The Fred Hollows Foundation has announced it has now received AU$10 million in donations from Specsavers since the beginning of their partnership 16 years ago.
The Fred Hollows Foundation said the contribution had played a “vital role in restoring sight, developing sustainable models of care and improving eye health outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Pacific Islander communities”.
The multi-million-dollar contribution has helped fund crucial programmes, cataract surgeries, diabetic retinopathy treatments, and the training and employment of local eye health professionals. More than 375,000 people who might otherwise have lost their sight to preventable or treatable conditions have received eye care because of these programmes.
The Fred Hollows Foundation, established by the late Professor Fred Hollows, has a commitment to tackling avoidable blindness across the globe. It works closely with Indigenous Australian communities. In the Pacific, Specsavers’ support has helped fund a mobile eye clinic in Fiji as well as training for local healthcare workers.
The Fred Hollows Foundation Founding Director Gabi Hollows said the $10 million milestone was “something truly incredible”.
On top of our donations, we’re also incredibly proud of the non-financial support we’ve provided to assist with The Foundation’s ambitions
“Access to eyecare is a basic human right, not a privilege. But due to distance, language and cultural barriers, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Pacific Islander communities don’t have access to culturally safe and high-quality eye care, leading to vision loss and blindness that can be avoided.
“To everyone at Specsavers, you have all played an essential role in enabling us to deliver the gift of sight… thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Specsavers Head of Sustainability, Cathy Rennie Matos, said Specsavers’ support was both financial and non-financial.
“From our Community programme, which sees a small amount donated from every pair of glasses sold, to our limited edition glasses to fundraising events like Fred’s Big Run and matching team member donations, every cent has added up and means that more people in remote and underserved communities can access essential care, ensuring preventable blindness is no longer a barrier to living a full and independent life.
“On top of our donations, we’re also incredibly proud of the non-financial support we’ve provided to assist with The Foundation’s ambitions – from volunteering and teaching placements to equipment donations, pro bono support, education, and advocacy.
“Reaching this $10 million donation milestone is an incredible achievement and all of our store partners, every person who works in our stores, everyone in our support office, lab and warehouse, and every customer who has shopped with us has helped us to achieve this milestone,” she said.
