Essilor has supported the Special Olympics since 2002. To show their personal commitment to the organization, 50 employees ran to raise funds in France this October. Together they helped to raise over €23,000 for the organization.
The Special Olympics are an opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete at an international level, while overcoming barriers through sports.
Essilor, and more recently Essilor Vision Foundation, has supported the Opening Eyes initiative at the Special Olympics since 2002 and provided thousands of athletes over the years with the eye correction they need to perform their best. In 2011, Timothy P. Shriver, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, gave a speech at the event, which outlined the importance of eye care in supporting the athletes self-confidence and dignity. The Special Olympic games, which began in 1968, are an opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete at an international level. Part of the ethos of the organisation is that participants can overcome barriers through sports.
The October relay race took place on the 4km perimeter of the Creteil lake and raised money for the up-coming Los Angeles Special Olympic Games in 2015. This is the second year grassroots employees have given up their time to fund-raise. Essilor colours featured in first and second place a number of times on the podium, but it is the cause they represented that gave the company the most pride.