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SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Aug. 9, 2022) – RestoringVision is thrilled to announce that Paul Case joins as Senior Director, Global Programs and Operations and member of the senior leadership team.

Paul brings a wealth of experience from the optical nonprofit and for-profit sectors, as he previously served as Head of Programming at nonprofit OneSight, Regional Director of Operations at Luxottica, and more recently as Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Walmart Health and Wellness.

“I have had the opportunity to travel to some of the most under-served communities around the world and have personally seen the impact that not being able to see clearly can have on someone’s ability to live a productive life,” Case said. “Imagine not being able to see while living in an impoverished community and having to earn a living to take care of your family. This is unacceptable to me, and I’m eager to advance the work of RestoringVision in our steadfast commitment to creating equitable access to clear vision for people living on less than $2/day.”

RestoringVision is a leading global nonprofit dedicated to creating equitable access to vision services and eyeglasses for the most impoverished populations worldwide. Our unparalleled network of 2,500 NGOs and government agencies, along with our corporate and foundation donors who provide financial support, and the world’s largest optical companies who partner with us to ensure we have quality glasses – add up to an all-hands-on-deck approach for advancing our mission of solving the global vision crisis. Since 2003, RestoringVision has served more than 20 million individuals in more than 144 countries.

According to the WHO, at least one billion people have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed, 81% of which could be corrected with a simple pair of reading glasses. Yet, millions of people worldwide lack access to the vision services and glasses they need to see clearly.  This year, RestoringVision is on track to reach 3.5 million people as it continues to grow and scale its impact globally.

“In the last two years, RestoringVision has experienced significant growth and the demand for our programs continues to accelerate,” said Pelin Munis, Ph.D., Executive Director of RestoringVision. “I’m excited to collaborate with Paul to not only scale our programs but to also expand our work to serve more vulnerable populations while building sustainable programs to ensure people have ongoing access to the vision services and glasses they need.”

RestoringVision is a global nonprofit that empowers lives by creating equitable access to vision programs and glasses for those living on less than $2 a day.  One billion people have vision impairment that could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed, 81% of which could be corrected with a simple pair of reading glasses. But millions of people worldwide lack access to the vision programs and glasses they need to see clearly. We address this by partnering with our unparalleled network of NGOs and government agencies to provide life-changing vision screenings and glasses to millions of people who could not access them otherwise. Clear vision gives people better opportunities to lead independent, healthy and productive lives, that help lift up communities and drive down poverty. For more information, visit restoringvision.org.

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Contact:
Stephanie Godward
Sr. Manager of Communications and Marketing
RestoringVision
Mobile (412) 463-2942
stephanie@restoringvision.org
www.restoringvision.org

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (AUGUST 2, 2022) – RestoringVision is thrilled to announce that Pelin Munis, Ph.D., has been named one of Vision Monday’s 2022 Most Influential Women in Optical honorees during the 20^th anniversary of the publication’s annual awards.

Leading as RestoringVision’s executive director since 2015, Munis is being honored in the category of Executive Suite. Munis is one of 45 honorees selected from a pool of 325 nominations in 2022.

“Since I joined RestoringVision, we’ve expanded access channels to vision services and glasses to 144 countries. We’ve galvanized more than 2,500 NGOs and government agencies to add vision programs to their work. We’ve rallied more companies and foundations to help us achieve our vision of a world where everyone who needs glasses has them,” Munis said. “Receiving this recognition is a great honor, and what inspires me the most are the lives of the people we change. It’s what happens after people receive their eyeglasses, often for the first time. It’s their personal stories, each unique and yet with a common theme of hope, purpose, and potential.”

Together with the RestoringVision team, Munis recently achieved the organization’s most significant milestone yet – reaching more than 20 million people globally with its vision programs and eyeglasses since the organization’s inception in 2003. Under her leadership, RestoringVision has built an unparalleled network of 2,500 NGO and government agency partners which have added vision programs to their work.

Through these strategic partnerships, RestoringVision has expanded its vision programs from 70 countries to 144 countries since Munis joined the organization in 2015. This year, RestoringVision aims to serve 3.5 million people living on less than $2 a day.

