May 2012
Dear Lion,
Judy and I recently toured Louisiana and Mississippi, USA, to see the impact Lions had on communities that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. What I saw there made me proud of all the Lions that had worked to rebuild these communities for the past seven years.
In Louisiana, USA, we visited the Chalmette High School and saw a new building where ruins stood seven years ago after the hurricane. Lions and LCIF provided this school with new buses, a computer center with a Lions logo on each computer, a medical center and a state-of-the-art library. In meeting with the school administration, I even learned that the administrative staff and teachers had formed a school Lions club after personally experiencing the great work that Lions do.
This school demonstrated the "can do" spirit of Lions that was evident in each relief project that we saw throughout the area. Lions make a difference. We stay until the work is done and this is what sets Lions and LCIF apart. We remain committed and see disaster relief through until the end. Lions in Japan, New Zealand, Haiti and many other places around the globe know this as well.
LCIF is able to remain committed to long-term projects thanks to each of you. Your donations provide relief for disasters, support youth, save sight, and save lives through our newest measles initiative. While there are many honorable causes to give to, as this Lions' year nears its end, I ask for you to consider making a special donation for the measles initiative.
Through your measles donations, you can honor a community member or club member with a Melvin Jones Fellowship. There are also opportunities for club and individual recognition, including banner patches to recognize generous clubs. However, the most important reason to donate to the One Shot, One Life: Lions Measles Initiative is that you are saving a child's life with each dollar donated.
I thank you for continuing to support the efforts of LCIF. Together we are making a huge difference in the world.
Serving together today as a beacon of hope,
Sid L. Scruggs III
Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation
Lions Quest Partners with the United Nations
Thanks to a new partnership, students in Central Asia and Southeastern Europe will join the 12 million youth who have been taught positive life skills through Lions Quest. At this year's Lions Day at the United Nations, Lions Quest announced a partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Through this partnership, Lions Quest materials will work alongside UNODC's existing family-based life skills work in Central Asia and Southeastern Europe. Serbia and Montenegro are the first countries benefiting from the partnership and an LCIF Core 4 grant of US$100,000. Through the grant, Lions Quest materials will be translated and adapted to local cultures and implemented in collaboration with the UNODC.
Pediatric Cataract Initiative Awards Grants
The LCIF and Bausch + Lomb partnership program is awarding two research grants of US$50,000 each. The Pediatric Cataract Initiative is the first dedicated global effort aimed at preventing and treating cataract in children to reduce childhood blindness. An estimated 1.4 million children are blind worldwide, with an estimated 500,000 new cases each year. A grant to Bangladesh will track the success of pediatric cataract surgeries over five years. The second grant will strengthen pediatric cataract services in South Africa and Zambia. Last year the partnership awarded three grants. One of the research grants found two-thirds of children screened needed surgery or other follow up care.
Make a Donation to Eliminate Measles When you donate to the One Shot, One Life: Lions Measles Initiative, you are helping LCIF and our partners to eliminate measles and save lives worldwide. The initiative has already received several notable donations from MD300 Taiwan and Japan. Now, Dr. Kanak Singh Babla from Kenya, Africa, has donated US$10,000 for the One Shot, One Life: Lions Measles Initiative, making him a leading donor to measles from Africa and the ISAAME area. Thank you Lions for your support!
You can make a donation today, and follow the One Shot, One Life: Lions Measles Initiative on Facebook, Twitter and the new LCIF blog for the latest updates.
LCIF Awards Grants
During the April Board of Trustees meeting at Lions' headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA, 90 grants were awarded totaling US$4.2 million. More than 2.7 million people will benefit from the grants. These grants will enable Lions to have a great impact in their communities.
