Safilo Proudly Commits to New Three-Year Partnership with Special Olympics International

1.2 million frames and sunglasses donated to athletes over 15 years.

Padua, Italy, November 16, 2018 – Safilo Group, a worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of eyewear, has re-committed its longstanding support to Special Olympics, the global non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

The groundbreaking global partnership between Safilo and Special Olympics dates back to 2003. Over the past 15 years, it has led to close to 1.2 million optical frames and sunglasses being provided to Special Olympics athletes as part of the Special Olympics- Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes eye health and vision screening program.

This partnership renewal comes as a highlight in a momentous year for the Special Olympics movement, which is celebrating 50 years of tackling the inactivity, stigma, isolation and injustice that people with intellectual disabilities face worldwide.

The announcement of the new three-year commitment was made at Safilo’s headquarters in Padua, Italy. It will see an annual donation of over 60,000 optical frames and sunglasses as part of the Special Olympics vision screening program. The Special Olympics global health platform, which is made possible through the support of the Golisano Foundation, Lions Clubs International, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and various additional stakeholders, includes the Opening Eyes vision care programme. It provides Special Olympics athletes with vision examinations, prescription eyewear and valuable referrals for follow–up care. Safilo is a global supplier of the programme.

In addition to the critical donation of optical frames and sunglasses, Safilo personnel will continue to take an active part in the implementation of the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes events as volunteers, donating their time and expertise for the benefit of Special Olympics athletes and those with intellectual disabilities.

Opening Eyes, part of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes public health initiative, is the largest programme in the world dedicated to providing vision care for people with intellectual disabilities. Since its inception, 410,000 exams have taken place with 215,000 prescription eye-glasses being prescribed. The Opening Eyes programme also provides sports protective eyewear for athletes who train and compete in contact sports.

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement that uses sport, health, education and leadership programmes every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. The movement has grown to more than 6 million athletes and Unified Sports partners (athletes without intellectual disabilities) in over 170 countries.

ENDS

Safilo Group is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of sunglasses, optical frames, sports eyewear and products. Thanks to strong craftsmanship expertise dating back to 1878, Safilo translates its design projects into high-quality products created according to the Italian tradition. With an extensive wholly owned network of subsidiaries in 40 countries – in North and Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific and China – and more than 50 distribution partners in key markets, Safilo is committed to quality distribution of its products in nearly 100.000 selected sales stores all over the world. Safilo’s portfolio encompasses: own core brands Carrera, Polaroid, Smith, Safilo, Oxydo, and licensed brands: Dior, Dior Homme, Fendi, Banana Republic, Bobbi Brown, BOSS, Elie Saab, Fossil, Givenchy, havaianas, HUGO, Jack Spade, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, kate spade new york, Liz Claiborne, Love Moschino, Marc Jacobs, Max Mara, Max&Co., Moschino, Pierre Cardin, rag&bone, Saks Fifth Avenue, Swatch, and Tommy Hilfiger.

Listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (ISIN code IT0004604762, Bloomberg SFL.IM, Reuters SFLG.MI), in 2017 Safilo recorded net revenues for Euro 1,047 million.

Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968, and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 6 million athletes and Unified Sports partners in more than 170 countries. With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including Bank of America, the Christmas Records Trust, The Coca-Cola Company, ESPN, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, Lions Clubs International, Microsoft, Safilo Group, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, TOYOTA, United Airlines, and The Walt Disney Company. Click here for a full list of partners. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and our blog on Medium. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.

Mark Daley
Special Olympics International
P: (202) 824-0389
mjdaley@specialolympics.org