Serving The Grand Rapids Community since 1919 The Grand Rapids Lions Club

Serving The Grand Rapids Community since 1919

The Grand Rapids Lions Club

Grand Rapids Lions ClubGrand Rapids Lions Club

• Who are we?Who are we?

• What do we do?What do we do?

• Why do we do what we do?Why do we do what we do?

• What can you do to help?What can you do to help?

The Lions: Who are we?The Lions: Who are we?• Founded in 1917, now Founded in 1917, now

world’s largest service club world’s largest service club

• In 1925, Helen Keller In 1925, Helen Keller challenged Lions—”Become challenged Lions—”Become the knights of the blind in the knights of the blind in the crusade against the crusade against darkness”darkness”

• A true International A true International organization, 1.4 million organization, 1.4 million Lions in 44,700 clubs Lions in 44,700 clubs worldwide in over 190 worldwide in over 190 countriescountries

Lions Worldwide!Lions Worldwide!• Vision 2020: A Right to Vision 2020: A Right to

SightSight partners with WHOpartners with WHO

• Lions donate $722 million Lions donate $722 million and over 71 million and over 71 million volunteer hours—equal to volunteer hours—equal to 34,000 FT workers!34,000 FT workers!

• 25,000 corneal transplants 25,000 corneal transplants annuallyannually

• 5.2 million pairs of 5.2 million pairs of unwanted eyeglasses unwanted eyeglasses collected, tested and collected, tested and distributeddistributed

• White canes and thousands White canes and thousands of leader dogs fundedof leader dogs funded•600,000 glaucoma screenings annually600,000 glaucoma screenings annually

Lions Worldwide!Lions Worldwide!

• 3.2 million cataract surgeries funded3.2 million cataract surgeries funded• Built or expanded 136 eye hospitalsBuilt or expanded 136 eye hospitals• Treated more than 36 million to prevent river blindnessTreated more than 36 million to prevent river blindness• Worked around the globe to make eye care a priority in Worked around the globe to make eye care a priority in

many emerging nationsmany emerging nations• Countless screened for diabetesCountless screened for diabetes

The Lions locallyThe Lions locally

• Founded in 1919 as the Downtown Lions ClubFounded in 1919 as the Downtown Lions Club

• Over 100 men & women from many walks of lifeOver 100 men & women from many walks of life

• 3 Judges, 8 attorneys, 24 company presidents, 13 3 Judges, 8 attorneys, 24 company presidents, 13 senior executives, 3 CPAs, 3 eye care senior executives, 3 CPAs, 3 eye care professionals, former congressman from GR---professionals, former congressman from GR---President of the USA.President of the USA.

• Meet every Tuesday at noon for lunch, Meet every Tuesday at noon for lunch, socialization, networking and advancing the spirit socialization, networking and advancing the spirit of Lionismof Lionism

Grand Rapids Lions: Our Grand Rapids Lions: Our MissionMission

Vision 2020: A Right to SightVision 2020: A Right to Sight

Making a difference in this community Making a difference in this community through leadership and collaboration through leadership and collaboration to prevent vision loss and provide to prevent vision loss and provide resources for those with vision resources for those with vision impairmentimpairment


• Leader in founding Leader in founding Welcome Homes Welcome Homes

• Only retirement Only retirement facility in Michigan facility in Michigan for blind and for blind and visually impairedvisually impaired

• Helped make Helped make Welcome Homes a Welcome Homes a statewide Lions of statewide Lions of Michigan projectMichigan project


• Major Supporter of Major Supporter of Leader Dog for the Leader Dog for the Blind in Rochester, Blind in Rochester, MIMI

• Lead effort to make a Lead effort to make a statewide projectstatewide project

• Host the annual Host the annual fundraising eventfundraising event

• More than More than $1,300,000 raised $1,300,000 raised over last 10 yearsover last 10 years


• Major financial Major financial supporter of supporter of Association for Blind Association for Blind and Visually and Visually Impaired (ABVI)Impaired (ABVI)

• Lions contribution Lions contribution supports services to supports services to over 100 ABVI over 100 ABVI clients clients


• South/Central America South/Central America Vision TripsVision Trips

• Year long effort to Year long effort to collect used eyeglasses collect used eyeglasses throughout areathroughout area

• Glasses are cleaned Glasses are cleaned and prescription read and prescription read and packagedand packaged

