Three Luxottica Group Charitable Programs and 20 Years of Giving Unite into One Single New Global Foundation

Cincinnati, Ohio, and Milan, Italy – December 12, 2008 – Today marked the launch of the new global charitable foundation OneSight.

OneSight, a Luxottica Group Foundation, is a family of charitable vision care programs dedicated to improving vision through outreach, research and education.

With Luxottica Group providing inspiration as well as acting as main sponsor, the new foundation combines 20 years of innovation from three former Luxottica charitable programs – Give the Gift of Sight and the Pearle Vision Foundation in North America as well as Community I-Care in Australia – into one, new global foundation. Since 1988, these charitable efforts have provided free vision care and eyewear to more than six million people in need around the world and have granted millions towards research and education. 

Andrea Guerra, chief executive officer of Luxottica Group commented: “The need for vision care around the world is great. More than 250 million adults and children worldwide suffer from poor vision because they do not have access to basic vision care and eyewear. 

As a worldwide leader in this industry, Luxottica has the global reach, expertise and passion to help the world see. OneSight combines the strength of three former Luxottica sponsored charitable programs and brings together doctors, partners and community volunteers with 64,000 Luxottica employees in 130 countries to provide free vision care and eyewear to those in need. This will allow OneSight and its activities to expand into new areas of the world and ultimately impact even more lives.” 

OneSight strives to give the gift of sight through four program areas: Global Eye Care, Regional Eye Care, Community Eye Care and Preventative Eye Care. 

• Global Eye Care

Each year, OneSight will conduct Global Eye Care Clinics in developing countries where doctors and trained volunteers provide free eye exams and eyewear to thousands of adults and children. During these clinics, Luxottica and other volunteers hand-deliver recycled as well as newly manufactured eyewear to those in need. 

• Regional Eye Care

OneSight volunteers will work together with local charitable partners to provide free vision care and eyewear to those in need in their home countries through organized Regional and Vision Van Clinics across North America and Australia. 

• Community Eye Care

Local OneSight volunteers will help those in need across North America in local communities through Retail/in-store and outreach programs. 

• Preventative Eye Care

The OneSight Research Foundation will provide research grants to find better treatments and cures for vision-threatening diseases and disorders. OneSight also invests in developing the next generation of optometric professionals through the Dr. Stanley Pearle Scholarship Fund. 

OneSight provides doctors, partners, community volunteers and Luxottica Group employees around the world opportunities to work together and share business expertise and passion for vision care with those in need.
Participation in OneSight also brings all new meaning to the vision care work performed every day at every level.  

According to a recent survey of Luxottica Group employees, many agree--90% believe it is important to share company business expertise. “Behind OneSight, our mission is to help restore and preserve clear vision for those who cannot afford basic vision care,” said Greg Hare, Executive Director for OneSight. “To accomplish this will require Luxottica and the industry working together to help the world see."

Over the last 20 years, Luxottica employees across North America have been dedicated to restoring and preserving clear vision to those in need through Give the Gift of Sight and the Pearle Vision Foundation – both founded in North America. 

“Across North America, OneSight will continue the work begun by Give the Gift of Sight and the Pearle Vision Foundation,” continued Mr. Hare. “In 2009, we have scheduled 20 weeks of Regional Clinics and more than 50 stops for our Vision Vans in communities across North America to provide free vision care and new eyewear to children in need. We will also continue to help those in need through Luxottica and other affiliated retail stores with our voucher programs for free eyewear and go out into the community to provide eyewear adjustments and screenings in schools and nursing homes.

Finally, we will continue to fund research seeking cures for Diabetic Retinopothy – the number one cause of blindness among adults in the US and continue the Dr. Stanley Pearle Scholarship fund to help those seeking a degree in Optometry.”

In Australia, OneSight’s predecessor Community I-Care has been providing vision care to local communities in need. Over the years it has set itself as a leader in the optometric industry through the establishment and growth of charitable programs based on the belief that clear vision is a basic right, not a luxury. 

To get involved in OneSight or for more information, visit www.onesight.org. 

About OneSight 

OneSight, a Luxottica Group Foundation and a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, is a family of charitable programs dedicated to improving vision for those in need worldwide through outreach, research and education.

OneSight’s outreach programs include the hand-delivery of vision care and eyewear to those in need. Since 1988, OneSight outreach efforts have helped more than six million people around the world see more clearly through two former programs, Give the Gift of Sight and Community I-Care. OneSight research and education efforts have granted millions towards research and education through the former program, the Pearle Vision Foundation. Luxottica Group employees, affiliated and independent doctors, vendors, donors and other charitable partners worldwide, work together to give the gift of sight to those in need.

Luxottica Group, a global leader in eyewear, provides inspiration for OneSight and it is the Foundation’s main sponsor. For more information, www.onesight.org. 

About Luxottica Group

Luxottica Group is a global leader in eyewear, with over 6,200 optical and sun retail stores in North America, Australasia, Greater China, South Africa, the Middle East and Europe and a strong brand portfolio that includes key house brands, Ray-Ban, the best selling sun and prescription eyewear brand in the world, Oakley as well as, among others, license brands Bvlgari, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tiffany and Versace, and other house brands Oliver Peoples, Vogue, Persol, Arnette and REVO. In addition to a global wholesale network that touches over 130 countries, the Group manages leading retail brands such as LensCrafters, Pearle Vision and Sunglass Icon in North America, OPSM and Laubman & Pank in Australasia, LensCrafters in Greater China and Sunglass Hut globally.

The Group's products are designed and manufactured in six Italy-based high-quality manufacturing plants, in the only two China-based plants wholly-owned by a premium eyewear manufacturer, and in manufacturing facilities in the United States acquired as part of the Oakley acquisition. For fiscal year 2007, Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX; MTA: LUX) posted consolidated net sales of Euro 5 billion. Additional information on the Group is available at www.luxottica.com