TRANSITIONS OPTICAL AND 21st CENTURY OPTICS SUPPORT CHILDREN’S EYE HEALTH WITH THE NEW YORK CHILDREN’S VISION COALITION
2003 Golf Classic Offers Opportunity to Bring Attention to Eye Health Issues for Children
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., June 9, 2003 – Transitions Optical, Inc. and its 2003 Lab of the Year, 21st Century Optics, joined together in support of children’s eye health by participating in and sponsoring the New York Children’s Vision Coalition’s 2003 Golf Classic held May 19 at Cold Spring Country Club, Long Island, N.Y. The New York Children’s Vision Coalition is a non-profit organization which strives to assure comprehensive eyecare for all New York’s children. The 2003 golf event attracted nearly 150 golfers and grossed around $150,000 for the organization.

“We’ve supported the New York Children’s Vision Coalition since its inception three years ago,” said Ralph Woythaler, president, 21st Century Optics. “We believe strongly in giving back to the community and are pleased to have the opportunity to simultaneously support a cause that will also lead to the betterment of children’s eye health, which is a topic of growing concern and interest among optical industry professionals. We’re pleased to be making a difference at the local level by partnering with the New York Children’s Vision Coalition for this event and year round.”

Woythaler is a board member of the New York Children’s Vision Coalition and serves on the event’s planning committee. Along with this year-round contribution, 21st Century Optics supported the organization’s Golf Classic with a corporate sponsor package, which included a spot for a foursome of golf at the event, an ad in the Golf Classic journal and sponsorship of one hole.

Transitions Optical provided support through a major corporate sponsorship and by awarding vouchers for trial pairs of Transitions® Lenses to golfers who completed vision screenings and glaucoma tests at the event. Volunteers from Transitions Optical also supplied information about the importance of daily UV and glare protection – for children and adults – and demonstrated for attendees how Transitions Lenses work.

“The topic of UV protection is particularly important for children, since an estimated 80 percent of lifetime exposure to UV rays occurs before the age of 18,” said P.J. Downes, sales director labs/ECPs, Transitions. “As a strong supporter of eye health education, Transitions was pleased to work alongside our Lab of the Year to support an event that brings attention to the need to address eye health issues for children. I was thrilled to experience the event first-hand and to see that support for this worthy cause is growing within the optical industry each year.”

Downes golfed as part of the Transitions Optical foursome with Frank Reilly, North America marketing director; Connie Falvo, director lens manufacturer sales; and Jon Harris, zone manager. Downes placed 3rd in the “Men’s Low Gross” portion of the tournament, and Falvo placed first in the “Women’s Low Net.”

About 21st Century Optics and Transitions Optical

Established in 1967, 21st Century Optics is a family-owned wholesale laboratory and anti-reflective coating facility serving the greater New York City metropolitan area.

Transitions Optical, headquartered in Pinellas Park, was the first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990. The company is the leading supplier of photochromics to optical manufacturers worldwide. Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology and the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names.
Transitions Optical has manufacturing operations in Pinellas Park; Tuam, Ireland; Laguna, Philippines; Sumare, Brazil; and Adelaide, Australia. Sales offices are located in Toronto, Canada and nine other countries.

For more information about the company and Transitions Lenses, visit transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or
(877) 254-2590 (Canada).