FedEx donates $3.5 m to Orbis’ sight-saving mission in coming 5 years

09 / 10 / 2021

By Marwa Nassar - -

FedEx Corporation announced a new donation of $3.5 million to Orbis International’s sight-saving mission to help provide financial, logistics and operational support to the organization and its Flying Eye Hospital over the next five years.

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is a mobile teaching hospital that travels the world providing vision-saving eye surgeries and training to local eye care teams. Orbis’s cadre of more than 400 volunteer medical experts – including doctors, nurses, and others – carry out the trainings and procedures free of charge.

FedEx donated the MD-10 aircraft and provides aircraft parts, maintenance, and pilot training at no cost to Orbis.

The aircraft is flown by FedEx Express pilots who volunteer during their time off to navigate the plane around the world on Orbis missions.

FedEx has supported Orbis for more than 33 years through more than $27 million in donations and in-kind shipping.

“Orbis’s mission to fight avoidable blindness around the globe is very near and dear to us at FedEx and we are proud to continue our support today,” said Justin Brownlee, Senior Vice President, Aviation Safety, Technology & Business Operations, FedEx Express. “Orbis has made great strides in breaking the vicious cycle of blindness and poverty, and the impact of the organization’s work has changed countless lives around the world.”

Onboard a FedEx-donated MD-10 aircraft, Orbis’s iconic Flying Eye Hospital is the world’s only fully equipped ophthalmic teaching and training hospital. Orbis is a global organization that brings people together to fight avoidable blindness, restore vision, and help ensure no one loses their sight to preventable or treatable conditions. For nearly four decades, the Flying Eye Hospital has traveled the world delivering best-in-class training for eye care professionals in areas with the greatest need.

“For more than 30 years, FedEx has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our mission, and we are deeply proud of and grateful for this partnership,” said Derek Hodkey, President & CEO, Orbis International. “The renewed commitment by FedEx will help us to train even more eye care professionals around the world so that they in turn can help more people to see.”

Last year, Orbis’s virtual Flying Eye Hospital projects had over 850 enrollments by participants from nine countries. Orbis expects to reach 20 countries through its virtual Flying Eye Hospital projects this year.

These efforts are part of the FedEx Cares 50 by 50 campaign to positively impact 50 million people around the world by the company’s 50th anniversary in 2023.