VSP Global® and U.S. Conference of Mayors Pass Half-Way Point of Yearlong Partnership
More than 6,000 people have received access to free eye care
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – The U.S. Conference of Mayors and VSP Global announced today that more than 6,000 adults and children across the country have received free eye care and eyewear if needed during the first half of their yearlong partnership to help people who need it most.
The partnership between USCM and VSP Global includes mobile eye care clinics in ten cities across the country. For each event, VSP provides no-cost eye exams and glasses for qualifying adults and children in need. In the first six cities that hosted clinics through this partnership are Atlanta, Columbus, Denver, Indianapolis, Louisville and Phoenix. VSP and USCM are already on the ground or preparing to visit the remaining four cities: Portland, Baltimore, New Orleans and San Francisco.
“Working with the U.S. Conference of Mayors allows us to reach some of the 46.5 million households across America that don’t have access to vision insurance,” said Jim McGrann, CEO of VSP Global. “We are thrilled at the impact we’ve had so far, and are looking forward to helping thousands more people see by providing access to no-cost eye care and glasses.”
“We’re seeing firsthand the remarkable impact vision care has on everyday health. It is a critical part of a person’s health, but often unavailable to many of our most vulnerable communities,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director, U. S. Conference of Mayors.
“More than 1,300 people came out to the mobile clinic event for eye care. This really is a remarkable program that makes sure everyone who needs access is able to receive it,” said Greg Fischer, mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, who hosted the mobile clinic in June.
"Volunteering on the mobile clinic was a wonderful experience,” said Dr. Brian Abert of Vista Eye Care, a VSP Global Premier Practice, who volunteered during outreach events in Denver. “We were able to provide exams to people of all ages who needed eye care, but weren’t able to access or afford it otherwise. That is a great feeling.”
For more information at about the partnership and the Eyes of Hope: a Million More initiative, visit www.vspglobal.com/millionmore. For photos to include in coverage, please use the credited images here.
