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Orbis announces $17.7 million in donations during anniversary celebration
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NEW YORK — Orbis International is $17.7 million closer to its goal of raising $100 million to help eliminate preventable blindness worldwide. Orbis received donations from Alcon, American International Group and A.L. Ueltschi, chairman of the board of directors of Orbis.
Alcon's gift of cash and products, totaling $2.7 million, will support global medical training programs, and American International Group pledged $5 million over 5 years to support permanent Orbis programs in India, Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia and Vietnam.
"Our missions are aligned with Orbis," said Cary Rayment, chairman of the board at Alcon.
Mr. Ueltschi then announced his $10 million gift toward the Empire State Fund. To honor his donation and his work since founding Orbis, Vu Xuan Hong of the Vietnamese national assembly gave Mr. Ueltschi a medal "For the cause of Peace and Friendship among Nations."
"It's an investment in people," Mr. Ueltschi said. "These young people are going to be the leaders of their countries."
In celebration of Orbis' 25th anniversary, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared Thursday "Orbis Day," and the Empire State building was lit in blue and white. For 28 minutes, the lights were turned off, representing the 28 million blind in the world.
The night concluded with remarks of awareness, gratitude and encouragement from Ethiopian President Girma Wolde-Giorgis.
"In Ethiopia alone, 10 million of the 17 million people within its borders are afflicted by active trachoma, a highly contagious blinding disease which is fast spreading. Their pain and struggle brings home the urgency and the tragedy of the situation," he said. "From presidents to prime ministers, from the U.N. down to the grassroots, all should be aware of the many who are suffering as a result of one of mankind's most significant causes of poverty and economic hardship — blindness."
"We must not forget it's about celebrating the possibility of elimination in the future. This hope is not an illusion. We know when people put their minds to it, change is possible," Mr. Wolde-Giorgis said.