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Latest News about Restoring Vision

RestoringVision Extends its Gratitude to the Optical Industry Leaders Who Supported its “One Hope: Restoring Vision” Campaign on #GivingTuesdayNow

San Rafael, CA (June 2, 2020): RestoringVision, the largest global nonprofit provider of new reading glasses to people living in impoverished communities around the world, had a successful #GivingTuesdayNow with its “One Hope: Restoring Vision” campaign. Thanks to the support of 13 optical industry companies, RestoringVision was able to reach an audience of more than 1M people through digital channels.

Launched on May 5, 2020, #GivingTuesdayNow was created as a new global day of giving in response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The optical industry companies that unleashed the philanthropic power of their networks in support of the “One Hope: Restoring Vision” campaign currently donate to RestoringVision through corporate gifts and cause-marketing programs.

“The passion and commitment of our Corporate Partners never ceases to amaze me. We’re grateful to them for rallying their networks on #GivingTuesdayNow in support of RestoringVision.  This crisis has compounded issues for those navigating it without clear vision, and our work has never been more important. Thanks to these companies and their constituents, our “One Hope: Restoring Vision” campaign raised critical funds that will enable us to continue serving the most vulnerable,” said Pelin Munis, Executive Director, RestoringVision.

Here’s a list of companies that brought hope into focus together with RestoringVision on #GivingTuesdayNow:

To learn more about RestoringVision, visit their website, or follow @RestoringVision on all social media platforms. To learn more about RestoringVision’s Corporate Giving programs, click here.

About RestoringVision
One-third of the global population, 2.5 billion people, suffer from vision impairment and its consequences. Of those, 500 million people only need reading glasses to restore their vision but live in impoverished communities with no access to available, affordable glasses. This is one of the biggest global health issues of our time, impacting people’s productivity, health, safety, education, and quality of life. RestoringVision is dedicated to solving this problem by providing new, high-quality reading glasses to people in need around the world. Since 2003, RestoringVision has helped over 16 million people see clearly in more than 130 countries, and it continues to impact millions of lives each year. This year, the Year of Vision, RestoringVision has a goal of reaching 20 million people helped by the end of 2020. To learn more and contribute, please visit www.restoringvision.org.

Dear Partners and Friends of RestoringVision,

These continue to be unprecedented times, and as always, our thoughts are with you.

Long days, fast months is how navigating the crisis has felt. I’m incredibly proud of how well our team has responded, with commitment, resiliency, and agility. As a result, we’ve been able to move from surviving the crisis to stabilizing our organization and laying the foundation to thrive. We learned that empowering people through clear vision is more important than ever, and our fast-growing distribution capacity in the face of the crisis is evidence of that. Not only does our work continue at RestoringVision, the demand to provide glasses is greater than ever!

For this reason, your support and contributions are needed now more than ever. As donors step forward to invest their philanthropic dollars into RestoringVision, we are able to serve more of the demand. As service delivery partners pivot with us by utilizing our new adapted tips for safely dispensing glasses to taking advantage of our new international shipping program, we are able to help the most vulnerable navigate this crisis with clear vision.

Because navigating the crisis is difficult enough, navigating the crisis without the ability to see clearly is nearly impossible. Thank you for your renewed commitments, leaning in with us, and continuing to make a difference in the lives and communities of those in need. Let’s continue to do our part and stay connected and strong together.

Best regards,
Pelin Munis, Ph.D.
Executive Director, RestoringVision

ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATES

Important Changes Within Our Organizational Leadership

• After 16 years of service, RestoringVision Founder Mark Sachs has transitioned to a new role as Chairman Emeritus. Mark is pivoting his focus to key projects and speaking engagements on behalf of RestoringVision to encourage action and partnerships to address the global need for glasses in the developing world.

• David Chute, RestoringVision Board Member since 2007, has been appointed Chairman of the board of directors. Dave has over three decades of optical industry experience with an extensive track record of bringing success to for-profit and non-profit organizations. His strategic vision and leadership will enhance RestoringVision’s ability to scale and meet the growing demand for glasses in the developing world. To learn more about Dave, read his bio here. To read our press release on Dave’s appointment, click here.

• Kevin Hassey has been appointed to the RestoringVision board of directors. Kevin is currently the Sr. VP, Managed Care & Philanthropic Programs for National Vision, Inc. with over 30 years of optical industry experience. He has been an important advisor to RestoringVision since 2015 bringing invaluable knowledge and expertise that furthers our work. To learn more about Kevin, read his bio here. To read our press release on Kevin’s appointment, click here.

