July 18, 2024 — Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has introduced TEAM OGS, which stands for Together Eyecare Achieves Miracles, a program that enables optometry practices in the U.S. and Canada to integrate fundraising activities into their daily operations. This initiative supports OGS’s mission to combat preventable blindness and vision impairment worldwide.

The nonprofit organization raises funds from optometrists, optometry practices, and related businesses for projects that expand the profession and improve access to vision care in underserved areas.

“Since the inception of OGS, the optometry community has generously supported our work, particularly through our annual World Sight Day Challenge, which began in 2007,” says OGS executive director Lois Schoenbrun, CAE (Ret.), FAAO. “The World Sight Day Challenge is, historically, our largest fundraising activity. But it runs only two months out of the year. Optometry practices began asking us for ways to raise funds throughout the year as well.”

TEAM OGS offers practices various ways to raise funds, such as donating a day of eye exam fees each month, giving a percentage of eyeglass frame or product sales, promoting vision care rebate programs, or engaging patients in giving. There is no cost to join TEAM OGS, and all materials are provided free of charge.