“Today, RestoringVision, the nonprofit leader in addressing presbyopia, could help more than seven million people a year and is seeking new philanthropic investments to do so. I am now leading our organization through our next phase of high growth. I am committed to ensuring RestoringVision expands its channels for people living in poverty to access the critical vision services and glasses they need, and above all, am dedicated to solving the global vision crisis,” Munis said.

For more information on how to partner with RestoringVision, visit www.restoringvision.org.

RestoringVision is a global nonprofit that empowers lives by creating equitable access to vision programs and glasses for those living on less than $2 a day.  One billion people have vision impairment that could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed, 81% of which could be corrected with a simple pair of reading glasses. But millions of people worldwide lack access to the vision programs and glasses they need to see clearly. We address this by partnering with our unparalleled network of NGOs and government agencies to provide life-changing vision screenings and glasses to millions of people who could not access them otherwise. Clear vision gives people better opportunities to lead independent, healthy and productive lives, that help lift up communities and drive down poverty. For more information, visit restoringvision.org.

#             #             #

Contact:
Stephanie Godward
Sr. Manager of Communications and Marketing
RestoringVision
Mobile (412) 463-2942
stephanie@restoringvision.org
www.restoringvision.org

RestoringVision and The National System for Integral Family Development – SNDIF – located in Mexico, have collaborated to empower more than 150,000 people with clear vision so far this year, with a shared goal of reaching 300,000 people by the end of 2022.

“In Mexico, there are 19 million people over the age of 39 who live in extreme poverty or poverty. Those individuals have a high probability of having presbyopia and not being able to access a pair of reading glasses,” said Gerardo Medina Duarte, RestoringVision’s Program Coordinator in Mexico.

In an effort to create equitable access to vision services and glasses, RestoringVision recently partnered with SNDIF at a health fair for seniors to provide optometry services and access to reading glasses, glucose measurement, blood pressure measurement, access to a doctor, nutrition counseling, access to a dentist, medicines, groceries, and more – at no cost to participants.

Through RestoringVision’s partnership with SNDIF, the most vulnerable populations now have reading glasses through existing health systems and events like this health fair, at rehabilitation centers, and at other health events held in city squares.

The health fair was held in the Xonacatlán Municipality where a warm welcome was given by the Municipal President, Alfredo González González and his wife Betty Olivia Saavedra García, who is the DIF´s Municipal System President in Xonacatlán. Xonacatlán is one of the 125 municipalities of the State of Mexico in the Toluca Valley. According to INEGI 2020, it has a population of 54,000 people. Some of its main industries include retail, services, and manufacturing; and they are well known for producing stuffed toys. According to CONEVAL, 70.9% of the municipality population experiences poverty or extreme poverty. And according to INEGI, 17,500 people are over 40 years old, resulting in about 12,000 people with a high probability of having presbyopia and not having access to reading glasses in that municipality. Thanks to RestoringVision’s work in Mexico, a pathway to access reading glasses is being made possible.

Volunteers from the University of the Toluca Valley, UTVT; the National College of Technical Professional Education of the State of Mexico, CONALEP; and the School of Scientific and Technological Studies of the State of Mexico, CECyTEM supported this event where SNDIF facilitated the first round of over 500 people benefited from RestoringVision´s programs.

“RestoringVision looks forward to continuing this important work across Mexico as we forge deeper partner relationships that will ultimately result in sustainable, local access to vision services and glasses for all,” Medina said.

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This year, RestoringVision will transform 3.5 million lives worldwide with clear vision through the provision of vision services and eyeglasses. How does it all happen in a world of complicated logistics, supply chain issues, and other obstacles? Meet Shaun Starkey, RestoringVision’s Operations Manager, the person behind the scenes coordinating the logistics of our mission to ensure millions of people worldwide experience clear vision.

How does RestoringVision tackle the logistics of shipping glasses around the world?

