Essilor Vision Foundation Makes Great Strides In Conquering Children's Vision Problems
By Essilor News
03/19/2010
DALLAS – March 19, 2010 – Essilor of America, Inc. is proud to announce the Essilor Vision Foundation has completed more than 15,570 vision screenings and 3,597 fittings with the support of its many non-profit and vision industry partners since launching in 2008. The Foundation strives to eliminate poor vision and its lifelong consequences by starting with children and creating and supporting activities that advance good vision and its benefits.
“In our third year, the Essilor Vision Foundation remains committed to educating parents, teachers, caregivers and community leaders to be aware of the implications of poor vision and watch for signs of vision problems in children,” said Ed Fjordbak, president and CEO of the Essilor Vision Foundation. “Through generous support, we’re helping children see clearly today to give them a better chance of succeeding tomorrow.”
The Essilor Vision Foundation recently completed its inaugural Kids Vision Fest presented by the Kids Vision For Life Coalition on Jan. 19 at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in Dallas. Mrs. Laura Bush was on hand to stress the importance of good vision care and connect the dots between vision and literacy. Free and open to the general public, Kids Vision Fest provided free vision screenings, eye exams and glasses fittings to all children in attendance. More than 1,000 children were screened and approximately 500 kids received free eye exams and glasses. Additionally, 17 children were identified as needing surgery and have or will have surgery as a result of the resources offered at Kids Vision Fest.
The Foundation has concentrated its efforts on U.S. school children. Its first program focused on educating parents about the need for annual eye exams for children through a partnership with schools in Tarrant County, Texas. The Foundation has also worked closely with other non-profit organizations to find ways to help provide families with eye exams and eyeglasses they might not otherwise be able to afford.
The Essilor Vision Foundation relies heavily on support from its donors to provide potentially life-changing screenings, eye exams and other vision resources to children who cannot afford them otherwise. To support the Foundation’s charitable works through fundraising or volunteering, please visit http://essilorvisionfoundation.org.
About the Essilor Vision Foundation
Essilor Vision Foundation is a public charity established by Dallas-based Essilor of America, the leading manufacturer of optical lenses in the United States. The foundation’s mission is to eliminate poor vision and its lifelong consequences. We strive to give children a brighter future by helping them see the world more clearly. Our programs focus on improving the quality of school vision screenings so fewer children slip through the cracks, providing eye exams and eyeglasses free of charge to children who would not get them otherwise, and educating parents and communities about the importance of children’s vision care and the role it plays in literacy, society, and the economy.
About Essilor
Essilor is the leading manufacturer of optical lenses in the United States and is the market leader in progressive, high-index and anti-reflective coated lenses. A pioneer in the development and production of ophthalmic lenses, Essilor employs more than 9,000 people throughout North America. Essilor manufactures optical lenses under the Varilux®, Crizal®, Thin&Lite®, Xperio™ and DEFINITY® and other Essilor brand names. Essilor Laboratories of America (ELOA) is the largest, and most trusted, optical lab network in the U.S. and offers a wide choice of services and lens brands, including Essilor premium lenses, to eyecare professionals across the nation. Essilor of America, Inc. (Essilor) is a subsidiary of Paris-based Essilor International, S.A., a publicly held company traded on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (Reuters: ESSI.PA).
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Essilor, Varilux, Crizal and DEFINITY are registered trademarks and Xperio is a trademark of Essilor International. Thin&Lite is a registered trademark of Essilor of America, Inc.