EP58: The SPEC Foundation: How Independent Eye Care Professionals Can Give Back

A pair of glasses collecting dust in your stock room could be the reason someone sees clearly for the first time. ​ In this episode, we are joined by April Petrusma, Chedy Kalach, and Allyson Freind, who share how the South Pacific Eye Care (SPEC) Foundation is opening the door for independent eye care professionals to give back. ​ For years, meaningful eye care outreach has largely been reserved for the big corporate players. Today, we're exploring how that's changing and how independent eye care professionals can be part of it. ​ Throughout the conversation, they discuss the Foundation's journey, the unique value of its dispenser-led model, the life-changing impact of accessible vision care, and how outreach transforms volunteers both professionally and personally. They also share the many ways individuals and businesses can get involved. ​ If you're passionate about independent eye care and making a lasting impact, this episode will leave you inspired to be part of something bigger. **All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at** https://www.thefocusedview.com.au **Want more support beyond this episode?**  Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources **Key Topics with Timestamps:** 2:53 - SPEC Foundation members and their background 4:21 - How a Fiji outreach sparked the creation of SPEC Foundation 6:15 - What the SPEC Foundation actually does 9:08 - The biggest surprise after creating the foundation 10:57 - The gap that the SPEC Foundation fills 13:28 - Turning dead stock into a life-changing vision 15:48 - What makes SPEC Foundation unique from other charitable institutions 16:59 - Why a dispenser-led foundation matters 19:46 - Professional and life development beyond the practice 23:27 - Expanding the community support beyond Fiji 24:56 - The volunteer point of view of SPEC Foundation 31:42 - Practical ways you can support the foundation 36:17 - Why volunteers need to be an ODA member 39:36 - What DGR-1 status means 41:42 - The first step to getting involved with SPEC Foundation **Learn More About Us:** Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ Email: [info@thefocusedview.com.au](mailto:info@thefocusedview.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview Send us your thoughts about the episode Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!