Abigail Crosby.

  
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council announced the launch of The Vision Council Foundation, its philanthropic arm that aims to expand the knowledge, access and opportunities needed for professionals and consumers alike to make informed decisions about eye health. A new website consolidates programming and resources and now serves as a single central hub for education, research and marketing tools, the group announced. In addition, the group announced that Abigail Crosby has been hired as the Foundation’s partnership and business development manager, with the goal of strengthening ties with donors to create and enhance the relationships and revenue streams that underpin programming.

“I love that my work goes toward making these invaluable resources possible,” Crosby said. “For eyecare companies and professionals, partnering with The Vision Council Foundation is a win-win because everything we do centers around improving the public’s access to eyecare and the industry’s ability to provide it.”

Directly informed by The Vision Council’s optical industry members, the group advised that The Vision Council Foundation works to bridge gaps between product manufacturers, eyecare providers and consumers. This collaboration has yielded a range of awareness campaigns for different facets of eyecare, the group said, including:

 
 
  • National Sunglasses Day, the annual celebration that emphasizes the importance of wearing sunglasses to protect people’s eyes, especially from UV rays.

  • Children’s eye health, with back-to-school-timed promotion of resources related to the importance of annual eye exams and how to find an eye doctor.

  • Low vision and myopia management, offering research-backed tools for understanding the issues and accessing specialty care.

  • Vision 101, a comprehensive guide that walks consumers through the basics of the eye heath world, including common vision terms, eye conditions, the different types of eyecare providers and industry organizations.
The Vision Council Foundation’s programs, campaigns and initiatives will be supported by industry data collected and analyzed through The Vision Council’s inSights Research Program, which offers timely, accessible data on the state of the vision care industry as well as sophisticated analysis of market trends.

The Foundation shared that it also seeks to address the shortage of eyecare professionals by paving the way for people from a wide range of backgrounds to enter and advance in the industry, noting that a record number of beneficiaries of The Opening Your Eyes Scholarship Fund, the Foundation’s program for financially assisting high school seniors from underrepresented communities through opticianry school, recently graduated.

“The Vision Council Foundation is the manifestation of our mission to achieve better vision for better lives,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council and The Vision Council Foundation. “Everybody has a part to play in raising awareness about eye health and championing the many resources to address eye health needs. Our Foundation’s resources offer an easy pathway for individuals and organizations to join us in this commitment.”

To see a video about The Vision Council Foundation’s offerings, click here. To donate and to learn more about The Vision Council Foundation’s resources and programs, click here.