LensCrafters 2005 Annual Report Download - page 56

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| 55 <
Give the Gift of Sight is a Luxottica Group foundation aimed at improving the vision of people who
cannot afford eyecare. Through the volunteer efforts of Luxottica Group employees, optometrists,
vendors and charitable partners, free eye exams and eyeglasses are provided to people in need in
North America and throughout the world.
Care is provided in a variety of ways. In North America, eye exams are performed at clinics, schools and
community centers, or on-site through mobile vision vans specially equipped for eyeglasses
manufacturing. The vans continuously travel across North America to help people in need.
The Gift of Sight Foundation also provides vision care around the world. Teams of volunteers join forces
with local charitable partners around the world to provide free eye exams and eyeglasses to
communities in need. Since 1991, 101 international missions took place in over 27 countries. During this
time, approximately 1,200 associates volunteered their services in these missions. Give the Gift of Sight
also collects, through Luxottica Group’s retail locations and other sources, used prescription eyeglasses
and sunglasses. These are cleaned, recycled and classified by prescription to match them as closely
as possible with the prescriptions of recipients.
HISTORY
Give the Gift of Sight started operating in 1988 according to the belief that, “vision is not a luxury, but the
right of every human being”. Originally operating only in North American cities as part of the retail optical
chain LensCrafters, the foundation gradually expanded its reach to non-urban areas and internationally.
The acquisition of LensCrafters by Luxottica Group in 1995 helped the program expand more rapidly,
including to various other entities of the Group. In 2004, in particular, the participation of Sunglass Hut
helped collecting sunglasses which were used in international missions in areas where more direct
exposure to sun rays is particularly harmful to the eyes. The Foundation's original goal, to help one million
people in need by 2003, was met in 1999 when the mobile facility in Oregon gave its first pair of
eyeglasses to a six-year old girl named Jessica. In 2001, in Bolivia, Julia became the two millionth person
to receive eyecare from Give the Gift of Sight. The three millionth person to receive help was Gabriel, a
boy in Guayaquil, Ecuador, who received a new pair of eyeglasses in 2003. In 2005, Give the Gift of Sight
helped its four millionth recipient, a 14 year-old girl at the Fresh Air Fund camp in Fishkill, New York.
VALUES
The Give the Gift of Sight program has touched the lives of millions of people while providing a unique
opportunity for its volunteers to express their values by helping others in a life-altering way. Participation
in the Foundation's missions and programs also strengthens the Group internally, drawing people
together around core values of respect for diversity, teamwork and serving those around you. For the
first time, in 2004, Italy-based employees of Luxottica Group were able to participate as volunteers on
international missions, while Sunglass Hut joined in the effort by helping to collect thousands of
sunglasses. These experiences, created through the Give the Gift of Sight programs, have also helped
colleagues build tremendous bridges between cultures. All Give the Gift of Sight activities, particularly
international missions, require intense teamwork to maximize the use of resources and time to help as
many people in need as possible. This experience boosts people’s capacity for creative problem-
solving and also provides plenty of leadership opportunities. Through the Give the Gift of Sight
programs, volunteers learn how valuable it is to provide people with eyecare. This awareness can add
great satisfaction to their daily work and enrich the rapport with customers.
2005
In 2005, Give the Gift of Sight provided free eyecare to 667,141 people worldwide. 345,531 people
received eye exams and recycled eyeglasses through 12 international missions in Mexico, Costa Rica,
Panama, Romania, Honduras, Paraguay, Cambodia, Chile and Thailand. In North America, the program
GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT,
A LUXOTTICA GROUP
FOUNDATION