Celebrating its 10th year, and coordinated by Optometry Giving Sight, the World Sight Day Challenge invites eye care professionals, their staff, patients, industry partners and students of Optometry to raise funds throughout September and October to help the 600 million people around the world who are needlessly vision impaired. Here are some of the great effort our wonderful supporters got up to in 2016. Thank you!

The U of Montreal was the highest fundraising school for the North American World Sight Day Student Challenge with an amazing total raised of $10,059.18! Their efforts included a variety of fun and successful activities including a Bowling event, a ‘5-10’ social event, a silent auction, as well as sales of t-shirts, wristbands and custom water bottles. Special thanks to the wonderful student organizers who made it all happen: Molly Perron (head organizer), Roxanne Arsenault, Geneviève Bourbonnière, Laura Pelletier and to the many other students who helped and participated. Sincere thanks to Lasik MD for generously donating a laser eye surgery gift certificate, and our thanks to all of the companies and individuals who donated funds or items for the silent action. Way to go U of Montreal – your enthusiastic and exceptional support has helped to improve the lives of many people in need!

Alcon associates in 15 countries participated in Cycle for Sight this year, which triggered a $25,000 donation from the Alcon Foundation to Optometry Giving Sight’s Our Children’s Vision program. In addition, Alcon China provided an eyecare lecture and free eye exams to associates and their family members. Alcon India hosted an associate Lunch & Learn featuring local leaders from SightLife and in partnership with Prabha Eye Clinic, Bangalore, held an eye screening camp where 150 patients received free eye screenings.

Complete EyeCare Optometry in Abbotsford BC Canada raised $2636 for the World Sight Day Challenge 2016. In addition to the doctors generously making donations, they invited patients to donate throughout October and held raffles for two gorgeous gift baskets full of goodies including a set of free lenses donated by Essilor and Nikon. "Participating in fundraising for Optometry Giving Sight was a great way to engage our patients and staff, as well as helping give sight to someone in need."

The FYidoctors office who raised the most in 2016 was FYidoctors - Regina Grasslands in SK with a total of $5366! Their creative events included a ‘Pie in the Face’ contest where donations could be made to ‘vote’ for which doctor would get a pie in the face! In the end, Dr. Gaucher, Dr. Turnbull and Dr. Plosker all got ‘pied’ for the cause! In addition, they held a candy apple sale day and a popcorn sale day, and also held a successful bake sale with delicious homemade goodies baked by staff members. Everyone here at Optometry Giving Sight is incredibly grateful for your efforts!

Organisers, Amanda Rungis (Sure Eye Care) and Gordon Ryan (ReviveR Cocktail Bar) were blown away by the generosity and support shown by the local business community which donated prizes and silent auction items for the event. $13,270 was raised at the fifth annual Highballs for Eyeballs fundraiser thanks to the generosity of the Central Coast community.

Henderson Vision Centre raised over $2500 for the 2016 World Sight Day Challenge. As part of their efforts they invited every patient to donate while they were checking in/out, held an ‘indoor garage sale’ table throughout the month of October with items donated by doctors and staff, invited patients to make a donation in return for glasses adjustments, had a ‘guess the number of chocolates in the large jar’ contest, and staff members donated $20 to be able to wear jeans to work once a week. As added incentive, anyone making a $20 donation or larger could enter their name in a draw for a $250 gift certificate towards eyewear, and the practice provided a gift certificate to the staff member who raised the most donations.

For the month of October, $5.00 was donated for every frame purchased as well as a filled patient donation box (which remains out year-round) where patients are encouraged to donate in exchange for adjusting their glasses. This year they also hosted a 'Murder at the Pie Auction' dinner theater event. One of the doctors, Dr. Candace DeCock, directed the play and Dr. Dustin McGill was one of the actors. All of the actors volunteered their time for this wonderful cause. Diner was prepared by a local women's group who donated their time to prepare the meal, and was served between scenes by the Optometric Centre staff. "Gail Fisher (Office Manager) was the master of ceremonies and started out the event by explaining Optometry Giving Sight and all the wonderful projects they are doing around the world in regards to people unable to receive vision care, eye glasses and education. A live Pie Auction was held during the play and a local auctioneer volunteered his time to run the auction. The event was a great success and over $3600 was raised!"

