WORLD SIGHT DAY A SUCCESS

(Cochrane, AB) — Local optometrists Dr. Tom Wilk, Dr. Michele Naruszewicz, and staff members of Mountain View Optometry have been acknowledged by Optometry Giving Sight as Platinum award level fundraisers, thanks to their efforts during the 2015 World Sight Day Challenge.

Doctors, staff and patients of both Mountain View Optometry locations raised over $5,400 during the October World Sight Day Challenge by donating eye exam fees and holding a fundraising blitz. This money will be used to support sustainable eye care projects in underserved communities around the world, helping people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired and in urgent need of eye care.

“We are delighted to have received a Platinum award,” said Dr. Wilk.  “It truly was a team effort from our clients, staff and doctors” he said while acknowledging the efforts of staff members Kaila Pharis and Victoria Galbraith in coordinating the 2015 fundraising initiative.

“We have supported Optometry Giving Sight for 6 years and are proud to donate to such a worthwhile cause. The World Sight Day Challenge is a great way to help support the millions of people who don’t have access to the basic eye care that we can take for granted.”

Optometry Giving Sight is committed to supporting programs that focus on training local eye care professionals so that people in need will have access to sustainable eye care from within their own community.

Thanks to the support of the optical profession, Optometry Giving Sight allocated $1.6 million to 34 projects in 29 countries in 2015, including support to twelve optometry schools in developing countries. The support for optometry schools and educational programs over the years has helped produce qualified local people who screened an estimated 3,704,000 people in 2015.

For more information about Optometry Giving Sight, visit www.givingsight.org