ABB Optical Group Awards $8,500 in Donations to Three Charities through 7th Annual ABB Cares Program

Nominated by eye care professionals nationwide, charities receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000

ABB Optical Group (ABB), a leading provider of optical products and business solutions in the eye care industry, has announced that three non-profit organizations, nominated by eye care professionals nationwide, will receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for outstanding programming and community impact through the 7th Annual ABB Cares Program.

Since the program’s inception in 2014, ABB has donated more than $70,000 in grants to non-profit organizations in the U.S.

“Many non-profit organizations throughout the country were heavily impacted by the pandemic during the last 18 months,” said Tom Burke, CEO of ABB Optical Group. “Bringing back ABB Cares means that we can do our part to help. This year’s nominations were particularly inspiring. On behalf of all of us at ABB, we want to thank all of the eye care professionals who nominated organizations and all of the organizations that were nominated for the incredible work they do each and every day in their communities.”

PLATINUM ABB CARES GRANT OF $5,000

The Platinum ABB Cares Grant of $5,000 was awarded to the Laurel Civic Association, in Laurel, Florida. Nominated by Eyes On You, the Laurel Civic Association supports low-income families, providing monthly food distributions and supplemental food opportunities by helping them apply for government programs. The $5,000 ABB Cares grant will help feed students before they start their homework assistance with their volunteer tutors through the “Kids Cafe” program, which serves more than 200 hot meals each week to students after school.

L to R: Michael Dari, ABB Optical Group senior vice president of sales; Karen Martin Jefferson and Joyce McCaffrey of Eyes On You; Peter M. Casamento and John Jefferson of Laurel Civic Association

GOLD ABB CARES GRANT OF $2,500

The Gold ABB Cares Grant of $2,500 was presented to the Brunswick Rotary Foundation in Brunswick, Ohio, which was nominated by Vision Clinics Group LLC. The mission of the Brunswick Rotary Foundation is to provide members an opportunity to give back to their communities by taking action on important issues affecting the local community, the nation and the world. The $2,500 ABB Cares grant will help fund an all-inclusive playground that will allow all children to develop physically, socially and emotionally, to create play experiences that meet a variety of needs and interests.

L to R: Erika Jurrens, ABB Optical Group senior vice president of strategic development and commercialization; Donald Kammer, O.D., Vision Clinics Group owner and Brunswick Rotary Foundation board president; and Carl DeForest, Brunswick City manager and Rotary Club of Brunswick president

SILVER ABB CARES GRANT OF $1,000

The Silver ABB Cares Grant of $1,000 was awarded to Friendship Circle of Dallas.

Nominated by David E. Weber, O.D. (dba The Eye Zone), Dallas-based Friendship Circle of Dallas allows children and young adults with diverse special needs and abilities to enjoy the company of teenage and young adult volunteers in a full range of social activities, such as play dates, summer camps, holiday parties, fun local outings, cooking lessons and more. The $1,000 ABB Cares grant will help fund a new oven and ventilation system, as well as renovated counters and exterior and miscellaneous kitchen equipment for the organization’s food truck, which was recently donated by a member of the community. With the newly acquired food truck up and running, the organization will be able to continue making food and providing real work experience on a regular basis for teens and adults with disabilities.

L to R: Dr. David Weber; Stephanie Hammond, ABB Optical Group senior field sales trainer and account manager; Angela Weber, Practice Manager of David E. Weber, O.D./The Eye Zone; Malka Weber; and Leah Dubrawsky, Friendship Circle of Dallas director and program coordinator

For more information about the ABB Cares program and to sign up for notifications about next year’s grant application process, visit ABBOptical.com/ABBCares.