TOMS is doing a whole lot of good in the world… and not just in the shoe department.
Thursday, October 9th is World Sight Day. And to mark the occasion, TOMS is asking Canadians and people around the world to take to social media to raise awareness about visual impairment and blindness around the globe.
As you probably know by now, TOMS functions using a One for One model, which launched with TOMS shoes in 2006. With every pair of shoes purchased, one is donated to someone in need. Realizing that the model could serve other global needs, founder Blake Lycoskie launched TOMS Eyewear and its sight-giving model in 2011 to help restore sight to people in need.
That means with every purchase of TOMS sunglasses (our aviators remained a staple throughout the summer) and optical frames, TOMS will provide a person in need with prescription glasses, medical treatment, or sight-saving surgery. And it’s no small undertaking; to date, TOMS has helped restore sight to over 200,000 people in 13 countries around the world.
But there’s still a long way to go.
Today, 285 million people in the world are visually impaired or blind, but 80 per cent of visual impairment worldwide can be cured or prevented. We first became aware of these alarming rates when we brought you the story of Lesley Kim and her efforts to raise funds for Seva Canada after she was left partially blind from a fluke accident on Halloween night.
TOMS will support World Sight Day with their signature engaging visuals and campaign branding to raise awareness, educate customers, share facts, and tell personal stories about those affected by visual impairment and blindness in an accessible way.
Canadians are invited to take to social media to share photos of the view they’re most grateful for – whether the killer sunset they get from their condo or that of their baby niece or nephew – using the hashtags #GiveSight and #TOMSCanada to help raise awareness about visual impairment and blindness worldwide.
Of course, you can also help directly by purchasing TOMS Eyewear for yourself.
It’s simple.
One pair of glasses = sight restored for one person through prescription glasses, a sight-saving surgery, or through medical treatment.
Now that’s what we call good math.
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