• Nira Jethani joins RestoringVision as Sr. Director of Finance. As we give thanks to our prior director, Ginny Quick, we welcome Nira to our team. Nira began her career in commercial banking and pivoted to the nonprofit industry more than a decade ago. She comes with extensive experience in creating and leading finance teams with ethical discipline and collaboration with colleagues from diverse backgrounds. To learn more about Nira, read her bio here.

• Laura Rapoch joins RestoringVision as Director of Development. After an extensive recruiting process, the RestoringVision board and executive search committee have selected the organization’s new Director of Development. Laura brings over 15 years of experience in development, operations, and strategic management and is eager to grow RestoringVision’s fundraising capacity. To learn more about Laura, visit her bio here.

DEVELOPMENT UPDATES FOR DONORS

#GivingTuesdayNow – One Hope: Restoring Vision 

A tremendous thanks for our Corporate Partners and donors for supporting our One Hope: RestoringVision campaign. The campaign raised much needed funds that will enable RestoringVision to continue serving the needs of the most vulnerable during this crisis.
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Foster Grant and Sofia Vergara Partner in Support of RestoringVision

On May 20, our long-time partner Foster Grant and celebrity philanthropist Sofia Vergara announced the launch of their new Specs for Specs program in support of RestoringVision. For every pair of Sofia Vergara X Foster Grant eyewear sold, a pair of reading glasses will be donated to RestoringVision. We are thrilled to be sharing this exciting news and are grateful for their commitment to bringing hope into focus for the most vulnerable. Read a press release on this extraordinary news here.

PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SERVICE DELIVERY PARTNERS

Our COVID-19 Response and Resources 

We value the importance of keeping our constituents informed on the immediate actions RestoringVision is taking during these critical times. We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 and pivot and respond. On our new webpage, there is a section dedicated to our Service Delivery Partners.
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We have even more news and updates to share with you! Please click here for the full version of the newsletter. 

RestoringVision Appoints Kevin Hassey to its Board of Directors

San Rafael, CA (May 18, 2020): RestoringVision, the largest global nonprofit provider of new reading glasses to people living in impoverished communities around the world, announced the appointment of Kevin Hassey to its Board of Directors. Hassey will serve along an already impressive list of optical industry leaders and business influencers to guide RestoringVision into a successful future.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kevin as a new director to the RestoringVision board,” said David Chute, Chairman of the board. “Kevin has served as an important advisor to RestoringVision since 2015. His extensive optical industry and philanthropic experience will be extremely beneficial in helping the organization continue to thrive and meet its rapidly growing distribution capacity.”

Hassey’s career spans three decades in the optical industry. He is currently Senior Vice President, Managed Care and Philanthropic Programs at National Vision, Inc. – one of the largest and fastest-growing optical retailers in the United States. During the early part of his career, Hassey also held several positions at Luxottica Group, including Chief Marketing Officer of LensCrafters and Founding General Manager of EyeMed Vision Care. Following his time with Luxottica Group, Hassey shared his talents with National Vision, Inc. and became actively involved in optical philanthropy.

“Helping guide RestoringVision’s impactful work for the last five years as an advisor has been incredibly rewarding,” said Kevin Hassey. “I’m honored to now be joining the Board of this stunning and unique organization that has tremendous potential to improve many more millions of lives worldwide.”

“Our Board of Directors is comprised of dedicated and passionate leaders driven and committed to empowering lives by restoring vision for millions of people in need,” said Pelin Munis, Executive Director. “We are excited to welcome Kevin to our board and channel his expertise and passion into advancing our organization to its next level.”

The RestoringVision Board of Directors consists of David Chute, Chairman and President of i2C Ventures; Mark Sachs, Chairman Emeritus and Founder of RestoringVision; John Becker, Treasurer and President of Fort Docs; Erwin Cho, Secretary and Sr. Director of Service Strategy & Innovation of Kaiser Permanente; Reade Fahs, CEO of National Vision, Inc.; Chris Harris, Partner of FFL Partners; Kevin Hassey, SVP Managed Care & Philanthropic Programs at National Vision, Inc; Myles Lewis, CEO of General Vision Services; Jennifer Negrin, Founder of JJN Consulting.

About RestoringVision
One-third of the global population, 2.5 billion people, suffer from vision impairment and its consequences. Of those, 500 million people only need reading glasses to restore their vision but live in impoverished communities with no access to available, affordable glasses. This is one of the biggest global health issues of our time, impacting people’s productivity, health, safety, education, and quality of life. RestoringVision is dedicated to solving this problem by providing new, high-quality reading glasses to people in need around the world. Since 2003, RestoringVision has helped over 16 million people see clearly in more than 130 countries, and it continues to impact millions of lives each year. This year, the Year of Vision, RestoringVision has a goal of reaching 20 million people helped by the end of 2020. To learn more and contribute, please visit www.restoringvision.org.

