[bc]SAFILO GROUP AND ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL JOINTLY PRODUCE A YEAR OF STRONG
RESULTS FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS-LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL OPENING EYES [/bc]
PADOVA, Italy – March 2, 2004
CHARENTON, France – March 2, 2004
2003 was a momentous year for Opening Eyes (OE), a program dedicated to improving vision care for people with intellectual disabilities around the world. The highlight was the World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, where over 7,000 athletes from 160 countries around the world competed. This was the largest multi-sport event ever held in Ireland and the largest sporting event in the world in 2003. Among the many guest celebrities at the Opening Ceremonies was Former South African President Nelson Mandela who said, “You have come here from all around the world to join in celebration and in competition. You have crossed the oceans and the skies, but you have also broken through the barriers that can sometimes be in people’s hearts.”

There were 67 OE events in 2003 at which more than 12,500 athletes received vision screenings, nearly 6,000 glasses were distributed and 735 athletes were referred for additional eye-care. Over 1,000 eye care professionals gave their time and talents to help screen the athletes. In addition, 31 clinical directors were trained from 25 countries. The OE program is now established in 45 states in the U.S. and 43 countries with further expansion planned.

These events could not occur without the support of many organizations and companies, specifically SAFILO GROUP, ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL, LIBERTY OPTICAL and LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL Foundation.

In 2003, ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL and SAFILO GROUP entered into a three-year partnership (2003-2005) with the OE program as the exclusive suppliers of ophthalmic lenses (ESSILOR), frames and sunglasses (SAFILO). These supplies covered the needs of the OE screened athletes worldwide and both companies worked to give Special Olympics, and the OE program in particular, support in other ways such as event organization, communication activities and promotional materials.

The SAFILO Group, based in Padova, Italy, is one of the largest manufacturers of frames in the world. Safilo was the OE’s official supplier of ophthalmic frames and non-prescription sunglasses for all events during 2003 totaling 25,000 pairs. Every athlete who did not receive a prescription pair of glasses received non-prescription sunglasses. These athletes not only looked stylish but many also received important protection against the sun and harmful UV rays.

ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL, the world’s largest manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses and the OE’s official supplier of ophthalmic lenses, supported the 2003 OE program by donating 13,500 pairs of Polycarbonate hard coated lenses and organizing the lab services for edging and mounting. Polycarbonate lenses serve the athletes well as they are tough, durable, scratch and impact resistant – perfect for all the active sports in which they participate.

LIBERTY OPTICAL, the largest manufacturer of protective sport eyewear and a staunch supporter of the OE program for many years, donated 2,500 pairs of protective sport eyewear.

The LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL Foundation has funded OE for the last three years and has recently renewed their sponsorship for another 18 months. By way of the international partnership, local Lions Clubs partner with local Special Olympics programs by volunteering at area Opening Eyes vision screenings.

In the United States, Santinelli International and Gerber Coburn have assisted the program by providing edging equipment and personnel at many sites. Lombart Instruments also contribute by providing equipment at a discounted rate.