GOLDEN, Colo.—The success and industry participation surrounding the World Sight Day Challenge for 2016 did not disappoint as thousands of eyecare professionals, companies, students, staff and patients, in the U.S. and around the world, all contributed to raise funds to help eliminate avoidable blindness and impaired vision. From partners in Optometry Giving Sight's Coalition to independent NGOs and ECPs worldwide, the participation in World Sight Day spanned a vast range of initiatives and activities. View the exclusive VM slideshow below highlighting some of the thousands of events held to raise funds and offer eyecare and eyewear services to the underserved.
To learn more about fundraising activities surrounding World Sight Day, click here to read Vision Monday’s exclusive coverage.
A&A Optical’s Blindfold Challenge
In addition to A & A Optical’s fundraising efforts, which included the selling of raffle tickets and collecting donations, the company had employees take part in blindfolded challenges to experience the loss of sight. Some of these activities included picking and packaging frames in their warehouse.
A&A Optical’s Blindfold Challenge
Other blindfold challenges included dining in the dark.
A&A Optical’s Blindfold Challenge
A&A employees take part in the annual blindfold shoot for the hoop challenge.
Acuity Pro’s Beach Chair Caddy
Acuity Pro’s digital acuity testing software utilizes a custom remote control to run the program. The company decided to work with Optometry Giving Sight and include their logo and the OGS logo on a “beach chair caddy” that holds the remote, or a cell phone, on the tech or doctor’s desk.
Acuity Pro’s Beach Chair Caddy
The caddys were available for sale on the Acuity Pro website and via social media for World Sight Day. They cost was $5, with a portion of every chair sold going directly to Optometry Giving Sight.
Alcon Cycle for Sight
Alcon associates in 15 countries participated in Cycle for Sight this year. Here, Alcon’s Ana Isabel Gomez, GM Spain and Portugal, with Cycle for Sight athletes.
Alcon Cycle for Sight
The Cycle for Sight efforts extended to Portugal.
Alcon Cycle for Sight
The Cycle for Sight efforts reached as far away as Spain.
ClearVision Optical’s Sunglass Sale
ClearVision Optical celebrated World Sight Day with an employee sunglass sale. Employees had the opportunity to purchase select styles of CVOptical sunglasses for a discounted price. This year’s sale was their biggest yet, and all proceeds from the sale were donated to Optometry Giving Sight. ClearVision also matched all donations.
CooperVision’s Fight for Sight Efforts
CooperVision Singapore proudly poses with their Fight for Sight bracelets.
CooperVision’s Fight for Sight Efforts
CooperVision employees sport their Fight for Sight T-shirts at company headquarters in Pleasanton, Calif.
CooperVision’s Fight for Sight Efforts
On World Sight Day, employees at CooperVision Brazil had the opportunity to receive free onsite eye exams with Dr. Sergey Cusato.
CooperVision’s Fight for Sight Efforts
CooperVision employees in Victor, N.Y. wear Fight for Sight T-shirts on World Sight Day.
CooperVision’s Fight for Sight Efforts
CooperVision U.K. team members participated in the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in support of the Fight for Sight campaign and Optometry Giving Sight.
DAC Vision Lends Support
DAC Vision provided lunch for all employees, thanking them for participating in the World Sight Day Challenge. When an employee donated to the cause, they received a T-shirt and wristband as a thank you gesture for their support. This is the 4th year the company took part in this fundraising event.
DAC Vision Lends Support
DAC Vision employees put their hands together in support of the World Sight Day Challenge.
De Rigo REM’s Cooks for WSD
De Rigo REM’s executive teams’ BBQ skills were put to the test as they cooked up lunch in a Hot “Diggity” Dig Executives cook sale for employees on Friday, Oct. 14 in support of the cause.
De Rigo REM’s Cooks for WSD
The Nacho average fundraiser included a morning of serving up delicious nachos for employees and a football challenge on Friday, Sept. 30 with 100 percent of proceeds going to World Sight.
