With only a few weeks remaining, Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has announced a $500,000 fundraising goal for its 2023 World Sight Day Challenge. Donations will fuel the organization’s efforts to help eradicate uncorrected refractive error through the growth and expansion of optometry around the world. As thousands of eye care professionals convene in New Orleans for Academy 2023 and observe World Sight Day, OGS calls upon the optometry community to help achieve this goal.

The theme of this year’s World Sight Day Challenge is “Giving Together, Seeing Forever,” which celebrates the collective power of the industry to give the gift of sight to millions of people in need. Although World Sight Day takes place on October 12, the Challenge—the organization’s largest annual fundraiser—officially continues through the end of October.

“There is still plenty of time to join the World Sight Day Challenge and contribute to meeting our goal,” said Lois Schoenbrun, Executive Director, Optometry Giving Sight. “Every dollar donated allows us to fund sustainable initiatives that provide life-changing eye care to people, families, and communities around the world. OGS is ‘optometry’s charity’—eye care professionals truly understand the impact of sight, because they witness it in their practices every day. Our work is only possible with your support.”

There are several ways to support OGS during the World Sight Day Challenge. One-time or recurring donations can be made at any time at givingsight.org/donate-wsdc. Those interested in leading fundraising at their practice or company can register at givingsight.org/wsdc to receive a toolkit with ideas and resources.

Attendees at Academy 2023 in New Orleans are encouraged to visit the OGS booth (#1623) to participate in the Beanbag Bucket Toss fundraising game. Players will try their hand at tossing beanbags into buckets at various distances to increase donations and a board member match. A minimum $10 donation is required to play the game, and a thank-you gift will be given to each participant.

1.2 billion people worldwide suffer needlessly from preventable blindness and vision impairment. With funds raised, Optometry Giving Sight provides grants to programs focused on long-term solutions, including those that establish optometry schools, vision centers, and optical labs in underserved communities around the globe.

Since 2003, OGS funding has provided basic eye care services to more than 8 million people, assisted with training more than 14,000 eye care personnel, established more than 130 vision centers, and served people in more than 40 countries. In the last two years alone, OGS has provided funding to more than 30 project partners around the world, totaling more than $1.5 million in grants. For more information, visit givingsight.org.

Source: Optometry Giving Sight

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As part of a partnership to support the next generation of eye care professionals, Transitions Optical and the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC) are now accepting submissions for the 2023 Students of Vision Scholarship Program. Currently enrolled (for the 2023-2024 school year) opticianry, optometry and optometric assistant students from across Canada are eligible to apply for the chance to win one of three prizes: a $2,000, $1,500 or $1,000 scholarship.

All winners will also receive a complimentary trial pair of Transitions^® lenses, and the first-place winner will receive an invitation to Transitions Academy 2024 in Orlando, FL.

To enter the scholarship program, students must develop a project in the form of an essay, video or presentation about how they will advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in order to help educate patients and protect their vision.

A webpage with more information can be found at Transitions.com/canada-students-of-vision/en-ca/. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges against the following criteria: creativity, strategic thinking and ethics.

This year’s scholarship was inspired by recent research from Transitions Optical, conducted by Wakefield Research, demonstrating the need for further education surrounding eye health for diverse patients. Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) in Canada are quickly becoming the majority—

and, as a result, more eyecare professionals are experiencing a culturally diverse patient base with unique vision care and communication needs.

“Continuing education and conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion inspires positive changes for populations who historically have not been treated equally,” said Arnaud Rajchenbach, marketing and sales manager, Transitions Optical in Canada. “We’re proud to support the future of eyecare professionals in creating a more inclusive atmosphere within the optical industry.”

“We’re honored to continue our partnership with Transitions Optical to inspire a new generation of optical professionals in their own efforts to provide the best level of care for diverse patients,” said Robert Dalton, Executive Director, OAC. “We look forward to setting a sector standard of understanding and acceptance.”  

All submissions should be sent to StudentsofVision@Transitions.com by November 10, 2023. The winners will be announced on December 8, 2023.

Click HERE for the full press release.

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