He understands that he, Jameer Nelson and recently Rondae Hollis-Jefferson are the only guys to make it from Chester to the NBA. He knows just how hard one has to work to achieve his or her dreams and wants to bestow that knowledge on kids in the same situation he once was.

"Stay focused. Keep working hard," Evans said is his advice. "You know how it is to live in Chester, growing up out here can be tough. You have to have the right people around you to stay positive and keep working hard and hopefully your dreams come true."

The city of Chester recognizes how important Evans' work is for their community, and decided to commemorate it. They awarded him a key to the city on Friday afternoon in front of various Evans family members and close friends (most of whom took advantage of the free eye exams, as well).

Evans gives equal credit to those family members in attendance as well as the city for his successes both on and off of the basketball court.

"[Chester] has helped me a lot just learning things from my brothers, telling me the do's and the don'ts," Evans said. "I could have easily got sidetracked but I stayed focused and kept working hard. They pushed me a lot. It wasn't the easiest but it paid off. Without them, none of it would be possible."

Said Warren: "Sometimes you hear of people getting keys to the city because they are famous or they are an amazing athlete, and Tyreke is all of those things, but the real underlying reason he got the key to the city was the difference he is making in people's lives here. I am really proud to know him and be able to partner with him in that way.''