Ms. Mary Lau, ORBIS Hong Kong's Director of Development (left) appointed Mr. Raymond Lam as ORBIS Eye Health Ambassador.

Today saw ORBIS officially launch its sixth annual Pin Campaign in support of the World Health Organization’s World Sight Day. In addition to Mr. Raymond Lam, ORBIS’s newly appointed Eye Health Ambassador, those helping to raise awareness of preventable blindness at the ceremony at Kowloon Bay’s Telford Plaza included representatives of 10 early-bird sponsors. All individuals, companies, schools and other organizations in Hong Kong are welcome to support the campaign by wearing an ORBIS pin throughout October.

Held on Thursday October 8th, this year’s "Gender and Eye Health”-themed World Sight Day is focused on third world women who have little access to quality eye care. In hosting its sixth Pin Campaign, ORBIS is determined to both increase Hong Kong people’s awareness of this situation and enhance its global sight-saving initiative.

Speaking at the launch, Ms. Mary Lau, ORBIS Hong Kong’s Director of Development said: "We offer our heartfelt thanks to the more than 500 organizations and over 20,000 Hong Kong citizens who supported our 2008 Pin Campaign. This year, we hope even more organizations and people will join us in demonstrating their social commitment. In addition to drawing public attention to worldwide blindness, participants’ kind support will enable our volunteers to bring hope in sight for countless thousands of poor people worldwide”.

Joining Raymond and Mary at the ribbon cutting ceremony were representatives of many leading local enterprises and organizations. They included Canon Hongkong Company Limited, Chen Yang Foo Oi Foundation Limited, Chinese Estates Holdings Limited, DP World, Lai Sun Development Ltd., Max Fortune Industrial Ltd., OKIA Optical Co., Ltd., Prince Jewellery & Watch Company, Shun Hing Group and Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited. Everyone later pieced together a giant-size image of an ORBIS pin and the Chinese character "Fook" (Fortune), in order to spread the message of bringing the fortune of seeing to the preventably blinds.

Supporting the 2009 Pin Campaign could not be easier! Ultimately, everyone who donates or raises at least HK$100 in support of ORBIS’s sight-saving mission receiving an ORBIS pin to proudly wear throughout October.

All Hongkongers are welcome to help bring hope in sight for the needlessly blind by joining! Additional details are available from ORBIS on 2595 0263, or at: www.orbis.org.hk/pin. Those enrolling online can also avoid administrative and donation collection hassles by simply emailing sponsorship forms to their friends, family and business contacts.

Raymond Lam presented Thank You Certificates to seven early bird sponsors on behalf of ORBIS.

ORBIS officially launched its sixth annual Pin Campaign in support of the World Health Organization's World Sight Day.

ORBIS Pin