• Lions travel, examine Lions travel, examine and prescribe 4-5000 and prescribe 4-5000 pairs annually pairs annually


• Major funding for Major funding for Cherry Street Cherry Street Health Services Health Services Vision programVision program

• In partnership with In partnership with Grand Rapids Grand Rapids OphthalmologyOphthalmology

• Over 500 served Over 500 served with new frames & with new frames & lenslens


• Lions Chair of the Michigan Eye BankLions Chair of the Michigan Eye Bank• 1472 corneal transplants annually in 1472 corneal transplants annually in

MichiganMichigan• Presentations to organizations throughout Presentations to organizations throughout

West MichiganWest Michigan


• Supporting Supporting Children’s Miracle Children’s Miracle Network & DeVos Network & DeVos Children’s HospitalChildren’s Hospital

• Helping visually Helping visually impaired kids have impaired kids have a fun day with a fun day with sportssports


• Recognizing high Recognizing high school seniorsschool seniors

• Academics, Academics, community and community and school service and school service and other activitiesother activities

• Top girl and boy Top girl and boy from all Grand from all Grand Rapids High Rapids High SchoolsSchools


• Habitat for Habitat for Humanity projectHumanity project

• Lions funded and Lions funded and builtbuilt

• Handicapped Handicapped accessible home accessible home for a grandmother for a grandmother and her 14 year and her 14 year old grandson with old grandson with cerebral palsycerebral palsy

Grand Rapids Lions Grand Rapids Lions Funding ProgramsFunding Programs

• White Cane White Cane solicitationsolicitation

• Lions’ Rose DayLions’ Rose Day

• Funding from Grand Funding from Grand Rapids Lions Rapids Lions FoundationFoundation

• Bequests and Bequests and “challenge grants”“challenge grants”

• RafflesRaffles

Grand Rapids Lions Grand Rapids Lions Funding ProgramsFunding Programs

• Drive for Vision Drive for Vision Golf EventGolf Event

• Grants &Funding Grants &Funding from Lions Clubs from Lions Clubs International International FoundationFoundation

Why do we do what we Why do we do what we do?do?

• 6.2% of the US population have 6.2% of the US population have diabetes, the #1 cause of preventable diabetes, the #1 cause of preventable blindnessblindness

• 1/3 don’t know they have the disease1/3 don’t know they have the disease

• 46% of the poverty level people in GR 46% of the poverty level people in GR are uninsured for vision careare uninsured for vision care

• As many as 15,000 individuals need As many as 15,000 individuals need glasses but can’t afford themglasses but can’t afford them


• 1/20 children ages 1/20 children ages 3-5 have a 3-5 have a significant vision significant vision problemproblem

• 2 million adults 2 million adults ages 40+ have ages 40+ have visual impairment visual impairment beyond glassesbeyond glasses


• 35,000 corneal transplants annually 35,000 corneal transplants annually in USA but many more need helpin USA but many more need help

• Assisted visually impaired = Assisted visually impaired = productive, independent, productive, independent, contributing citizenscontributing citizens

What can you do to help?What can you do to help?

• Join us—become a Grand Rapids LionJoin us—become a Grand Rapids Lion

• Partner with us in our projectsPartner with us in our projects

• Remember the Lions Foundation in your Remember the Lions Foundation in your willwill

• Fund a “Living Memorial” in your nameFund a “Living Memorial” in your name

• Outright contributionsOutright contributions

Specific uses of our Specific uses of our FundsFunds

• $20 will fund an eye exam & pair of single $20 will fund an eye exam & pair of single vision glasses vision glasses

• $40 will cover the Medicare gap for a $40 will cover the Medicare gap for a Welcome Homes resident for one dayWelcome Homes resident for one day

• $190 will fund ABVI support for one $190 will fund ABVI support for one visually impaired individualvisually impaired individual

• $800 will send a Lion on an International $800 will send a Lion on an International Vision MissionVision Mission

• $38,000 will fund a new Leader Dog and $38,000 will fund a new Leader Dog and training for the user and the dogtraining for the user and the dog

www.grlions.orgwww.grlions.org

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Serving The Grand Rapids Community since 1919

The Grand Rapids Lions Club

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Serving The Grand Rapids Community since 1919 The Grand Rapids Lions Club