A philanthropic partnership has been forged between the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and non-profit global organization Orbis International, which fights to eliminate blindness throughout the world.

APEX, formerly known as the World Airline Entertainment Association, represents more than 400 of the world’s airlines, suppliers and related companies committed to the airline passenger experience.

The group says its members “will have numerous partnership options with Orbis including direct programmatic sponsorships, employee engagement programs and cause marketing opportunities”.

Orbis-recovery-room

“We are thrilled to be working with APEX member companies to promote our cause and support our partner hospitals in providing much-needed eye care services to their communities throughout the developing world,” says Orbis president and CEO Jack McHale. “We’re excited by the association’s level of commitment and hope
to develop a greater reach through our newly-formed partnership.”

Orbis is perhaps best known for its Flying Eye Hospital, currently a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, which has a state-of-the-art surgical suite and teaching facility. However, Orbis works with local partners in developing countries to establish comprehensive, affordable and sustainable eye care capacity building. The organization currently has a long-term presence in five priority countries and one region: Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Vietnam, and Latin America/Caribbean.

Orbis-buddhist-monk

Orbis says it supported its partners in providing medical treatment to more than 2,135,000 patients and trained over 24,326 medical professionals in the last year alone.

APEX has invited Orbis leadership to address its members during the 31st annual WAEA/APEX conference & exhibition, being held 12-16 September in Long
Beach, California.

Source: FlightGlobal.com