“One Hope: Restoring Vision” Campaign Launches to Bring Hope into Focus in Response to COVID-19

San Rafael, CA (May 4, 2020): RestoringVision, the world’s largest nonprofit provider of reading glasses to people in need, is joining the #GivingTuesdayNow movement on behalf of the most vulnerable. Launching on May 5, 2020, #GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity created as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.

Through their One Hope: Restoring Vision campaign, the optical nonprofit has set a goal of raising $150,000 to provide the gift of sight to the most vulnerable – people who are navigating through these trying times without the ability to see clearly. Thanks to a generous foundation gift, the first $150,000 raised will be matched.

“For people living in disadvantaged conditions that are compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, a pair of reading glasses can make an immediate and significant difference in their ability to take care of their health, safety and that of their families,” said Pelin Munis, Executive Director, RestoringVision.

On this global day of giving, the One Hope: Restoring Vision campaign is bringing together individuals and companies from the optical industry to unleash the philanthropic power of their networks, drive generosity and bring hope into focus for the most vulnerable.

“At RestoringVision, our commitment to bring clear vision and hope to people continues. It is our responsibility to serve this component of the health care for people in need, especially during times of crisis when the ability to see clearly is not only critical but essential,” said Pelin Munis, Executive Director, RestoringVision.

To donate to the One Hope: Restoring Vision campaign, click here. To learn more about RestoringVision, visit their website, or follow @RestoringVision on all social media platforms.

About RestoringVision
One-third of the global population, 2.5 billion people, suffer from vision impairment and its consequences. Of those, 500 million people only need reading glasses to restore their vision but live in impoverished communities with no access to available, affordable glasses. This is one of the biggest global health issues of our time, impacting people’s productivity, health, safety, education, and quality of life. RestoringVision is dedicated to solving this problem by providing new, high-quality reading glasses to people in need around the world. Since 2003, RestoringVision has helped over 16 million people see clearly in more than 130 countries, and it continues to impact millions of lives each year. This year, the Year of Vision, RestoringVision has a goal of reaching 20 million people helped by the end of 2020. To learn more and contribute, please visit www.restoringvision.org.

RestoringVision Announces the Appointment of David Chute as Chairman of the Board

After 16 years of service, Mark Sachs, RestoringVision Founder, hands over the role and is appointed Chairman Emeritus

San Rafael, CA (April 20, 2020): RestoringVision, the largest global nonprofit provider of new reading glasses to people living in impoverished communities around the world, today announced the appointment of David Chute as Chairman of its Board of Directors. Chute, who joined the RestoringVision board in 2007, succeeds Mark Sachs, RestoringVision Founder and Chairman Emeritus, who served as Chairman since the inception of the organization in 2003.

“It has been a great honor to have served as Chairman of the RestoringVision Board of Directors,” said Sachs. “I am incredibly proud of our accomplishments over the past decade and a half. We have helped over 16 million people access new glasses in 130 countries through our network of more than 1,800 US-based nonprofits and international NGO partners. We’ve built one of the lowest cost, most efficient organizations in the world. I am confident in our future and in David’s leadership as we continue to grow and expand our impact.”

David Chute has over 34 years of optical industry experience. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of ThinOptics, a global omni-channel eyewear company; and the President of i2C Ventures, a company he founded in 2003 that consults, commercializes, and invests in early-stage proprietary companies in the eyewear industry. “I am deeply honored to have been appointed as the Chairman of the RestoringVision Board of Directors,” said Chute. “RestoringVision is uniquely qualified to help tens of millions of people see clearly in the most efficient manner possible. I look forward to leveraging our strategic network of companies, foundations, international not-for-profits, and mission groups who – along with our team – are all united in the desire to restore clear vision to people in need around the world. I also look forward to working closely with Mark Sachs, our inspirational Founder; Pelin Munis, our dedicated and passionate Executive Director, as well as our experienced and dedicated Board of Directors.”

“This is a significant moment in the history of our organization. I’m deeply grateful to Mark for his vision, dedication, and passion which led to the creation of one of the most impactful nonprofits on the planet,” said Pelin Munis, Executive Director. “Equally, I am excited for what the future holds under David’s leadership. David brings a wealth of nonprofit and for-profit success and strategic vision to our organization, which will be critical to our ability to scale and meet the growing demand for glasses in the developing world.”