CooperVision Canada office held some great fundraising activities for the 2016 World Sight Day Challenge. An added incentive for employee participation and contribution, as fundraising targets were hit, meant that there were consequences for the management staff! The Country Manager, Alexandra Donkin, got a pie in the face; the Director of Marketing had to dress up as the Country Manager for the day; and the Finance Controller had his head shaved! Fun was had by all and the team raised over $1000.

"We here at Total Eyecare are excited to announce that we managed to raise $4,103.50 for Optometry Giving Sight during the month of October! Thank you to all those who donated and contributed towards our fundraising efforts!"

"Suite à notre engagement de faire un don de 2$ par lunette vendue durant le mois d'octobre, voici que nous remettons un chèque de 320$ à Optometry Giving Sight. :-) Deux de nos stylistes présentent le don soit Brigitte Hébert et Valérie Couturier."

A delicious World Sight Day Challenge bake sale delighted palates!

Università del Salento organized four days of eye health screenings: 26-27-28 October at the Department of Mathematics and Physics, and Sunday, October 30th in Piazza Sant'Oronzo.

VSP Vision Care Australia has raised more than $31,000 for Optometry Giving Sight and the World Sight Day Challenge! A tremendous result thank you all! Of the funds donated, $12,000 was raised at an employee fundraiser on World Sight Day. All other donations were raised throughout the year from employee contributions. “Supporting Optometry Giving Sight is a year around activity and involves the entire team,” said Brad Saffin, Australia country manager of VSP Australia. “Helping prevent vision loss and increasing access to eye care remain critical needs around the globe. The mission of Optometry Giving Sight is one we truly believe in and we’re delighted to contribute to its important efforts.”

This year, CooperVision continued its support of Optometry Giving Sight​ and Fight for Sight on World Sight Day.

At the Melbourne Marathon in October, Canterbury Eyecare and some of their suppliers ran for Optometry Giving Sight in 2016 t-shirts. "We had such a fun time organising and promoting Optometry Giving Sight especially with Chris Katopodis' direct involvement with the Sumba Eye Program," writes Athena Katopodis, Practice Manager.

We are ecstatic to announce that we have reached our goal of raising $10,000 for Optometry Giving Sight! A huge thank you to our patients, suppliers, doctors and staff, who have helped to transform lives through the gift of sight.

"We celebrate the spirit of Giving Tuesday year-round! We donate $1 to our quarterly charity partner for every lens we sell, and our staff donates to dress casually on Fridays. Our charity partner for the rest of the year is Optometry Giving Sight, an awesome organization transforming lives through the gift of vision."

Mt. Sterling EyeCare participated in the 2016 World Sight Day Challenge during the month of October and will be sending $265 to Optometry Giving Sight. The funds donated will be used to provide vision exams and glasses to children in underserved communities around the world. Thank you to all our patients who supported this effort by purchasing frames during the month of October.

Optometry students at HSN - Høgskolen i Sørøst-Norge (University College of Southeast Norway) sold cakes and wristbands on campus at Kongsberg for the World Sight Day Challenge in 2016.

Thank you Astoria Vision Source for your happy Halloween support!

"We are proud to announce that through our fundraising in the months of September and October, we have raised just shy of $300 for Optometry Giving Sight. Thank you all for your donations. As always, throughout the year, we will be donating $2 from every pair of glasses sold to Optometry Giving Sight."

"Thanks to our fabulous patients, we were able to donate over $100 to Optometry Giving Sight for the #worldsightdaychallenge. We truly appreciate your generosity. Here are just a few of our patients who helped make this possible."

From the ODMA Eye Talk eNewsletter: "We celebrated Optometry Giving Sight's World Sight Day Challenge 10th birthday on the 18th of October by hosting a morning tea in our office. The Eyetalk staff invited other businesses in our building to help raise money for this very worthy cause, and it was lovely to meet our neighbours and get to know them while having a cup of coffee and some cake!"

All raffle proceeds went to Optometry Giving Sight, "which is such a worthy cause!"

Every year since 2007, Dr. Carla Eamon and her team have generously donated a day of eye exam fees in October as well as inviting their patients to contribute. "We are happy to support the World Sight Day Challenge, to share our precious gift of sight!"

"We are wearing jeans for Optometry Giving Sight!" Fundraising was in full swing in October and many donated for some delicious baked goods.

Students fundraised by selling cakes, having a barbecue and running for sight!

