RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—The VSP Global Eyes of Hope program hit a milestone in 2016 of having helped one million people in need by providing access to no-cost eyecare and eyewear. At the time, the company committed to reaching another million people by 2020 In partnership with VSP network doctors and that goal was reached two years early, this year. Now the company has announced it is doubling its 2020 goal again, to help another million people by that time through various Eyes of Hope programs.
“Our mission is to increase access to eyecare and eyewear to give everyone the opportunity to see clearly and Eyes of Hope offers another delivery channel to the important care and services provided by VSP network doctors every day,” said Michael Guyette, president and CEO of VSP Global. “We remain committed to expanding our efforts to bridge the gap in access to vision care for those disadvantaged by distance, disaster or income.”
Focused primarily in the United States, the efforts require the continued collaboration with community partners and charities, VSP employees and VSP network doctors. Eyes of Hope includes several initiatives. The efforts use the hashtag #millionmore. The initiatives include:
- Mobile eyecare clinics and gift certificates that provide immediate, no-cost access to eye exams and glasses for individuals in need from a local VSP network doctor;
- Eyewear donations and portable equipment loans that support optometrists who are delivering eyecare to those in need globally; and
- Special projects that improve sustainable access to eyecare, such as We See, an initiative that set out to help 30,000 school children in Soweto, South Africa.