(Press Release)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Conference of Mayors has announced a year-long partnership with VSP Global, the largest health care company by membership, to increase access and provide free vision care to thousands of adults and children in need across the country.
As part of the “Eyes of Hope: a Million More” initiative, the organizations will co-host multi-day events in 10 cities across the U.S. For each event, VSP will provide no-cost eye exams and glasses for adults and children in need.
“A partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors provides an opportunity for delivering education and access to eye care and eyewear where they’re needed most,” says VSP Global President and CEO Jim McGrann. “VSP is resolute in its desire to provide affordable, accessible, high-quality eye care to the world, and this multi-city campaign is a terrific start toward achieving our broader goal of providing access to vision care for 1 million people by 2020.”
The campaign’s goal is to provide both an immediate and long-term impact. Throughout 2016, qualifying attendees will receive free eye care services and, if needed, glasses. VSP Global will continue to work with each city to expand access to eye care services to those in need, ultimately improving care.
“Vision care is one of those so-important aspects of our health that too often isn’t affordable or fully covered by insurance, and therefore out of reach for many of our most vulnerable communities,” says Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director, U.S. Conference of Mayors. “Through our partnership with VSP Global, we’re responding to this challenge on a national level – one community at a time. At the end of the day, our nation’s mayors want to ensure that not one child or adult is hampered in their ability to learn, to be safe, or to benefit in the many ways they can from comprehensive full vision care.”
McGrann added, “This program will be uniquely tailored to each city. That means we’re looking at the need for care, resources like the number of professional optometrists who can provide care, partnerships that we have with local and national organizations, and many more elements. These won’t be ‘one-and-done’ events for VSP Global and our city partners. We are committed to providing access to quality vision care for these communities long term.”
VSP Global currently serves adults and children through various corporate citizenship initiatives, including the VSP Mobile Eyes program that will support the Eyes of Hope: a Million More initiative. VSP Mobile Eyes is a program featuring three mobile clinics that travel the country to provide free eye care and eyewear to those in need. The program developed from relief efforts in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Today, when not helping in times of disaster, the mobile clinics travel the U.S., partnering with VSP eye doctors and charitable organizations to provide people in need with no-cost eye exams and glasses.
The organizations are currently in talks with the cities invited to participate. They anticipate announcing the dates and locations in February.
For more information about the partnership and the Eyes of Hope: a Million More initiative, visit www.vspglobal.com/millionmore.