Essilor Group’s ‘Love to see change” Campaign
On World Sight Day, Essilor Group launched “Love to See Change,” a campaign to have people worldwide commit to have their eyes checked.
Essilor Group’s ‘Love to see change” Campaign
For each pledge taken, Essilor will donate $1 to a selection of initiatives that are bringing good vision to underprivileged or underserved populations around the world.
Essilor Group’s ‘Love to see change” Campaign
Jayanth Bhuvaraghan, Essilor’s chief mission officer said, “Having your eyes checked on a yearly basis is fundamental to protect the most important sense we have as human beings: our sight. At Essilor, we are committed to visual health for all, including the 2.5 billion people in the world who do not have the vision correction they need.”
Essilor of America Helps Texas Children
An Essilor of America (EOA) employee holds up a mirror so a Dallas student can see how she looks in new pair of glasses donated by EOA, Essilor Vision Foundation and Vision Impact Institute.
Essilor of America Helps Texas Children
To celebrate World Sight Day, Essilor of America partnered with Essilor Vision Foundation and Vision Impact Institute to host more than 400 North Texas schoolchildren at their Dallas headquarters.
Essilor of America Helps Texas Children
Students received an eye exam and glasses at no cost.
Essilor of America Helps Texas Children
Essilor employees and local ODs volunteered throughout the day.
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care’s Sight For Kids
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care asked people to post one photo every day to the Sight For Kids cause through the Johnson & Johnson Donate A Photo App. Above, J & J employees Jose Prunet and Kimberly Kim take part in the Donate A Photo festivities.
Jobson Optical Group Raises Funds
Jobson Optical Group held fundraising activities for World Sight Day. From Oct. 6 to 17, each of the company’s nine departments found creative ways to raise money for the World Sight Day Challenge ranging from GoFundMe pages to selling snacks in the office. Pictured here, members of Jobson’s marketing team who led efforts for the Challenge. Included (l to r) Kevin Mitchell, Marian Amo, Jackie Dempsey, Gillian Mulhere and Nancy Ness.
Jobson Optical Group Raises Funds
Jobson Optical Group held a pizza party and slices were sold for $2 each. Above, Jobson’s Marc Ferrara and Amanda Churchill do their part for the Challenge at the pizza luncheon. In total, Jobson was able to raise over $2,340 for the World Sight Day Challenge.
Modo Help a Child See Initiative
In conjunction with this year’s World Sight Day Challenge, Modo Eyewear sent out a newsletter and made social media posts about their newest initiative: Buy A Frame—Help A Child See.
Salus University Cycle for Sight
Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University’s American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) held their second annual Cycle-4-Sight event at the Hafter Student Community Center.
Salus University Cycle for Sight
The Hafter Center staff led 28, 30-minute sessions throughout the day, from 6 am to 10 pm, with 10 bikes available per session. Five dollar donations were collected per cyclist
Social Snapshots
The Vision Source Network, which contributed just over $1 million to WSD last year, has set a similar challenge for 2016 in a fund-raising effort that began in July and runs through October.
Social Snapshots
Eye Etiquette encouraged their customers to make a difference by donating cash on World Sight Day.
Social Snapshots
Optometry Giving Sight gave a shout out to the management and staff at Bausch + Lomb for their support of the Challenge.
UHCO Talent Show
The University of Houston College of Optometry’s started their fundraising efforts early—Betta Sigma Kappa (BSK) 7th Annual World Sight Day Talent Show was held on Sept. 9, where tickets sold for $10.
UHCO Talent Show
The University of Houston College of Optometry’s started their fundraising efforts early—Betta Sigma Kappa (BSK) 7th Annual World Sight Day Talent Show was held on Sept. 9, where tickets sold for $10.
Vision Source Fundraisers
Complete Family Eyecare in South Texas rallied around the World Sight Day Challenge.
Vision Source Fundraisers
The Vision Source Network, which contributed just over $1 million to WSD last year, has set a similar challenge for 2016 in a fund-raising effort that began in July. Bake sales were a popular way to raise funds.