Rhode Island’s FGX Donates millions in product to Haiti and Beyond

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Tuesday, January 04, 2011

GoLocalProv Business Team

Rhode Island's FGX International has donated 47,000 pairs of reading glasses, to be used to support ongoing recovering efforts in Haiti and on medical missions around the world. The donations of both Magnivision and Foster Grant branded readers, will benefit CURE centers in Haiti and Africa, a project of the Lions Club International Foundation. A nearly equal amount of products will be sent on medical missions to other third world countries in need.

“Non-prescription reading glasses can certainly help patients in Haiti and elsewhere - not only to read, but to be able to do other tasks that require the ability to focus up close”

FGX has been working with Dr. Paul Berman, Optometrist, co-director of EyeCare4Haiti, to facilitate the donation. Dr. Berman visited Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake last January and firsthand saw a compelling need for non-prescription reading glasses.

To date FGX has donated in excess of $5.7 million in reading glasses to support charitable causes both in America and worldwide.

“It has been one year since the devastating Haiti earthquake and the reality is that there is still so much work to be done to help Haiti recover,” said Alec Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, FGX International. “If we can aid in some small way with the donation of eyewear, we are pleased to be able to do so. It is our sincere hope that our reading glasses donation both in America and abroad will help patients in need throughout the world.”

“Non-prescription reading glasses can certainly help patients in Haiti and elsewhere - not only to read, but to be able to do other tasks that require the ability to focus up close,” said Dr. Berman. “We delivered readers last year to patients in Haiti. For the first time in a while, people could see up close, read, sew, and perform other everyday jobs. I was amazed to learn that in some parts of rural Haiti, it is thought that not being able to see up close was just part of the aging process and that there is no solution. With a donation of this magnitude from FGX, we will be able to significantly change many more lives.”

According to FGX, 47,000 pairs of readers will be distributed by New Jersey Lions Eye Recycling Center, one of the 17 Lions Recycling Centers in the world.

FGX International has also donated approximately $3 Million of eyewear to the National Association for the Exchange of Industrial Resources, (NAIER), and nearly $2 Million of product to Feed the Children. 

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