Newsroom > People & Purpose > Eyes of Hope > VSP Vision Launches New Mobile Clinic
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – VSP Vision™, which was founded in California 70 years ago, announced today that the VSP Vision Eyes of Hope® mobile clinics will embark on a 70-event tour, travelling across the U.S. to bring no-cost eye exams and prescription glasses to communities in need. VSP® Eyes of Hope, the charitable arm of the health-focused eye care company, also added a brand-new mobile clinic to its fleet, helping make the 70-event tour possible.
“VSP’s unique business model is designed to reinvest in programs like Eyes of Hope that serve stakeholders, not shareholders,” said VSP Vision President and CEO Michael Guyette. “As we celebrate that 70-year legacy, it was only fitting that we launch our new mobile clinic right here in our hometown region of Sacramento before setting off to provide more no-cost eye care and eyewear to other communities across the country.”
The new 40-foot-long mobile eye care clinic is fully equipped with an eye exam room, an eyewear dispensary stocked with popular frame brands, and a finishing lab to produce prescription glasses. Its first stop was at Women’s Empowerment in Sacramento, where more than 55 women and children received no-cost eye exams and, if needed, prescription glasses.
“Eye health and clear vision play a critical role in helping women and children who are experiencing homelessness overcome barriers to education, employment, and so much more,” said Lisa Culp, Executive Director of Women’s Empowerment. “For nearly 20 years, we have been proud to partner with VSP Vision to provide our community with access to much-needed eye care and make a positive impact in their lives.”
VSP Eyes of Hope first participated in a mobile response in 2005 to provide disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina. Since then, VSP Eyes of Hope has partnered with eye doctors and partnering non-profits on more than 1,300 mobile outreach events across the U.S. that have helped to bring free eye care and eyewear to more than 4 million people in need, including more than 200,000 people in California.
“Annual eye exams are key components to a person’s overall health and well-being and can detect signs of serious health conditions, like diabetes and hypertension, but many people don’t have access to the care they need,” said California resident Dr. Stephanie Kirschbaum, a VSP network optometrist who has been volunteering for the VSP Eyes of Hopes mobile clinics annually for nearly 15 years. “It feels great to help patients protect the gift of sight, and their overall health, so they can do the things they love.”
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About VSP Vision At VSP Vision™, our purpose is to empower human potential through sight. As the first national not-for-profit vision benefits company, this is what drives everything we do. For 70 years, VSP® has been the leader in health-focused vision care. Every day, the people that power our complementary businesses across vision benefits, eye care services, eyewear solutions, and practice solutions, work together to create a world where everyone can bring their best vision to life. That means providing affordable access to eye care and eyewear for more than 85 million members through a network of more than 42,000 doctors. It also means expanding access to vision care to those disadvantaged by income, distance, or disaster through VSP Vision Eyes of Hope®. To date, more than 4 million people in need have received access to no-cost eye care and eyewear through one of our Eyes of Hope programs. Learn more about how we’re reinvesting in greater vision, health, and opportunities for all at vspvision.com.