Annual Impact Reports are how we hold ourselves accountable as an organization to making continued progress toward our social responsibility commitments and celebrate the milestones along the way.
In alignment with our purpose and values, VSP Vision is committed to accelerating health equity through programs that increase equitable access to vision care, aid communities affected by disaster, and invest in the optometrists of the future; empowering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our workplace and in partnership with our network of doctors and suppliers; and advancing sustainability to reduce our impact on the planet through more sustainable products and operations.
Our purpose serves as our North Star, inspiring us to create meaningful impact in the communities we serve. As a company, in 2023, VSP Vision invested nearly $13.5 million in direct and in-kind funding to positively impact communities and increase equitable access to vision care.
VSP Hearts at Work empowers our employees to support their communities in individual ways. Whether it's participating in Global Volunteer Month or Giving Season, or giving to a cause close to their hearts through donation matches, paid volunteer hours, or earned volunteer rewards, our employees live our corporate value of We Care.
Access to care is the #1 barrier for 1.1 billion people worldwide who live with vision impairment. As the first not-for-profit eye health company, we have a responsibility to contribute to removing that barrier. We’re working to accelerate health equity by building on our history of increasing access to vision care at no cost for those in need and aiding communities affected by disaster.
VSP Vision is helping to advance the next generation of optometrists by offering scholarships and grants, and delivering programs designed to increase diversity in the optometric field and help optometry students and new graduates reach their career goals. To date, VSP has invested more than $3.3 million in these programs and provides more than 70 scholarships annually.
In 2021, we committed to produce 50% of eyewear frames from sustainable materials in 2025. We're already making significant progress using sustainable materials that include plant-based resin, upcycled plastic, recycled steel, and responsible acetate. We continue seeking new partnerships and exploring innovative sustainable materials that provide the quality and design consumers want while treading more lightly on the earth.