Coral Springs Downtown Lions Club

Celebrating Over 30 Years of Service

(1980 - 2011)

Lions Fight to STOP Diabetes and Work to Improve the Lives of Those Living with Diabetes!

Lions are dedicated to diabetes awareness and improving the lives of those living with diabetes, the leading cause of preventable blindness in adults and a growing national health crisis for children and adults.

October 22, 2011 – Our team participated in the American Diabetes Association Step Out Walk to STOP Diabetes at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL. As of last count, we had raised over $4,600 in donations to go toward prevention efforts, public education, and research into a cure for diabetes. We are proud of being named the highest fundraising team among all participating clubs and organizations, and we are still accepting donations.

November 5, 2011 – In observance of National Diabetes Awareness Month, our club held a Diabetes Awareness and Education Day in partnership with the Broward County Library at their Northwest Regional branch. We educated participants about who is at risk for diabetes and how to recognize early warning signs of the disease. We provided free blood glucose screenings for over 70 individuals, including 16 children, and showed an educational movie about the importance of yearly eye exams for people with diabetes. We were able to detect several individuals in need of health counseling and/or medical referrals, which we provided. We were glad to be of such valuable service to the community and are planning additional screening events in the coming months.

Through charitable donations and visits from our mascot, Leo the Lion, our club also supports the Broward Health Foundation's Camp Coral Kids, a two-week summer day camp in Coral Springs for kids with Type 1 diabetes. See the links below to learn more about this program and other diabetes camps in the region.

For detailed information about diabetes:

American Diabetes Association

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Diabetes Research Institute

For information about children with diabetes:

Children With Diabetes, Inc.

Broward Health Foundation Camp Coral Kids

Florida Diabetes Camps

Lions Diabetes Camp at Miami Children's Hospital

2011-2012 Lions International Peace Poster Contest

October 2011 -- The Coral Springs Downtown Lions Club sponsored the International Peace Poster Contest at two area schools. The annual art competition is an international contest that encourges children, ages 11 to 13, to creatively express what peace means to them. The 2011-12 contest theme is "Children Know Peace." This worldwide peace and youth initiative allows students to share their unique image of peace with others, so that we may all have greater tolerance and international understanding. One winner and 23 merit prize winners are selected each year from among submissions entered by Lions Clubs around the world.

The winning poster from Ramblewood Middle School in Coral Springs was submitted by Emily Ehrlich, age 12 (top left), who writes, "In order for peace to survive, it needs a peaceful environment, and that is a factor that depends on us." The winning poster from Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton was submitted by Dara Weinstein, age 11 (top right), who writes, "I believe that my generation holds the key to world peace." These posters were forwarded with the opportunity to be judged at the regional, state, and international levels. Posters earning honorable mention were also very inspirational: Meghan T., age 13, from Ramblewood (bottom left) and Eva D., age 11, from DKJA (bottom right). (Zoom your browser window to see the terrific detail in these posters.)

A special Lions thank you goes to Principal Tina Recchi and Art Teacher Rosemarie McKinstry at Ramblewood Middle and Principal Carol Kolsky and Art Teacher Carol Routman at DKJA for their support of this terrific program.

The Coral Springs Downtown Lions

"Back-to-School Shopping Spree"

was a Great Success!

July 30, 2011 -- We held our 1st Annual “Back to School Shopping Spree” at the Coral Springs Wal-Mart, 3801 Turtle Creek Drive, to help financially needy school children primarily from Margate, Coconut Creek, and Coral Springs. Participants were selected by Broward County Schools social workers and local civic organizations based on economic need.

This special event gave nearly 100 at-risk elementary school students the opportunity to purchase $50 worth of school clothing and/or supplies that they otherwise could not afford. We are proud to have given them a much-needed head start for the upcoming school year. The event was also an educational experience that helped teach each student how to select their own items and to budget the use of their money, with the help of a Lions volunteer.

We are grateful for the support we received from the managment of Wal-mart, and we are thankful for the generous support of our donors, who contributed over $5,000 to make this event possible. We partnered with Lions club volunteers from around the tri-county area (and beyond!) as well as a number of enthusiastic and hard-working community volunteers to make this event a great success! We are looking forward to making this an annual event.

Any inquiries about making donations and/or volunteering are welcome. For more information, please e-mail us at coralspringsdowntownlions@gmail.com or call (954) 263-5724.

The Latest and Grrrrrreatest!

October 2011 -- National White Cane Safety Day

Lions Marty, Jay, and Ron (left) hand out literature on Florida's white cane safety law to protect blind pedestrians and collect donations to benefit Lions charities. Lions John and Mabel (right) pose with club mascot, Leo the Lion, who handed out balloons and stickers to the kids.

Lions Ron, Ralph, and Jay (as Leo) visit summer campers at the Broward Health Foundation's Camp Coral Kids for children with Type 1 diabetes.

Spring 2011 - We welcomed our newest Lions club members, Kenneth, Mabel, Joey, Afrouz, Pete, and Janet, Darryl, and Governor (not shown).

February 2011 -- Leo the Lion helped kick off the Challenger Baseball season opener.

Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 205 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.