New York, NY – March 28, 2024 – RestoringVision, a leading global nonprofit dedicated to creating equitable access to vision services and eyeglasses worldwide, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a landmark event held at the Delegates Dining Room at the United Nations on March 12. The event, attended by nearly 80 individuals including distinguished representatives from the World Health Organization and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, as well as prominent donors, partners, and leaders from the private sector, served as a testament to RestoringVision’s extraordinary journey and pathways to solving the global vision crisis.
RestoringVision welcomed its catalytic donors and partners who were able to attend, including: FGX International, EssilorLuxottica, and the OneSight Foundation; National Vision, Inc., Warby Parker, Walmart, Livelihood Impact Fund, Perkins Coie, ACHAP, MSH Peru, Hospital el Beun Samaritano, Jewish Relief Network Ukraine, Jatan Foundation for Inclusion, and Eyes on Africa.
View photos from the event by clicking here.
The evening kicked off with a warm welcome from Board Chair Kevin Hassey, who expressed gratitude to the esteemed guests and partners for their unwavering support. Hassey’s opening remarks set the stage for an evening of celebration, reflection, and renewed determination.
Reade Fahs, CEO of National Vision, Inc. and a longstanding member of RestoringVision’s board of directors, took the stage to share poignant anecdotes about the organization’s humble beginnings and exponential growth. Fahs outlined ambitious plans for the future, emphasizing that RestoringVision will reach 5.5M people in need in 2024 alone, but also has plans to scale to reach 50M people in need per year with increased funding.
One highlight of the evening included the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to RestoringVision Founder Mark Sachs by Mary Ann Peters, current RestoringVision board member, ambassador (ret.) and former CEO of The Carter Center. Peters lauded Sachs’ visionary leadership and tireless dedication to advancing the cause of vision equity, underscoring the profound impact of RestoringVision’s work on 28M lives worldwide since 2003.
In his acceptance speech, Sachs expressed gratitude for the honor and reiterated his commitment to RestoringVision’s mission, reflecting on a recent mission trip in which he provided eyeglasses for people in need.
Pelin Munis, Ph.D., CEO of RestoringVision, seized the opportunity to reflect on the event’s significance and the organization’s vision for the future.
Munis said of the evening, “Tonight’s event not only celebrates 20 years of impactful work but also galvanizes momentum around our shared mission of ensuring vision equity for all. The outpouring of support from our partners and community is a testament to the growing worldwide recognition at the level of the UN and WHO of the critical importance of addressing the global vision crisis.”
She further emphasized, “As we look ahead, the success of this event will undoubtedly contribute to the momentum around our work, inspiring greater collaboration and driving tangible progress towards our goal of creating a world where everyone who needs glasses has them.”
In her closing remarks, Munis expressed gratitude to the attendees for their unwavering support and reiterated RestoringVision’s commitment to forging ahead in solving the global vision crisis. She urged attendees to continue championing the cause and join together in building a future where clear vision is not a privilege but a fundamental human right.
As RestoringVision celebrates two decades of impact, the organization remains steadfast in its resolve to create a world where everyone has access to the gift of clear vision. With the unwavering support of dedicated partners and advocates, RestoringVision is poised to make significant strides towards achieving its vision of a world where sight knows no barriers.
For more information about RestoringVision and its programs, please visit www.restoringvision.org.
RestoringVision is a global nonprofit dedicated to ending the global vision crisis. The organization is committed to creating equitable access to vision services and eyeglasses, particularly for individuals living on less than $2 a day. 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. We work to solve this global crisis by partnering with our unparalleled network of more than 3,000 NGOs and government partners to provide life-changing vision screenings and eyeglasses to millions of people who could not access them otherwise. RestoringVision has reached more than 28 million people in 147 countries since 2003. For more information, visit restoringvision.org.
CONTACT: Stephanie Godward, Director of Marketing and Communications, RestoringVision, Marketing@restoringvision.org
