Orbis Celebrates Long Relationship With Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — Orbis is an international nonprofit delivering sight-saving programs in over 200 countries and regions worldwide. It has deep-seated ties to Greenwich—the organization was founded 40 years ago by Greenwich residents including the late Tom Knight, Betsy Trippe Wainwright, and Al Ueltschi—and an ophthalmologist named Dr. David Paton who aspired to launch a plane-based hospital that could reach all corners of the world, delivering cutting-edge training to eye doctors in underserved communities. From this, the first-ever Flying Eye Hospital was born and, with it, so was Orbis. Now forty years later, Orbis is a leading global nonprofit that has expanded beyond the plane in its journey to build a world where everyone can access the eye care they need to thrive.

To celebrate the relationship between Orbis and Greenwich, members of the community were invited to a gathering on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at the Round Hill Club. The event was co-hosted by Langdon and Lyn Cook, Jim and Alison Knight, & Bizzie and Leighton Welch. In total, more than 75 Greenwich residents came to the event to learn about Orbis’s work to help improve eye care around the world. Event speakers included Lang Cook, Orbis Board Member Emeritus; Jim Knight, Orbis Board Member and son of the late Tom Knight, One of the original Orbis founders; Derek Hodkey, President and CEO of Orbis; and Dr. Hunter Cherwek, Vice President of Clinical Services and Technologies at Orbis.

Other notable attendees included, Kathie Knight, who has always shared her late husband Tom Knight’s passion for Orbis;, Lucy Ball and Elaine Peer, whose father, Peter Mullen, helped found Orbis; Ed and Bobbie Trippe (Ed’s sister, Betsy Trippe DeVecchi helped found Orbis); Desmond and Muffie Fitzgerald, former Orbis board member; and John Howitt, Orbis Board Chair.

“We’re delighted to be back in the Greenwich community after a hiatus during the pandemic and we’re thankful for the warm welcome we’ve received,” said Derek Hodkey, President and CEO of Orbis. “I’m honored to recognize some of the folks here in the Greenwich community who have been long-time supporters of our work, including Katie Knight, for the work that she and Tom have done to support Orbis from its inception to now, and also Lucy Ball and Elaine Peer, whose father Peter Mullen helped co-found Orbis.”

Jim Knight responded, “Orbis is one of the most impressive organizations I’ve ever come across. I’ve literally grown up knowing this incredible institution. There are incredible people who work and volunteer their time, talents, and efforts to cure preventable blindness. It’s the doctors, nurses, mechanics, pilots and others who are the heroes. Together we have the power to turn the tide of blindness and usher in a future where nobody is left in the dark. It’s time for the next generation to step up, help write the next chapter of Orbis’s story together.”