GENEVA—Working together to make an impact in the communities where they live and work, thousands of Alcon (NYSE:ALC) associates from 57 locations all around the world are participating in Alcon in Action (AiA), a company-wide volunteering initiative. AiA expands Alcon’s year-round focus on increasing access to quality eyecare and is an element of Alcon’s overall social impact and sustainability strategy which focuses on three pillars: Brilliant Lives, Brilliant Innovation and Brilliant Planet, according to an announcement from the company.

This is the 11th consecutive year that Alcon, a global leader in eyecare, is engaging in AiA to help address health, hunger, education, and housing needs, and the fifth consecutive year as a stand-alone company.

Through a wide range of activities across 30 countries, including Switzerland, India and the U.S., Alcon associates are serving and strengthening their communities by collectively dedicating thousands of volunteer hours. Partnering with over 100 organizations such as schools, shelters, nursing homes, soup kitchens, and other community partners, Alcon associates are helping to make a personal difference and meet essential needs through both in-person and virtual activities.

“We believe Alcon can best serve our community by focusing every day on helping people see brilliantly, so they can live brilliantly,” said David Endicott, chief executive officer of Alcon. “All year long, Alcon is dedicated to helping build stronger, healthier communities. Alcon in Action brings this commitment to life by inspiring associates from all over the world to come together and make a brilliant impact in their own communities through their volunteer efforts.”

After recently announcing Alcon’s expanding partnership with Plastic Bank, which stopped the equivalent of over 30 million water bottles from entering the ocean last year, Alcon associates around the world have been inspired to engage in plastic-collecting activities during AiA. In Geneva, where Alcon is headquartered, teams held a waterfront clean-up challenge.

Other campuses across Canada and Singapore are celebrating AiA with activities inspired by Alcon and Plastic Bank’s partnership. During AiA 2023, Alcon also continues its long-standing partnership with Habitat for Humanity in Fort Worth, Texas, with more than 200 associates helping build a home that will provide affordable housing for a local family in need.

“I am proud to see our associates come together for AiA with such an intense focus on making an impact on their communities,” said Charles Herget, global head of social impact and sustainability at Alcon. “We see strong needs for health, hunger, housing and education throughout the world. At Alcon, we are committed to addressing those needs with initiatives like AiA, and ongoing partnerships and programs that help people see and live brilliantly.”

Alcon also supports year-round initiatives led by the Alcon Foundation, such as medical missions that help treat patients and train eyecare professionals. Alcon provides charitable monetary donations (often referred to as grants) to eligible 501(c)3 organizations that offer high-quality programs and services to increase access to quality eyecare, promote eye health education, and strengthen communities. These donations are offered through the Alcon Foundation.