Sacramento, CA – VSP® Vision Care, the nation’s largest eyecare benefits provider, is proud to announce a global sponsorship for Team Type 1.

“We’re very excited to work with Team Type 1 to raise awareness about the connection between eye health and diabetes,” said Kate Renwick-Espinosa, Vice President of Marketing, VSP Vision Care. “An eye exam is an important part of a person’s overall healthcare and can show signs of diabetes before a person is even aware they have it.”

VSP will be the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Team Type 1. VSP eye doctors will provide annual comprehensive eye exams, and the athletes will participate in VSP’s Diabetic Eyecare Program which includes coverage for additional medical eyecare services specifically targeted toward members with Type 1 diabetes. While in competition at cycling events around the world, Team Type 1 will wear patented Nike Max Optics® sunglasses. Nike Max Optics features functional design and interchangeable lenses for options in all light conditions.

“Our mission is to show the world that people with diabetes can not only manage their condition and excel physically, but they can also achieve their goals, dreams, and potential,” said Phil Southerland, CEO and Founder of Team Type 1. “We’re looking forward to working with VSP Vision Care to share this message.”

About the VSP Family of Companies
VSP®’s family of companies includes the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States with 55 million members; VSP Labs, industry leaders in new technologies, production processes, service and logistics; Marchon® Eyewear Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers, designers and distributors of quality fashion and technologically-advanced eyewear and sunwear, distributing its products to more than 100,000 customer locations in more than 100 countries; Eyefinity®/Officemate® which offer innovative solutions and the premier management software and technology to improve overall practice management and the patient experience.

Since 1997, VSP has provided nearly 510,000 low-income, uninsured children with free eyecare. Through relationships with the American Diabetes Association, Prevent Blindness America and the Center for Health Transformation, VSP promotes the importance of annual eye exams for maintaining eye health and overall wellness.

About Team Type 1
Founded in 2004, Team Type 1 has grown from an eight-person team of cyclists that won the Race Across America in 2006 and 2007 to now include men’s and women’s professional race teams, a triathlon team and a development team. The newly-formed Team Type 2 will also take on the Race Across America in 2009. Team Type 1 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes; through active management, one can achieve their goals, dreams, and potential.