Eighteen months since its launch, the Vision Catalyst Fund (VCF), whose mission is to help a billion people to see by 2030, announced new Global Ambassadors, Board members, and a strategic partnership with EYElliance, the US multi-sector coalition driving global and national strategies to accelerate equitable access to spectacles.
The VCF and EYElliance are joining forces to amplify and expedite the delivery of EssilorLuxottica’s landmark in-kind lens donation to the Vision Catalyst Fund that will enable millions of children and adults in low-and-middle income countries to see clearly and realize their full potential, particularly focussed on those who cannot afford to pay. EssliorLuxottica is also providing technical guidance, supply chain assistance and in-country networks to help deliver the VCF’s mission and vision.
Founded in 2015, EYElliance is well experienced at orchestrating systems-level change and catalysing the scale of proven models of eyeglasses delivery working with various partners. This expertise would complement VCF’s goal of creating a platform developing innovative partnerships and financial instruments to bring vision to everyone everywhere within a generation.
The VCF welcomed Hubert Sagnières, former Vice Chairman of EssilorLuxottica and Peter Holland, CEO of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) as Global ambassadors. They, along with current Ambassador Dr Andrew Bastawrous, will promote the need for good vision and help VCF connect with key stakeholders around the world. They will step down as Board members to take up these roles.
The VCF board welcomed four new members: Anurag Hans, Head of Mission for EssilorLuxottica, Chris Jurgens a Director at Omidyar Network, Co-Founder and CEO of EYElliance, Liz Smith and Jordan Kassalow, Co-Founder of EYElliance and Founder of VisionSpring.
Chairman of the Vision Catalyst Fund, Jayanth Bhuvaraghan said “I am very excited to welcome our new Global Ambassadors and Board members to the VCF. The partnership with EYElliance is a significant milestone in our journey to bring good vision to everyone in the World. With such a strong and committed leadership team, I am confident the VCF will be able to help all our partners accelerate all their efforts to eradicate uncorrected poor vision from the world.”
Through the donation and broader support of EssilorLuxottica, the Vision Catalyst Fund has now granted more than a million pairs of lenses across over 11 countries.
Commenting on this partnership, Anurag Hans, Head of Mission for EssilorLuxottica said “We are delighted to see the partnership between EYElliance and the VCF. This will create synergies and greatly help in addressing the rising demand for glasses amongst the poorest communities around the world.”
The Vision Catalyst Fund is simultaneously working on developing innovative financial mechanisms to bring new financing to the sector and accelerate all efforts to realise its long-term goal to bring universal eye care to everyone in the world.