RestoringVision acquires products through in-kind donations and purchases glasses to support its work. We have a 40,000-square-foot donated facility located outside of Columbus, Ohio, within the Walmart optical distribution center. At this distribution center, our team processes hundreds of thousands of in-kind glasses donations and fulfills orders. We ship about 3.5 million glasses a year worldwide to less developed countries. While a percentage of our purchased glasses arrive in Ohio, the majority of these are shipped in containers from China directly to project countries. These shipments aid in assisting over 100,000 people in underserved areas per shipment.

Can you describe the operational “journey” of a pair of glasses?

Our glasses originate from manufacturers and retailers who donate and/or direct purchase from the manufacturer. Glasses arrive at our facility through donations via many methods of transportation, including small parcel and freight shipments. They arrive in boxes, on pallets, on trailers, or in containers. We also ship product directly from the manufacturer in China to our project countries. Those glasses are shipped in containers via maritime, rail, or occasionally by air. Transportation is sometimes arranged by the donor or arranged by our Ohio team, depending on the agreement of the donation or purchase.

How are they organized?

When working with in-kind glasses donations, one of the first steps is to sort the product to identify what has been received.  While the product we receive is always new, our receiving team sorts the shipments by type (reading glasses, minus glasses, sunglasses), gender, adult vs children, and diopter. These glasses are then counted and received systematically. Items are organized within the warehouse in the same manner these were sorted.  Within the warehouse, readers, minus glasses and sunglasses are all stored within their respective areas. Reading glasses and minus glasses are then stored by their level of strength.

How are the glasses shipped?

Our glasses are shipped much in the same way they were received but are now ready for our partners to utilize. Depending on the size of the order, we ship orders via small parcel, LTL/LCL, by trailer, or within a container. Product shipping direct from our manufacturer ships via a container, typically on a vessel.  This product is already packaged by gender and diopter, and is ready for our on the ground partners to utilize in the field.

How did you get into this type of work?

I started as a temporary warehouse associate in 2004 on a packaging line for a large third-party logistics company.  I received multiple promotions over the next 5 years and was promoted to Operations Supervisor in 2009. I then moved to a large Fortune 500 company and was promoted to an Operations Manager where I managed a 350,000-square-foot facility that employed over 400 people during its busy Christmas season. I then joined RestoringVision in June of 2021.

How is this work rewarding for you personally?

Working with RestoringVision has a different “feel” than working for a for-profit company.  While my focus has always been on saving money and increasing the company’s profit margin in the for-profit world, I now think in terms of “people helped.” How can we achieve our goals efficiently and effectively to help the most people? It is very different to think that the work you’re completing daily is touching people’s lives in a real and meaningful way.

Stay tuned for Part II: Journey of a Pair of Glasses – The Final Mile.

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Author: Pelin Munis, Ph.D., Executive Director, RestoringVision

“In a world built on the ability to see, vision, the most dominant of our senses, is vital at every turn of our lives.” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization

Restoring someone’s sight is the single most cost-effective health intervention to reduce poverty.

These simple facts, brought to light by the World Health Organization, are a revelation for many, and is what motivates RestoringVision to work tirelessly for equitable access to clear sight. This fact is a rallying cry and call to action for new and existing philanthropic partners to invest in our work that needs to be done to scale to reach those living on less than $2 a day who lack equitable access to the vision services they need to thrive.

RestoringVision has the program pipeline to reach as many as 7 million people annually, and now we seek the funding to make clear vision a reality for millions of people worldwide, directly contributing to ending poverty. As we expand our team and accelerate our growth to transform even more lives with clear vision every year, we are excited about where we are headed and all that we will accomplish together with our generous donors and partners.

In a world where over 1 billion people have vision impairments correctable with glasses, yet do not have them, and 81% of these vision impairments could be corrected with reading glasses, RestoringVision is fiercely committed to solving this issue. We are creating a roadmap to the solution: increased, sustainable access to vision care and eyeglasses for people living in poverty worldwide, which advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #1: Ending Poverty in All its Forms.

