MacKenzie Scott is known for her philanthropy. If fact, she’s rewriting the philanthropy playbook.
Makes sense in a way. She is an author.
When Scott and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos divorced in 2019, she instantly became one of the richest people in the world. Shortly thereafter she declared her intention to donate her entire fortune – approximately $38 billion – to charity. She seems to be right on track.
Scott eclipsed the $12 billion mark in lifetime donations earlier this year. She’s already donated to more than 1,200 organizations. Her philanthropy efforts haven’t skipped a beat since the recent announcement that she filed for divorce from her second husband.
VisionSpring announced today it is the most recent recipient of Scott’s charity. The nonprofit accepted a $15 million gift from Scott. The money will go toward the organization’s new initiative Livelihoods in Focus, a $70 million effort to correct the vision of more than 6 million people by 2030.
VisionSpring’s mission is to bring affordable eyewear to some of the poorest areas in the world. Scott’s donation is believed to be the largest single private donation toward addressing the eyecare needs of individuals in poverty.
VisionSpring said it will focus on low-income tea, coffee, cocoa and artisan workers in India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. To donate to VisionSpring click on this link.
World Sight Day 2022
World Sight Day is observed around the world every second Thursday in the month of October. Lions Club International started the observance in 2000 as part of its annual SightFirst campaign to fight blindness. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) joined the initiative that year as well.
It has become a global day of awareness and giving for those in need of adequate eyecare.
The INVISION Magazine e-mail inbox is proof. We’ve received numerous correspondences highlighting World Sight Day-centric initiatives.
It truly is inspiring.
World Council of Optometry
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) joined forces with IAPB to promote their #loveYourEyes campaign. The goal was to get 5 million eye tests pledged globally from September 13 to October 13. That impressive number was eclipsed with a day to spare.
Warby Parker and Jonas Philanthropies
Warby Parker has teamed with Jonas Philanthropies to address vision disability with the Warby Parker Pupils Project. The initiative, which began in 2015, gives children access to proper vision care by taking vision screenings and eye exams to their classrooms. It is taking place in New York City, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, California and Pennsylvania. Warby Parker is known for its buy a pair give a pair that gives glasses to individuals in need. Jonas Philanthropies in 2016 launched Jonas Children’s Vision Care to prevent blindness and treat vision disorders.
SightSavers
SightSavers is marking World Sight Day 2022 with a new Eye Health Equals campaign along with a manifesto for change directed at world governments. The non-profit works on preventable blindness in more than 30 counties, primarily in Africa and Asia. The group is calling on world governments to:
- Recognize the importance of eye health
- Integrate eye health into global and national health programs
- Invest in inclusive eye health services, with particular focus on women and girls.
IAPB Photo Competition
And, lastly, don’t forget that the IAPB World Sight Day 2022 Photo Competition continues through Oct. 22. It is open to both amateur and professional photographers. Submitted images should capture what it means to have healthy vision. Photos will be judged in five categories: Your Eyes, Health for All, Everyone Everywhere, Hope, and Eye-Sights. You can submit your photos by following this link.
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Good Views is where we catch up on positive news, updates, and tidbits from the world of eyewear and eyecare. Have something you’d like to share for a future digest post? Send it my way! jens.carlson@smartworkmedia.com.