June 10, 2021 — l.a.Eyeworks, independent eyewear brand of The Optical Foundry, announced a donation of $65,000 to the Art For Justice Fund.

Proceeds were generated by the sale of the l.a.Eyeworks Wells frame, launched by the brand in August 2020 and named in honor of journalist and civil rights pioneer Ida B. Wells.

“Given the immediate need to address change, we’re proud to align ourselves with the direct donations-into-action strategy of the Art For Justice Fund,” says l.a.Eyeworks president Rob Rich.
The Arts for Justice Fund was launched by arts philanthropist Agnes Gund as a five-year charitable initiative. It invests in artists and policy advocates to address issues of justice reform and to amplify the human and societal toll of mass incarceration. In May 2021, the organization announced it will add a sixth year of grantmaking in support of artist-centered justice collaborations under the banner of “New Visions for Shared Safety.” 

“Based on our shared belief that art gives agency to those who are denied visibility and paves the way to drive change forward, our partnership with the Art For Justice Fund was a natural,” says l.a.Eyeworks co-founder/designer Gai Gherardi.

The brand’s recent campaign extends its legacy of of benefiting social causes, including Planned Parenthood, Art Matters, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression, and the Aileen Getty House for Women with AIDS. 

For more updates from l.a.Eyeworks: laeyeworks.com.