Rates of poverty have increased at historical levels across the globe due to the pandemic and are now further exacerbated by the impacts of global unrest caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a result, our work and the demand for our programs have increased significantly over the last two years. We know that the ability to see clearly is a necessary condition for sustained livelihoods, increased productivity, and extended earning years. With clear vision, one has a better chance of creating a pathway out of poverty due to productivity gains and workforce longevity.

A fisherman in Guatemala recently struggled to tie fishing nets – because he struggled to see clearly. Not only did fishing provide income for his household, but it also provided the food for their family dinners. An old pair of eyeglasses he owned previously were broken, and without access to a new pair, he struggled to work each day. That is, until he received a new pair of glasses through RestoringVision’s programs. Every pair of glasses has an impact with infinite ripple effects.

Approximately 90% of the world’s vision-impaired live in developing countries, and as this fisherman’s story demonstrates, access to eyeglasses is critical to increasing a person’s ability to earn an income. By serving at the intersection of global health, education, and economic development, RestoringVision is providing impoverished communities worldwide with vision programs and glasses, empowering people with clear sight, renewed vision health, and increased earning potential, directly contributing to ending poverty. Without vision health interventions, deterioration in vision will only decrease productivity and earning potential – further exacerbating the effects of poverty.

Research shows that when an adult worker’s vision is restored with corrective eyeglasses, there is an increase in their productivity by up to 32%. This can be correlated to an increase in income by up to 20%. For an individual earning $2 per day, this equates to an increase in earning potential of $140 annually at the household level.

In 2021, through RestoringVision’s programs, 1,930,363 adults received corrective glasses, which correlates to an additional $270,250,820 in earning potential at the household level. The WHO World Report on Vision states: “The cost gap for vision impairment or blindness that could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed is an additional $14.3 billion US dollars.”

By advancing vision solutions, we can solve one of the biggest global health problems of our time and remove barriers to success for people across the globe. RestoringVision is dedicated to empowering lives with clear vision and we are dedicated to ending poverty for all.

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Dr. Edgar Medina, MD, MPH, knows firsthand the important role that protective sunglasses play in supporting healthy eyes worldwide, and that is why he is working passionately to ensure that more people have access to the protection and prevention that sunglasses provide.

As Executive Director of MSH Peru, Dr. Medina implements projects serving vulnerable and impoverished populations in Peru. This country has one of the highest UV indexes in the world, reaching 20 points, which is the highest rate in the world in terms of solar radiation indexes.

“There is a lack of information and awareness in Peru of the damage caused by exposure to UV radiation, and while many people have sunglasses, many pairs typically do not have the filter needed to protect from exposure to the UV index,” Dr. Medina said. “Because of that lack of information and awareness, and the fact that Peru has the highest amount of exposure to solar radiation in the world, we find it is important to create a prevention culture among the vulnerable populations of Peru about protective sunglasses, and also we need to create awareness in the sense that sunglasses are not just a fashion product but a means to protect eye health.”

As National Sunglasses Day approaches on June 27, RestoringVision is raising awareness and taking action locally and globally, providing support where it’s needed most by providing protective sunglasses where the UV index is high and access is very limited. Together, MSH Peru and RestoringVision lead the Solar Radiation Prevention Program, PPDRS. The program aims to raise awareness about the risks of exposure to solar radiation by promoting a culture of protection, including the delivery of “Solidarity Kits” that will consist of sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen, and a hat in support of the public policy issued by the Health Ministry of Peru and oriented to protect against the harmful effects of solar radiation in Peru.

A government mandate in Peru establishes preventive measures against harmful health effects due to prolonged exposure to solar radiation; RestoringVision and MSH Peru have partnered to provide the most vulnerable populations with the information and the tools they need to protect themselves.

Sunglasses with UV protection are not only essential to preserve the health of the eyes, but these are also important to prevent and reduce the risks of suffering from other vision problems that result from exposure to solar radiation such as cataracts, pterygium, photo conjunctivitis, and photokeratitis.

