Emirates Airline Foundation Awarded Unite For Sight Corporate Humanitarian Service Award

Emirates Airline Foundation was awarded Unite For Sight's Corporate Humanitarian Service Award at the Unite For Sight Fourth Annual Conference on April 14th.  JJ Catanzarita, Senior Sales Executive of Emirates Airline, accepted the award.  Emirates Airline Foundation provides free airline tickets for optometrists and ophthalmologists to provide eye care in Unite For Sight's program in Ghana and Thailand.

"We are truly grateful for all of the support and dedication of Emirates Airline Foundation to provide eye care in regions without previous access," said Jennifer Staple, Founder, President and CEO.  "Prior to Unite For Sight's programs in Sangklaburi, one Thai ophthalmologist visited the region for 4-6 days per year to provide eye care. That means that before Emirates Airline Foundation began supporting Unite For Sight to send optometrists to work there, not one eye care professional was present for 360 days per year."

Like in Thailand, Ghana is also very much in need of eye care services, and the support of Emirates Airline Foundation will make a great difference in the country.  In Tamale, Ghana, for example, Unite For Sight's partner ophthalmologist, Dr. Wanye, is the only eye doctor for 2 million people in the entire region. Prior to our partnership, Dr. Wanye often went months without providing a single cataract surgery because the community members could not afford the $35 cost of surgery. Unite For Sight volunteers now work with him to assist with screening outreach programs, and Unite For Sight funds the cataract surgeries for the patients so that no one will remain blind due to lack of funds.

About Unite For Sight

Unite For Sight® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that empowers communities worldwide to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness. Unite For Sight's unwavering commitment to creating a real, lasting impact involves three types of programs: chapters in North America, international eye care outreach programs, and an annual global health conference. Unite For Sight has trained more than 4,000 volunteers who work in their local communities and abroad to provide eye health programs for those without previous access and has provided eye care services to more than 600,000 people worldwide.

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