Optician aims to help those in developing countries.
From left to right, Sharon Colle (Foundation Fighting Blindness), Naeem Abdulla (Kaltenbock Opticians), Councillor Josh Matlow, Ali Badreddine (owner), MP Carolyn Bennett, Carol Kaltenbock (original owner's wife), MPP Eric Hoskins, Melissa Munro (Kaltenbock Opticians) pose with a 45th anniversary cake.
Photo/COURTESY
While Deer Park-based Kaltenbock Opticians have been helping local residents improve their vision for 45 years, in recent years the company has begun bringing the gift of sight to others around the world.
Kaltenbock Opticians owner Ali Badreddine has started up two charitable initiatives, one of which helps the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the other that helps ensure those living in developing countries have some semblance of vision care.
The initiatives started when the midtown optician was looking for a way to give back to the community. Upon looking into the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Badreddine was instantly impressed.
"What stood out was the way they work with the community and the amount of money (donated) that goes out instead of being used for administrative costs," he said.
The Foundation for Fighting Blindness supports research into the various causes and possible treatments and cures for genetic forms of blindness.
Badreddine started up a promotion four years ago in which he asked customers to donate $50 to the Foundation Fighting Blindness. In exchange, Kaltenbock Opticians gave donors a $100 discount on new eyeglasses or contact lenses.
While that promotion lasted about a year in its first incarnation, the store has recently started it back up again and will run the promotion through the end of the year.
"Four years ago when we did it, we raised $5,000," he said. "This year, we're already at $2,000 and our target is to beat what we raised last time."
In addition to the fundraising initiative, Kaltenbock Opticians is asking customers to drop off old, used eyeglasses when buying a new pair. In exchange for those old glasses, customers will once again receive a $100 credit toward the purchase of new glasses or contacts.
"Those used glasses go to people in the Third World who would not have access to glasses normally," Badreddine said.
For more information on the promotions, visit Kaltenbock Opticians, at 1560 Yonge St., or call 416-921-2334.