COMMUNITY I-CARE
Alongside Give the Gift of Sight, Luxottica Group is engaged, through its Asia-Pacific retail structure, in the Community I-Care program, which has been in Australia since 2003 and in New Zealand, beginning in 2007. Community I-Care was established in 1978 by the OPSM Foundation of the former OPSM Group. Its primary aim is to support research into eye-related health issues. This program reflects the Group’s values and commitment to stakeholders in supporting vision-related causes and assisting communities in remote locations by providing free eye exams, prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses in Australia. Community I-Care’s objective is also to offer the Group employees the chance to use their skills to participate in humanitarian causes that reflect Luxottica Group’s values and commitment. In 2006, many of the Group’s partners in the Australian optical industry joined the Community I-Care, which enabled the program to extend its activities.
Vision Vouchers. In 2006, all Australian optical stores were given the chance to take part in Community I-Care through the launch of Vision Vouchers, an initiative enabling store managers to supply free glasses to customers who are unable to afford them.
EYE CARE PROGRAMS
Croc Festival. In 2003, the Group started collaborating with Croc Festival, a series of events organized every year by Indigenous Festivals of Australia. Croc Festival events take place in various communities in Australia and bring together young people to learn about health, education, careers, art, entertainment, culture and sports. The objective is to enable young people in remote rural areas to take part in workshops and other activities that will stimulate them to live healthier lives and help them in their schooling choices. As a partner in these events, Community I-Care selects and gives full eye exams to the participating students. Eyeglasses with new frames and prescriptions are distributed free of charge to those who need them.
Salvation Army. Cooperation with the Salvation Army started in mid-2005 with the establishment of a new program developed by Community I-Care and implemented for the first time in Australia. The program’s aim, as expressed in its statement of intent, is to help people in Australia who cannot afford or do not have access to eye care. Thanks to the range of the Salvation Army’s operations, the program has been successful in supplying eye care and glasses to Australians in the most diverse places.
Pika Wiya. Eyecare for Aborigines is one of the Croc Festival’s program’s declared aims. In Port Augusta, this project is carried forward in collaboration with the Southern Australian Aboriginal Health Service. Community I-Care is a partner in this program, guaranteeing care in the form of regular eye exams and supplying eyeglasses. The Group’s optometrists and suppliers participate in five trips per year to support the current program.
LOOKING AHEAD
In 2007, Community I-Care will expand in New Zealand by launching a Salvation Army voucher program and distributing Vision Vouchers to all optical store managers. Following the successful cooperation with the Salvation Army in Australia, a similar collaboration effort has been planned with Mission Australia, another major Australian charity, and was launched in March 2007.
The Group plans to provide free eyeglasses to The KIDS Foundation, which supports the families of children who have suffered burns. These vouchers may be distributed to families and their children according to their needs. Aboriginal Health programs are continuing to cooperate with health authorities in other parts of Australia. In addition to collaboration with Give the Gift of Sight in at least three international programs, Community I-Care is working with an eye care group in Myanmar, Burma to locate and assist blind or seriously sight-impaired children. Other opportunities to expand programs beyond where the Group currently operates are under consideration.
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