Vision Source has set forth the goal of raising $1 million by August of 2016 in order to help underwrite the building of Haiti’s first optometry school, l’Université d’Etat d’Haiti is a country with a population of 10,000,000 people and only three optometrists. The Vision Source Million Dollar Campaign will provide a significant part of the funding required to launch a school that will make a difference. Haitians will soon have the ability to receive education that will change the sight of the nation for generations to come.
The diverse network of independent Vision Source optometric practices support (OGS) in a variety of meaningful ways. Many practices donate monthly, some host fundraising events centered around World Sight Day, and others participate in missionary trips. The fundraising effort will continue throughout the year in order to reach the $1,000,000 goal.
Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of Vision Source commented, “raising $500K even before World Sight Day is an amazing testament to the selfless hearts of our clinicians.”
-- Alcon is recognizing World Sight Day with a fun (and healthy) fundraiser held at the American Academy of Optometry meeting in New Orleans. Today (Oct. 8), Alcon is hosting the Cycle for Sight 20/20 Challenge. When Academy attendees reach 2,020 minutes (cumulatively) on stationary bikes at the meeting, the company will donate $25,000 to the American Optometric Foundation. In addition, it will match any donation made by Academy attendees (up to $25,000).
-- Essilor people across five continents are leading a campaign to draw attention to the importance of good vision. And international celebrities are lending their names and faces to the call for action on social media.
Vision care events have already taken place or are about to begin in schools, universities, public shopping centres and Essilor facilities in all corners of the globe. To help take the World Sight Day message viral, a team of well-known personalities and brand ambassadors for the Essilor Group are adding their voices on social media.
Every day since 1 October, Essilor has been sharing a personal message from each of its World Sight Day ambassadors via YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and twitter. Social media is an increasingly important channel to engage with global audiences, particularly consumers. Many of the celebrities who are supporting Essilor’s campaign have millions of followers on social media which will enable many more people to understand the global challenge in ensuring access to good vision for all.
To see the video messages, click here.
To see the video messages, click here.
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