Mary Kane Executive Editor

March Madness is upon us and I’m not talking about the college basketball season. In the world of optical, now is the season for Vision Expo East and everyone is feverishly preparing for the convention, which is less than a month away.

But there’s a different kind of business that goes on in optical and it’s not about the bottom line. I’m talking about those charitable organizations, such as Prevent Blindness America, Give the Gift of Sight and ORBIS International, that make it possible for those in need to have access to eyecare and eyewear.

Which brings me to Oliver Foot, president of ORBIS who died last month at 61. Foot was a longtime devotee of ORBIS International, a nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to saving sight on a worldwide basis. He joined the organization as executive director in 1982, its founding year, and for nearly a quarter of a century he played a vital role in ORBIS’ development with a singular vision to eliminating blindness throughout the world. He personally led a team of volunteer doctors, nurses and pilots who flew to more than 80 countries aboard the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, literally bringing ophthalmic surgical and teaching facilities to needy patients in far flung destinations.

I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Foot last year as hundreds of ECPs, diplomats and business leaders gathered at the United Nations in New York to help ORBIS celebrate their 25th anniversary. I was impressed at how easily Foot could relate to a variety of people and that night was no exception as he gracefully moved through a roomful of partygoers ranging from volunteer doctors and flying crew to the President of Ethiopia and Sir Richard Branson.

He summed up his mission in life and that of the organization’s when he said, “ORBIS is at the heart of what life is all about--promoting cooperation and understanding through serving others. What better way could there be to help heal our divided world?” At presstime, a successor to Foot had not been named. He will be missed.

So if you’d like to get involved in the ‘business’ of giving, you’ll have your chance right before Expo and the ensuing madness begins. Rock musicians from the optical industry will be tuning up for a special concert on April 10 to raise funds for the Give the Gift of Sight, a charity committed to delivering clear vision to those in need. The show, billed as Eye Rock, will feature the OffAxis band along with more than 20 guest performers from the optical industry. Tickets are available online at www.givethegiftofsight.org or can be purchased at the door of the China Club in Manhattan. ■