by Nancy Sullivan
Lions at Work Around the World
Whether Lions work with partners or locally in communities, we do a world of good. Our International Foundation recently approved (August 2014) almost US $10 million in Sight First and Lions Quest grants for projects around the world. In addition to these grants, LCIF (Lions Club International Foundation) continues to support humanitarian projects and disaster relief efforts.
As reported in the International Foundation’s Monthly letter (8/28/14) by Chairperson, Lion Barry J. Palmer: “Just a few weeks ago, China was hit with a terrible earthquake. More than 600 people died because of the disaster and a large number of people were injured. What made the situation even worse was that more than 40,000 homes were damaged or destroyed! That means that more than 40,000 families are in need of help. I am proud that Lions are there to help them.”
“LCIF immediately issued a $250,000 Major Catastrophe Grant through the Disaster Relief Fund, allowing Lions to provide food, water, blankets, medicine and other necessities to people in need. With clubs in more than 200 countries, LCIF is ready to help whenever Lions or their communities are in need, regardless of their location. The road to recovery can be a long one, but Lions will be there for as long as needed while homes are rebuilt and communities put back together in China.”
The Sight First Advisory Committee also met in August 2014 and awarded 26 grants totaling $US $8,063,304.00. As part of the grants awarded, Sight First will continue working with the (Jimmy) Carter Center to control trachoma and river blindness in Ethiopia, Mali, Niger and northern Uganda; provide cataract surgeries in Nepal and Sri Lanka; conduct further blindness prevention research; support a diabetic retinopathy program in the United States and more.
Our Club touches the lives of people in need around the world through our donations to LCIF. Because our Club has given to the Disaster Relief Fund, we accrued enough credits to be able to sponsor an additional Melvin Jones Fellow this past year.
(View the full list of grants awarded online at Lions Club International Foundation.)
