CHICAGO—Tables, tickets and event sponsorships are still available for the upcoming Prevent Blindness 2020 Person of Vision Award, which will go to VSP Global and its president and CEO Michael Guyette at the annual dinner to be held in New York on March 26. Prevent Blindness, the nation's oldest eye health and safety non-profit organization, will benefit from all proceeds from the event, supporting the sight-saving programs of the organization. This year's event will take place at a new venue, at 583 Park Avenue, in New York City, in conjunction with Vision Expo East.

The Prevent Blindness Persons of Vision Award recognizes an individual, corporation and/or organization whose inspired outlook champions healthy vision and its importance for a healthy life. VSP Global was selected as the recipient of the Persons of Vision Award for their 65-year commitment to a mission of helping people see, as well as its long-term support and partnership with Prevent Blindness.

VSP Global began its partnership with Prevent Blindness in 1999, following the inception of the first VSP Eyes of Hope initiative, Sight for Students, two years prior. Since then, nearly 123,000 students in need have received no-cost eyecare and eyewear valued at more than $22 million through the Sight for Students program alone.

In total, VSP Global and Prevent Blindness have expanded access to vision care for more than a quarter of a million adults and children in need. In addition, VSP Global staff has volunteered in various capacities including committee work and services to the Prevent Blindness board of directors.

Guyette has been an advocate for making health insurance better aligned with the needs of consumers. He leads VSP Global’s vision to provide access to affordable, high quality eyecare and eyewear to its nearly 90 million members. Before joining VSP Global in 2018, Guyette served as president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. Prior to that, he held senior leadership positions at Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Independence Blue Cross.

“As we enter the year 2020, it seems only fitting that we honor the work of all the employees at VSP Global, including Michael Guyette, for their work which has had such a tremendous, positive impact on improving vision and keeping eyes healthy every day,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Prevent Blindness and our affiliates have been fortunate to be long-time partners in their generous works. We invite everyone to help us celebrate this milestone year and the great efforts of Mr. Guyette and all of those at VSP Global who help promote and protect healthy vision.”

“This recognition is a testament to the incredible impact our organization has made since it was founded in 1955,” said Guyette. “I’m honored to share it alongside VSP network doctors and our employees who have contributed so much to change the lives of so many by expanding access to eyecare for as many people as possible.”

To date, the March 26 event has generated much sponsorship and support. Those include VSP Global as a Gold Sponsor, and AEG Vision, Bausch + Lomb, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., Regeneron and G-III Apparel Group as Bronze Sponsors and ABB Optical Group as Reception Sponsor. Other event sponsors to date include CBRE, Ethis, Inc., Eversana, Gilbert Displays, HEA, Jobson, L'Amy America, Marchon, National Vision, Inc., Reed Exhibitions, The Vision Council, Vision Source, WestGroupe, Optical Women's Association (OWA), and Zyloware.

The chairpersons of the 2020 Prevent Blindness Persons of Vision committee are long-time Prevent Blindness volunteer and past Persons of Vision Award honoree, Marge Axelrad, senior vice president, editorial director at Vision Monday/Jobson Optical Group, and past Prevent Blindness board member and marketing and development committee member; and Mark Ginsburg, chief giving officer, VSP Global, Prevent Blindness board of directors member and chair of the marketing and development committee.

For more information including sponsorship, tickets and table info for the event, please contact Sue Corbett at (312) 363-6014 or scorbett@preventblindness.org or visit www.preventblindness.org/personofvision.