The Allan Jones Foundation has donated 43,000 special dark glasses for viewing the Great American Eclipse of 2017 to students in six area school systems, according to a foundation news release.
Along with Cleveland, Tenn., and Bradley County, four other school systems are also receiving the glasses - Rhea County, Dalton, Dayton and Whitfield County.
The glasses are personalized with the date of the eclipse and a message for the school systems.
The eclipse takes place on Aug. 21.
"There are people traveling to the United States from all over the world to see the only total eclipse of the sun in the last 26 years – it's a major event that people will talk about for generations and no one is more excited than kids," said Tennessee businessman Allan Jones. "We wanted students to be able to have fun watching the eclipse without risking eye damage and that is why we considered only glasses that were NASA-approved."
Jones is the founder of lending businesses Check Into Cash, Buy Here Pay Here USA and U.S. Money Shops.
Gincy Pendergrass, center, is shown here pointing out where the Great American Eclipse of 2017 will take place on Aug. 21 to her friends, Olivia Lefoy, Madilyn Maselli and Reece Meagher, at Cleveland Middle School.