About RestoringVision
One-third of the global population, 2.5 billion people, suffer from vision impairment and its consequences. Of those, 500 million people only need reading glasses to restore their vision but live in impoverished communities with no access to available, affordable glasses. This is one of the biggest global health issues of our time, impacting people’s productivity, health, safety, education, and quality of life. RestoringVision is dedicated to solving this problem by providing new, high-quality reading glasses to people in need around the world. Since 2003, RestoringVision has helped over 16 million people see clearly in more than 130 countries, and it continues to impact millions of lives each year. This year, the Year of Vision, RestoringVision has a goal of reaching 20 million people helped by the end of 2020. To learn more and contribute, please visit www.restoringvision.org.

Dear Partners and Friends of RestoringVision,

Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your families during these challenging times. Although it can be difficult to navigate the unknown, as people and organizations dedicated to making the world a better place, we know that through unity and resilience, we can continue to make a difference.

We understand that due to the circumstances many of you are having to evaluate, postpone, or even cancel upcoming outreach trips for your own safety and the safety of others. We want to let you know that we are here for you now, and we will be here when you are ready to reschedule your trips.

Whether you are taking glasses to the field or donating to support the various projects that need funding, we thank you for your partnership and ongoing commitment to empower lives through the gift of sight. Your support is even more meaningful at this time.

In order to be proactive and create a moment of happiness, we’re sharing with you below our “Stories of Hope from Around the Globe” mini-series. These are brief stories about the incredible work that you, our partners in the field, do to make the world a better place.

As we all continue to do everything we can to navigate through these challenging times, we invite you to remain optimistic and keep your spirits up. Let’s follow the example of the people we serve, those who have hope and never give up.

Let’s stay connected and strong together.

Best regards,

Pelin Munis, Ph.D.
Executive Director, RestoringVision

STORIES OF HOPE FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Dear Partners and Friends,

2019 was an extraordinary year of learning, expansion, and impact at RestoringVision. We grew our unparalleled network of service delivery partners to more than 1,800 organizations strong that today have a capacity to serve more than 6 million people collectively. We expanded our presence within the optical nonprofit eco-system, from participating in events such as Sightgeist in London and presenting at the VOSH International conference in Orlando, to establishing our role with the Clear Vision Collective in Bangladesh. We completed our first evaluation study assessing RestoringVision’s work and the availability and affordability of reading glasses in two countries: Mexico and Nigeria (report coming soon). And most importantly, together with you, we transformed the lives of over 2.7 million people in need through the gift of clear vision.

As we reflect on these successes, we also look to our future. This year, our priorities are building a sustainable organization, setting a new strategy, and fundraising in order to serve the growing demand for glasses. In parallel, we have an ambitious goal and campaign to impact 20 million people by the end of 2020. There’s never been a more exciting time to join our cause. Get on board in bigger and better ways this year, the year of vision! We invite you to go the extra mile with us on behalf of millions of people who depend on all of us for clear vision.

Best regards,
Pelin Munis, Ph.D.
Executive Director, RestoringVision

OUR IMPACT IN 2019 

DEVELOPMENT UPDATES FOR DONORS

Go the Extra Mile this 2020 – The Year of Vision
In this year of vision, we invite you to Go the Extra Mile with RestoringVision! As the largest, least expensive, most efficient, highest impact provider of new reading glasses to people in need in the developing world, RestoringVision provides one of the highest and most reliable returns on philanthropic investments anywhere.

Here’s how you can Go the Extra Mile with us this 2020…
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PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SERVICE DELIVERY PARTNERS

Make Your 2020 Mission Trips More Impactful

It’s never too early to order glasses for your 2020 mission trips! Our most popular reading glasses and sunglasses are stock ready.

Additionally, this year we are thrilled to offer even more impactful ways to give the gift of sight to those you serve…
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We have even more news and updates to share with you! Please click here for the full version of our newsletter.

Teresa, a midwife in a small Guatemalan village, has impacted the lives of 130 women by supporting them through pregnancy and birth.

Like many others in her village, Teresa lives on less than $2 per day and struggles to meet the costs of the most basic needs. She suffered from near vision impairment and didn’t have access nor the means to acquire a pair of glasses.

Through the generous support of donors like you, RestoringVision had the opportunity to help Teresa and provide her with the gift of sight. Teresa now continues to impact the lives of many women in her community by helping them bring new life into the world.

By giving the gift of sight you can empower the life of a person like Teresa so that they can impact and empower their own community.

