BOISE, Idaho—The Sàfilo Group and Essilor International, continue to lend their support to the Special Olympics which just held their 2009 World Winter Games here from Feb. 7 to 13. Both companies have been worldwide suppliers and global sponsors for the organization through the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes vision program for years.

A volunteer from Sàfilo fits an athlete with a pair of sunglasses at the Special Olympics 2009 World Winter Games.

Santinelli has been the exclusive provider of lens edging equipment and technicians at numerous U.S. events over the past decade.

“We are very enthusiastic about supporting such an important project,” said Samantha Tabacchi, Sàfilo’s corporate communication and identity director. “Over the years with Special Olympics we have organized many activities that, thanks to Sàfilo’s generosity and worldwide networking, allowed us to provide direct support in helping thousands of people with intellectual disabilities improve their sight. Sàfilo’s commitment to the integration and welfare of the intellectually disabled does not stop with an annual donation of glasses; rather it involves a number of employees in volunteer work at Special Olympics events worldwide.”

The 2009 World Winter Games hosted 2,500 athletics from 1,000 countries with intellectual disabilities that competed in different sports including alpine skiing, cross-country, figure skating, floor hockey and snowboarding. Both Safilo and Essilor, as global sponsors, had a very visible presence at the Games providing frames and lenses for the athletes.

According to Clark Smith, Santinelli International’s liaison with Special Olympics, the company participates in about 25 events each year, primarily in the U.S. where they set up an edger on the playing field or in a gym. Athletes who need glasses are examined by optometrists on site. Essilor then provides the lenses from a stock assortment of polycarbonate lenses, and Santinelli edges them. At the Boise games, Rick Noonkester and Bill Schaffer from Santinelli ran about 400 jobs. In addition to Sàfilo, other companies provide frames such as RxSpecs and other sports frames companies.

As part of Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes public health initiative, Opening Eyes is the largest program in the world dedicated to providing vision care for the global population of people with intellectual disabilities. Opening Eyes and the Healthy Athletes program have been operating for more than 10 years proving critical health services for Special Olympics athletes worldwide. ■