Transitions Optical announces lab partners of year, renews book bus

Pinellas Park, FL-Advance Optical, Rochester, NY, and 21st Century Optics, Long Island City, NY, have been named by Transitions Optical Inc. as recipients of the 2010 Transitions Partner Labs Most Valuable Partner (MVP) Lab of the Year Award. Advance Optical received the award in the small/medium lab division; 21st Century Optics received the award in the large lab division.

The award celebrates the two partner labs that have shown the highest level of commitment to growing their businesses with the company’s family of products and programs over the past year. Nominees for the award are judged on several factors, including overall growth of the company’s lenses, innovation and creativity in executing marketing programs and promotions, quality of education provided internally and to eye-care professionals, and overall passion for and devotion to the brand.

In addition to earning the MVP Lab of the Year title, both Advance Optical and 21st Century Optics will receive $5,000 in business-building funds to support continued growth throughout this year.

In other news, Transitions Optical also announced that it will continue its partnership with Bess the Book Bus in 2011. Through the partnership, the company will continue as the lead sponsor of the Book Bus’ national tour, which will bring free books to children in need at schools, shelters, and after-school programs in underserved communities across the country.

Last year, Bess the Book Bus founder Jennifer Frances distributed more than 65,000 books to more than 10,000 underprivileged children in 37 states while educating children, parents, and teachers about the connection between healthy vision and reading and learning.

As part of this year’s partnership, Transitions Optical also will participate on site in key events alongside the Book Bus by providing free eye care and eyewear to children in need. Bringing its 40-foot mobile eye-care clinic, which was created as a joint venture with VSP Vision Care, to several events throughout the year, Transitions Optical will provide free comprehensive eye exams and new eyewear fitted with Transitions lenses to children who require prescription eyeglasses.

Last year, VSP doctors onboard the bus, named Eyenstein, completed exams for more than 700 children across the country.

Bess the Book Bus will kick off its 2011 tour in March at the Transitions Championship, a PGA Tour event in the Tampa Bay, FL, area.