ANNUAL REPORT 2004 - Luxottica Group

GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT, A LUXOTTICA GROUP FOUNDATION
collaborating with new colleagues builds mutual
respect and teaches appreciation for the differences in
cultures and people. In an organization as vast as
Luxottica Group, understanding and recognizing the
value of diversity is, without a doubt, a crucial value.
Teamwork - All Give the Gift of Sight activities,
particularly international missions, require intense
teamwork to maximize the use of resources and time
to help as many people in need as possible. This
experience improves problem-solving, innovation and
leadership opportunities for the associates and
doctors who volunteer.
Serving those around us - Through the Give the Gift of
Sight programs, volunteers learn how valuable it is to
provide people with eyecare. This awareness can add
great satisfaction to their daily work and enrich the
rapport with customers.
2004
In 2004, Give the Gift of Sight provided free eyecare to
609,099 people worldwide, up 12% from the previous
year. Specifically, 281,455 people received eye exams
and eyeglasses through 12 international missions in
Thailand, Mexico, Ecuador, Paraguay, Chile and
Honduras.
In North America, the program helped perform eye
exams in schools and stores of the Group and
provided eyeglasses in hospitals and retirement
centers, helping a total of over 328 thousand people.
Thanks to the strong dedication of the program to
children, during the year its two vision vans provided
with new eyeglasses 14,729 children living in isolated
and remote areas of North America. In the cities,
through Hometown Day, 39,064 children and adults
received eye exams and screenings.
In 2004, three new international programs were
introduced:
- The “Maxi Mission”, able to help a large number of
people in a short time, such as in Thailand, where in
two weeks 39,725 people in need were helped;
- The “Frontier Mission”, combining an international
mission with vision vans equipped with labs for
manufacturing eyeglasses; and,
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- The “Satellite Mission”, with teams that can travel to
reach people in need who live in remote areas, even
hundreds of miles from the care centers.
In 2004 the former LensCrafters Foundation changed
its name to “Give the Gift of Sight, A Luxottica Group
Foundation”, reflecting the Group’s involvement and
commitment to the program.
Finally, on November 16, 2004, Gift of Sight was
honored with the Ron Brown Award. The Ron Brown
Award is the only U.S. presidential award recognizing
companies for outstanding achievements in the
community.
THE FUTURE
The exciting results to-date of the program are the fruit
of the passion and commitment of volunteers,
vendors and charitable partners as well as of Luxottica
Group. The joy and enthusiasm that comes from
reaching these goals are such that Give the Gift of
Sight has set even more ambitious goals for the future.
In 2005, the program plans to help 700,000 people in
North America and internationally through missions,
and to recycle 600,000 prescription eyeglasses and
sunglasses. These are ambitious undertakings, that
Give the Gift of Sight and Luxottica Group and its
partners feel are within their reach.
In 2005, the Foundation will also benefit from the
additional support and help of the new members of
the Luxottica Group team from the acquisition of Cole
National.
Give the Gift of Sight was born of the conviction that
vision is not a luxury, but a right of every human being.
The involvement of the Group in the program adds
great meaning to day-to-day work and provides
employees with the opportunity to live out a deeplyfulfilling
experience. For this reason, Luxottica Group is
fully committed to this program and will continuously
look for new ways to contribute and participate in its
growth.
For further information, please visit the program’s
website at www.givethegiftofsight.org.