This Dec. 3, turn #GivingTuesday into #GivingSightDay and make a story of empowerment possible by donating to RestoringVision. Any amount you can give, no matter how large or small, can make a world of difference for a person in need.

Our goal for our Year-End, #GivingSight campaign is to raise $40,000 to empower the lives of 50,000 people like Teresa. Will you join us? 

Dear Partners and Friends,

Tis the season to be grateful. At RestoringVision, this is a time for us to give thanks to you and the thousands of people who have joined our cause and made a difference in the lives of over 15,000,000 people in need. Your efforts and contributions have fueled our mission and inspired people from near and far to contribute to our collective vision: A world where everyone who needs glasses has them.

One of our donors recently described the ability to access glasses and see clearly as a “basic human need.” For many people, this is a need that has gone unmet for far too long. With your help today, we can make clear vision a reality for the local farmer in Colombia, the artisan in Bangladesh, the teacher in Nigeria, and the midwife in Guatemala. These are the people who your contributions support every day.

By helping us raise awareness, by taking glasses to the field, and by donating to our year-end campaign, you can make a bigger difference and empower the lives of those most in need.

Best regards,
Pelin Munis, Ph.D.
Executive Director, RestoringVision

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 

RestoringVision Celebrates our 16-Year Anniversary

Every year RestoringVision joins the global day of giving, #GivingTuesday, by turning it into #GivingSightDay. This year, our #GivingSightDay goal is to raise $40,000 to empower 50,000 lives through the gift of sight.

You are the most important part of making this goal a reality. Spark the giving spirit by getting involved!

Donors and Funders: Make your year-end gift and join us in empowering 50,000 lives through the gift of sight. Why wait until December 3 to make a difference? Donate here today and your gift will be doubled! – The first $15,000 in donations will be matched thanks to National Vision and Humps Optics.

Service Delivery Partners: Every #GivingSightDay we give back to YOU, and this year is no exception. Be on the lookout in the coming days for an email with details about our special #GivingSightDay offer for you. In the meantime, add #GivingSightDay to your calendars.

We have even more development updates and news for partners to share with you! Please click here for the full version of our newsletter.

Dear Partners and Friends,

Sixteen years ago, RestoringVision was born out of a need and desire to help. One man’s observation. One man’s commitment to do something about it. It was during an outreach trip to Mexico that our Founder and Chairman Mark Sachs saw the tremendous need for reading glasses. He witnessed people traveling 10, 20, even 30 miles, sleeping overnight just to be able to attend the eye clinic when it opened the next morning. These were people living with and suffering from vision impairment, with no access to glasses. More than half of the people, who visited the clinic, simply needed a pair of non-prescription reading glasses – glasses that were readily available in the United States but nearly impossible to find in impoverished communities. Seeing this incredible need, Mark was determined to make a difference.

Mark’s desire to help led to the creation of our unique organization and model. By building a network of glasses manufacturers, charitable organizations, and socially conscious corporations and people, we have been able to restore and protect vision for more than 15 million people in 130 countries. From helping only 2,000 people in our first year in 2003 to helping over 3 million people a year today, we’re very proud of what we have accomplished with you, our partners on this incredible journey! As always, thank YOU for what you do and a big Happy Anniversary to all of us!

Best regards,
Pelin Munis, Ph.D.
Executive Director, RestoringVision

LOOKING TOWARD YEAR-END

RestoringVision Celebrates our 16-Year Anniversary

On October 2, RestoringVision turns 16. Since our inception, we’ve transformed more than 15 million lives through the gift of sight. We are proud to have become the largest provider of new glasses to people living in impoverished communities and are fiercely committed to doing good with integrity. Your support brought us to this milestone, and we couldn’t be more grateful

This year for the first time, we’re kicking off our year-end giving campaign on our anniversary! We invite you to celebrate all that you’ve made possible and make a bigger commitment to do more this year.

Donors:
Show your support with a charitable contribution.
This year, we have a gap in our fundraising goal and therefore, your donations are more important than ever. Every dollar raised helps provide the gift of sight to a person in need. Your donations can help a mother or father providing for their family, a midwife delivering babies for the community, a farmer who is sorting beans, and so many more individuals who rely on their vision.

Partners:
Order glasses for your upcoming mission trips.
Adding glasses to your outreach projects is an easy, affordable way to transform lives and enhance your programs. With their vision corrected and protected, the people you serve will be able to work, study, care for their families, and so much more. If you don’t have any mission trips coming up, now is the perfect time to donate and refer us to other organizations.

We have even more news and updates to share with you! Please click here for the full version of our newsletter.