During the month of October when everyone is celebrating World Sight Day, Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) is taking the opportunity to acknowledge a company that supports the cause of vision year-round.

“Corporate partners play an instrumental role in helping build awareness and educating consumers about the cause of vision,” explains Becky Palm, EVF President and Executive Director. “Through these relationships, we are able to reach new audiences and bring life-changing vision care to underserved communities around the country.”

Walman is one such company, and it has been a valuable partner of EVF since 2008. Walman CEO Marty Bassett serves on the foundation’s board of directors, the company is a sponsor of EVF’s annual golf tournament, and Walman donates a portion of the sales from participating practices to EVF through their Kids With a Vision program. “Walman is a company that truly cares, and we are so proud to have a long-term partnership with them,” Palm adds.

Walman is Making a Difference

Charitable giving and community involvement have always been among Walman’s core values, and that is one reason why a partnership with EVF is a natural fit. “Our mission for the company is enriching lives through better vision,” Bassett says. “People know the importance of philanthropy to our organization and what it means to us. They also know the value of partnerships and how we can make our charitable outreach even more impactful by working with organizations like Essilor Vision Foundation.”

Corporate partnerships are especially critical when it comes to providing vision care for children in need, since vision impairment is one of the most prevalent disabling conditions among children in the U.S. Vision impacts every aspect of a child’s life, from learning, confidence and social interaction to participation in activities such as sports, art and music. That is why Walman and EVF are partnering on the Kids with a Vision program. For every pair of digitally surfaced lenses treated with non-glare treatment produced by Walman Optical labs purchased by participating eye care professionals through December 31, 2020, Walman Optical will donate $5.00 to EVF.* “One thing we thought was important about this program was the opportunity to give our customers a chance to engage in a more meaningful way in philanthropy and giving back to their communities,” Bassett says.

Doing Good is Good for Business

When you partner with Essilor Vision Foundation, you are helping to significantly improve the lives of millions of children in this country who need essential vision care but are not able to get it due to the barriers of awareness, access or affordability. Doing good not only helps people need, it is also good for business. Research shows that 89% of consumers would switch brands to help a support a good cause, and 85% of consumers have a more positive image of products or companies when they support a cause they care about.

The support of EVF’s corporate partners has helped the foundation provide more than 1.5 million pairs of glasses to people in need in the U.S. since 2007. Learn more about partnering with Essilor Vision Foundation.

This article was featured in Vision Monday

About Essilor Vision Foundation

Essilor Vision Foundation strives to give children a brighter future by helping them see the world more clearly. Since 2007, EVF has provided more than one million pairs of eyeglasses to individuals in need. Essilor Vision Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public, non-profit organization committed to eliminating poor vision and its lifelong consequences. To learn more, visit www.evfusa.org.

** Excludes outsourced and previously discounted products

Media Contact: Meredith Marmurek | Email: meredith.marmurek@essilorusa.com | 214-850-3642