Press Release:
Seeing Is Believing
VonZipper Eyewear and Physicians for Peace Give The Gift of Sight In The Philippines
Irvine, CA (July 25, 2011) —The Retina Revolutionaries at VonZipper will be heading to Surigao del Norte, Philippines, with Physicians for Peace on September 14, to give the gift of sight to people struggling with significant visual impairments and eye diseases.
The weeklong mission, which will include clinical care, eye exams and customized fittings with thousands of donated VonZipper optical frames, is apart of VonZipper’s direct one-for-one initiative, Charity for Clarity: With every pair of glasses sold from VonZipper Optical, a pair will be given to someone in need.
“Our Charity for Clarity program is the corner stone of our optical collection. When we launched it in 2010, we based the offering in the sprit of giving back to those who could really use the help while making a profound impact on someone’s life,” said, Co-Founder Greg “GT” Tomlinson.
“Giving the gift of sight is a life-changing experience. Can you imagine seeing rainbows, reading the fine print or those amazing waves in Surigao del Norte for the first time?!”
Ninety percent of the world’s blind population lives in developing countries, and the majority of these cases are preventable. Without assistance, thousands who are in dire need would go without prescription glasses.
When looking for a team that could help carry out its “Charity for Clarity” mission, it was an easy decision for
VonZipper to team up with Physicians for Peace and build their direct cause initiative through the organization’s well established Seeing Clearly program.
The Physicians for Peace program, established in 2006, has already provided thousands of patients with quality eye care services, including exams, glasses and surgery. Through focused training sessions, Seeing Clearly volunteers from the U.S. and the Philippines empower local eye care professionals and community health workers to deliver better care to their own communities – ensuring that the aid provided is both meaningful and lasting.
“We are thrilled to partner with VonZipper for this important effort,” said Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.), president and CEO of Physicians for Peace.
“In the Philippines, where Seeing Clearly is based, more than half a million people are blind, and many more are visually impaired. VonZipper’s generous donation of frames will truly help give the gift of sight to those who need it most.”
Fighting for the right of sight, VonZipper and their one-for-one Optical Collection will continue the retina revolution through 2011 and beyond.
About VonZipper
VonZipper is about lifestyle and personality. Our mission is to develop, design and deliver premium products to the alternative mindset though participation in the sideways subculture. Everything we do is a reflection of relationships; from employees and team riders, to our retailers and their customers. We bring smiles to faces and touch people with our positive declarations of rebellion. www.VonZipper.com
About Physicians for Peace
Physicians for Peace transforms lives by training, supporting and empowering healthcare professionals working with the world’s underserved populations. Since 1989, volunteers have conducted medical missions in more than 60 countries. Find us online at www.physiciansforpeace.org and www.facebook.com/physiciansforpeace. Follow us on Twitter, Physician4Peace.
