Members of the North American eye care community will once again join forces in a Coalition to support Optometry Giving Sight and its annual fundraising campaign, the World Sight Day Challenge held throughout September and October.
This year’s Coalition members include ABB OPTICAL GROUP, Alcon, AllAboutVision.com®, CooperVision, Essilor, Eyefinity, FYidoctors, Marchon Eyewear, Vision Source®, VSP Global® and ZeaVision.
They will be joined by A&A Optical, Acuity Pro Software, Advance Optical, Allergan, Art Optical, Bard Optical, ClearVision Optical, Contamac, DAC Vision, Demandforce, Essilor Canada, Europa, Eye Pros, Eye Recommend, Gateway Professional Network, GPLI, Heidelburg Engineering, Hilco, Hi-Tech Products, IBM Global Delivery Systems, Jobson Medical Information, Konan Medical, Kosh Ophthalmics, Match, Menicon, Modern Optical, MODO, Nikon, Oasis Medical, Ocuco, Optos, Optovue, OSI, PFO Global, POG Labs, REM Eyewear, RX Optical, Reptile Sun, Ron’s Optical, Signet Armorlite, Slack Incorporated, SynergEyes, Tech Group, Tura, Vision Ease, Vision One Credit Union, Vmax Vision, Wave Contact Lens System, Westgroupe, Zeiss (USA & Canada) and Zyloware, all of whom are participating in the Challenge in some way.
Numerous events are planned to raise awareness of the importance of eye health and to provide eye care and eyewear to people in need.
VSP Global is partnering with VOSH, coalition partners and Louisiana doctors to host a special VSP Mobile Eyes® outreach event to increase access to eye care for those in need and help raise awareness about the importance of eye care. Held in New Orleans, up to 300 patients will receive no-cost eye exams and glasses through the VSP Mobile Eyes clinic, outfitted with state-of-the-art exam rooms and a full dispensary.
CooperVision, a Gold Global Sponsor, is conducting its “Fight for Sight” campaign, in which employees are encouraged to participate in fundraising activities organized at their local CooperVision sites. Employee donations will be matched by The Cooper Companies, CooperVision’s parent company.
Vision Source® is encouraging Member Support Center colleagues, Administrators and Members to take the Challenge with a goal of raising $1million, with part of the proceeds to benefit the establishment of a School of Optometry in Haiti.
FYidoctors involves all of its clinics across Canada with 100% participation throughout October with local and corporate fundraising initiatives. Their “$1 dollar for every like” campaign begins October 1st on Facebook and has received huge success in previous years. FYidoctors matches every dollar raised by their doctors and on their social media channels.
Alcon affiliates around the world are hosting events to serve eye health on three fronts: education, research, and vision screenings. In the United States, Alcon is supporting one-day clinics providing free eye exams to under- and uninsured patients in New Orleans and elementary school and community college students in Fort Worth, Texas. They are also hosting a Cycle for Sight on their Fort Worth campus to raise funds and awareness.
ABB OPTICAL GROUP will once again offer all of its customers the opportunity to donate to Optometry Giving Sight through the ABB OPTICAL ordering websites. For every five dollars donated, the customer will receive a World Sight Day People Power bracelet shipped with their contact lens order and ABB OPTICAL GROUP will match that donation 100%.
AllAboutVision.com will be conducting “Share for Sight,” a social media campaign to promote Optometry Giving Sight and eye health education, during the week of World Sight Day.
ZeaVision will support WSDC fundraising efforts through multiple activities in September and October including employee initiatives, product promotions, and participation in the VSP Mobile Eyes Outreach Event in New Orleans. They will also make a donation on behalf of the Arizona Fall League’s 2015 batting champion during the award presentation.
Essilor is organizing events in some fifty countries around the world to raise public awareness and endorse the message to “Raise the Flag for Better Vision” and promote visual health. In the United States, the Essilor Vision Foundation will be conducting vision clinics across the country and will offer opportunities for Essilor employees to get involved and volunteer on World Sight Day.
“The World Sight Day Challenge is now a major event within the global optometric community and it’s a great way to engage with staff, customers and colleagues to help provide Eye Care for All,” said Clive Miller, CEO of Optometry Giving Sight. “We are grateful for the support that we receive and encourage all eye and vision care companies, networks and practices to take the Challenge and make a donation so that we can help end avoidable blindness and give sight and hope to the millions of people in need.”