“Through the work of prevention and promoting awareness of the damage caused by solar radiation, we will reduce the expenses of health care by preventing ocular health issues created by the highest UV index,” Dr. Medina said. “It is well known that Peru has a few ophthalmologists, and most of them are located in the urban areas and the regions’ capitals. And by implementing this program we will contribute to the public health improvement through a risk reduction in ocular health.”

In 2021, RestoringVision provided 311,483 adults living in poverty with protective sunglasses to safeguard their vision against harmful UV rays and 47,565 children with sunglasses to protect their young eyes. This work resulted in a grand total of 359,048 people who now have access to the protective sunglasses they need, as they live in remote regions around the world with some of the highest UV indexes. Sunglasses effectively protect the eyes from harmful UVA/UVB rays that can cause cataracts and thus serve as an effective tool for maintaining healthy, clear vision.

MSH-Peru was founded in 2014 as a Management Sciences for Health, Inc. subsidiary committed to improving public health and developing the poorest and most vulnerable population in Peru.

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The Delta Gamma Foundation is continuing its support for clear vision in impoverished communities, awarding a Service for Sight grant to RestoringVision for the second year in a row.

As poverty rates continue to rise, Delta Gamma’s support will help us reach low and very-low-income people living across underserved communities in the U.S. These are individuals living 300% below the Federal Poverty line, those who are underinsured and uninsured.  This grant provides support for RestoringVision’s U.S. program.

“We are thrilled and proud to have been awarded a second grant from such a prestigious foundation to support our domestic work,” said Aminah Yoba, Senior Director of Development, RestoringVision.  “We look forward to growing with the Delta Gamma Foundation in the years to come to ensure those who need access to vision services and glasses in the U.S. have them.”

The Delta Gamma Foundation has prioritized eye health for more than 85 years. Funding from the foundation will support our program to provide basic vision screenings and reading glasses for people living in poverty at no cost to the beneficiary.

The Delta Gamma Foundation fosters lifetime enrichment for members, promotes Service for Sight, and partners with the Fraternity to ensure the future of its sisterhood. Its dedicated members and friends make this mission possible through philanthropy, service and generous gifts to the Foundation which support its three key areas of support: Individual Member Support, Training and Programming, and Service for Sight.

Click here to learn more about the Delta Gamma Foundation.

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Join us in welcoming Paul Case, who joined our team as Senior Director of Global Programs and Operations. Paul brings a wealth of experience from the optical nonprofit and for-profit sectors, as he previously served as Head of Programming at nonprofit OneSight, Regional Director of Operations at Luxottica, and more recently as Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Walmart Health and Wellness.

What do you enjoy most about your work at RestoringVision thus far?

Paul: I enjoy working with RestoringVision’s network of more than 2500 partners around the world that are committed to ensuring that people living in under-served communities have access to clear vision! I also enjoy leading a team of passionate leaders that are committed to creating a measurable impact on eliminating the vision care crisis!

Why is this work important to you personally?

Paul: In my career, I have had the opportunity to travel to some of the most under-served communities around the world and have personally seen the impact that not being able to see clearly can have on the ability of someone to live a productive life. Imagine not being able to see while living in an impoverished community and having to earn a living to take care of your family. This is unacceptable to me and at RestoringVision, we are committed to creating equitable access to clear vision for all.

Who inspires you most in your life and why?

Paul: I am personally inspired by working with individuals who are passionate about the work they do, and who at the same time are able to strategically execute a plan that has a measurable impact. I have been fortunate to have worked with some of the top leaders in the eye health sector over the years, and this has not only helped me to become a better leader, but also a better human being!

What are you most looking forward to in your role at RestoringVision?

Paul: I am most looking forward to hearing from individuals we have helped and how being able to see clearly has improved the quality of their lives! Working in the non-profit sector can be very challenging at times. The workload can be very high and stressful, but what makes it rewarding is hearing a story from a beneficiary of clear vision!

What do you do in your free time when you’re not solving the global vision crisis?

Paul: In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and my two Chihuahuas!  I also come from a very fitness-oriented family and enjoy bootcamp workouts, Crossfit, triathlons, hiking, and all sports! I am also a fan of motivational movies and classic 80’s movies!

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