CooperVision Raises More Than $300,000 in Support of Optometry Giving Sight’s 2023 World Sight Day Challenge

SAN RAMON, CALIF., — As part of its commitment to improve the way people see every day, CooperVision raised more than $300,000 in 2023 through global initiatives in support of Optometry Giving Sight (OGS). This global organization helps communities without access to eye care by training Eye Care Practitioners; establishing optometry schools, vision centers, and optical labs; delivering eye exams and low/no-cost eyeglasses. Since 2008, CooperVision has helped OGS raise more than $4.9 million dollars to support their critical mission.

Again this year, CooperVision offered its customers in the U.S. and Canada an opportunity to redirect their product rebates to OGS’ annual fundraising campaign. With facilitation by CooperVision, rebate donations accounted for $188,265 of the initiative’s total, while CooperVision’s World Sight Day Challenge raised an additional $118,192 from employees globally.

“Almost everyone in the world has or will need vision correction in their lifetime, yet more than a billion people worldwide do not have access to basic eye care,”1 2 said Simon Seshadri, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Life Cycle Management. “Whether it’s through donating time, scientific and clinical expertise, supporting ECPs grow their practices, or financial contributions, it is our duty as an ongoing Global Partner to OGS to do our part to help people in need reach their full potential through the gift of sight.”

In 2023, CooperVision participated in OGS’ annual rundraising campaign through a series of regional and global initiatives. These events included a photo contest, guest speaker events, luncheons, a pop-up ice cream stand, homemade waffle sale, and others, such as:

Strikes for Sight. Keeping with a long-standing tradition to raise money and awareness for the cause, CooperVision’s Research & Development team based in Pleasanton, Calif., hosted a “Strikes for Sight” bowling event, during which employees pledged to make donations per strike. Ultimately, 102 strikes were bowled in the two-hour period, with each employee donating between $25.50 and $102.
Cake Sale and Fun Run. Fundraising in Liege, Belgium, included a local “fun run” and cake sale for employees. Both efforts were successful, building camaraderie in tandem with needed funding for OGS.
Charity Miles. Encouraging employee wellness while raising funds for OGS, CooperVision leveraged the Charity Miles fitness app, resulting in $10,589 from participants who walked, ran, or biked by participants during the campaign. Steps were financially sponsored by donors as well as CooperVision.
Vision Screenings. CooperVision organized free vision screenings around the world that not only built awareness around the importance of healthy eye care habits, but also served as an opportunity to raise funds to help support OGS efforts in other parts of the world.

“At the heart of our organization is a steadfast commitment to improving vision worldwide,” said Daniel McBride, Esq., Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at CooperCompanies and Board Member of Optometry Giving Sight. “We remain strong supporters of Optometry Giving Sight and their mission to build sustainable optometry infrastructure in underserved communities around the world to enable vision care for all.”

To learn more about the World Sight Day Challenge and how you can participate, visit www.givingsight.org/wsdc/.

1 World Health Organization (WHO). World Report on Vision. October 2019.

2 The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. 2039 In Sight. https://urlisolation.com/browser?clickId=6A2C8D79-7B9E-476C-AFBD-30DA2776D03& traceToken=1707154253%3Bcoopervision_hosted%3Bhttps%3A%2Fwww.aao.org%2Fyoung-ophthal&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iapb.org%2Fabout%2F2030-in-sight%2F. Accessed February 5, 2024.