Fantastic baked treats and beautiful handmade items were sold in support of the World Sight Day Challenge.

Johnson & Johnson has organized, on 26 and 27 October at the italian headquarter in Pomezia (Rome), a visual screening for the employees. The donations collected during this event was doubled by the company.

I.I.S "Grandis" Cuneo (Institute of Higher Education) organized a visual screening that involved the students of the optical school and collected funds for Optometry Giving Sight.

De Rigo Rem raised $296.00 for World Sight today with our Executives BBQ cook out.

"Thank you to all our doctors and staff, our sponsors and our runners, for making this day perfect! We raised $4000 for Optometry Giving Sight!"

"Each year, we are are proud to celebrate World Sight Day! Today we provided lunch for all employees; thanking them for participating in the World Sight Day Challenge! This is our 4th year of being part of this fundraising event. When an employee donated to the cause, they received a tee shirt and wristband as a thank you gesture for their support. DAC Vision matches all employee contributions. We also take the opportunity to raise awareness about blindness and vision impairment."

Europa Eyewear put together another full on Europa Olympics to celebrate and fundraise for the World Sight Day Challenge.

"We have had a great World Sight Day at Aurora Eye Care! Accessible eye care for everyone can be achieved by spreading awareness and education."

It was a scary Halloween themed fundraiser with bake sale and a photo booth for World Sight Day Challenge.

Celebrating World Sight Day!

Jellybeans in the jar! guessing competition entry with a gold coin donation to Optometry Giving Sight might have set you up with a sweet reward.

Bonavista Eye Clinic in Calgary AB Canada raised over $2200 for the World Sight Day Challenge this year. They participated in several ways: they invited patients to donate during October; on October 12th the practice matched all donations made throughout the day; and some of their staff participated in a night run to raise funds for both the ASRAB and Optometry Giving Sight. They also keep the donation box out year round and welcome patients to make a donation in return for glasses adjustments and other small services. The generous support of their doctors, staff, patients, family and friends helped to make it such a success.

Maui Jim Nordic AB raised just under AUS$5,000 by selling slightly damaged stock to friends, family and suppliers. Fab job!

CooperVision Italy on World Sight Day Challenge 2016. CooperVision employees made terrific and delicious cakes to raise funds for Optometry Giving Sight!

To celebrate a new partnership between Essilor Vision Foundation Singapore and Optometry Giving Sight Singapore both organisations pooled over 100 volunteers on the occasion of World Sight Day to help provide close to 1,500 people in need with corrective and protective vision care. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=-dS684wUBaQ

Carl Zeiss Canada contributed $2954 for the 2016 World Sight Day Challenge through a series of creative fundraising events by the staff. "We once again enjoyed our Annual Bagel Day, Hot Dog Day, Strudel Day, Muffin Morning as well as our Paid Day Off and 50/50 Raffles. This is our seventh year raising funds for Optometry Giving Sight and is enjoyed every October by all our employees. We are looking forward to our Challenge in 2017." Our sincere thanks to everyone at Carl Zeiss Canada!

We would like to thank the team at Dolman Eyecare Centre for going the extra mile in 2016 through our 'World Sight Day Challenge' and 'I Care & Share' programs, raising over $5300! During the month of November the staff raised an impressive amount through several World Sight Day Challenge fundraising events including draws for a Movie Night out for 4, a gift basket, as well as a beautiful Seasonal Wreath (created yearly by staff member Debbie). Drs. Howard and Kim Dolman generously matched a large portion of the donations raised as well as making a donation per pair of glasses sold during the year. We greatly appreciate your commitment to providing eye care throughout the world!

The University of Waterloo Optometry Students enthusiastically participated in the 2016 World Sight Day Challenge and raised $4905.04, making them the #2 fundraising school in all of North America! Their fundraising included a successful 'Dining in the Dark' event where participants were blindfolded during a meal to simulate what it would be like to be blind, and a silent auction for many items that were generously donated by the optometric community, local businesses and individuals. A big thanks to the wonderful student organizers who made it all happen: Martina Sawatzky, Kristine Massicotte and Rahul Joshi (pictured). Sincere thanks to TLC Laser Centre Waterloo for donating a laser eye surgery gift certificate, and our thanks to everyone who volunteered, participated, donated items or funds. Your fabulous support is greatly appreciated!