Jim McGrann, VSP Global's president and CEO-elect with Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD and dean of The Ohio State University College of Optometry.

COLUMBUS, Ohio—In its new role as an incubator of eyewear and eyecare technology, VSP Global has gifted $500,000 to The Ohio State University College of Optometry, creating the “VSP Global Technology and Innovation Endowed Fund.”

“For over one hundred years, The Ohio State University College of Optometry has been a leader in optometric education and has moved vision science forward thanks to cutting-edge research,” said Jim McGrann, VSP Global’s president and CEO-elect, who presented the gift on May 16 at the 14th annual “White Coat Ceremony” at OSU, where first year optometry students received their official white clinic coats in preparation for seeing patients.

“As new technology continues to shape how eyecare is delivered, this endowment will help ensure the University’s students and faculty have the resources needed to experiment and study new innovations that help fulfill our shared mission of helping more people see.”

Through the endowment, OSU students and faculty will be able to partner on projects with VSP’s innovation lab, The Shop, which recently opened a Midwest location within the Columbus Idea Foundry, a community workshop, learning center and creative space in Columbus. Established in 2014, The Shop focuses on developing technologies for the physical and digital aspects of eyewear and eyecare. Its flagship locations are in Sacramento, Calif. and New York City.

“We are thrilled at the initiation of this important program and at VSP Global’s generosity, enthusiasm, and foresight in founding it,” said Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD and dean of The Ohio State University College of Optometry. “I expect that this endowment will help the College of Optometry drive the development of innovations that will enhance eye care and make important discoveries about ocular disease.”

The endowment expands VSP’s presence in Columbus, Ohio, which is home of its Eastern operations center as well as one of its largest laboratories, VSPOne Columbus. Between those two locations, VSP employs nearly 430 people in Columbus.