United Airlines and FedEx Donate Plane to Create a New Flying Eye Hospital

Orbis International is bringing sight to the world

CHICAGO -- ORBIS International, a nonprofit development organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide, today announced it will replace its current DC-10 Flying Eye Hospital with a DC-10 Series 30 freighter. United Airlines , with the support of FedEx Corp. , is donating the airplane to ORBIS. The $2 million donation is based on the plane's estimated value and being funded equally by United and FedEx.

"Through the extraordinary generosity of United and FedEx, millions of people who would otherwise go blind or remain blind for lack of proper eye care will reap the rewards of advanced ophthalmic training," said ORBIS Executive Director Geoffrey Holland. "The new aircraft will allow ORBIS to continue its mobile sight-saving training for 20 years. This is a truly wonderful gift to the world."

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