The money supported the 2016 World Sight Day Challenge.
(Press Release) Bausch + Lomb, a global eye health company, announced it has raised more than $40,000 in support of the 2016 World Sight Day Challenge, which will be donated to Optometry Giving Sight, a global fundraising organization that targets the prevention of unnecessary blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error.
In conjunction with the company, Bausch + Lomb employees from several of its sites across the U.S. organized fundraisers throughout October to support the cause.
“We continue to support Optometry Giving Sight in their efforts to provide eye health services to countries that lack the appropriate resources to support them,” said Mark McKenna, senior vice president & general manager, U.S. Contact Lenses, Bausch + Lomb. “The results of our latest fundraising initiative is an example of our dedication and commitment to giving back to those in need, which is a common goal shared by Bausch + Lomb and its employees.”
Optometry Giving Sight funds the development of sustainable eye and vision care projects in communities where these do not currently exist. These projects focus on local training and capacity building, infrastructure development and the delivery of accessible and affordable eye, vision care and child eye health services.
In addition, Optometry Giving Sight is a member of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight, a joint program of the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. VISION 2020 aims to eliminate avoidable blindness through awareness raising, advocacy and resource mobilization, and the implementation of national eye health plans in all countries.
“We continue to appreciate Bausch + Lomb’s support of our efforts worldwide,” said Clive Miller, CEO, Optometry Giving Sight. “Their ongoing support will help us to fund projects which reach many more people in underserved communities, and provide access to vision care products and services in areas where they didn’t previously exist.”
In addition to the company’s support of the 2016 World Sight Day Challenge, Bausch + Lomb provided a donation of $50,000 earlier this year to Optometry Giving Sight as well as offering eye care professionals and their patients the opportunity to use a portion of their Bausch + Lomb contact lens rebate to directly support the organization through its enhanced rebate website.