Specsavers recognised for Social Responsibility

Specsavers has won the Social Responsibility Award at this year’s MYOB Franchise Council of Australia ‘Excellence in Franchising’ Awards.

Australia’s number one optical retailer (Roy Morgan Research 2013) was also named the International Franchisor of the Year at the awards.

The Social Responsibility Award is a nod to the company’s comprehensive corporate social responsibility plan, named the Specsavers Community Program. In just one year, Specsavers has raised more than $692,500 for charities around the country through the Program and Specsavers’ national charity partner, The Fred Hollows Foundation, was the major recipient of these funds receiving more than $362,500 in donations.

The Specsavers Community Program allows Specsavers stores to make a donation to a selected local charity and The Fred Hollows Foundation from every pair of glasses sold, out of the store partners’ own pockets.

Earlier this year Specsavers also produced a Limited Edition Frame, with stores donating $25 to The Fred Hollows Foundation from each sale of the frames. More than $62,500 was raised for the Foundation as a result.

The Specsavers Community Program donations will be used to support The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Trachoma Elimination Program in the Northern Territory.

Specsavers Director of Professional Services, Peter Larsen says, “Specsavers is incredibly proud of this fundraising achievement and we are thrilled our efforts have been recognised through this award. Our stores are not only professional optometrists, they are local business owners who have a real passion for giving back to their communities. The Specsavers Community Program has given them a platform to do this and in turn assist organisations that depend on community support,” says Peter.

Penny Tribe, Senior Executive-Partnerships at The Fred Hollows Foundation says the funds will be used to help combat the fourth leading cause of blindness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Trachoma.

“Australia is the only developed country to still have Trachoma. It is a blinding and infectious eye disease that occurs in areas with poor hygiene and living conditions. The funds donated by Specsavers will have a real impact on how our Aboriginal Community Based Workers combat a disease currently present in 60% of remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. For that reason the Foundation is incredibly thankful to Specsavers and their ongoing support,” says Penny.

Specsavers is committed to its ongoing partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation; raising funds for its inspiring work in Australia and the Asia Pacific region – including life-changing cataract surgery to restore sight to the needlessly blind.