We Give

Last Updated on Thursday, 01 January 2009 05:13 Friday, 26 December 2008 03:12

Our clubs are willing to do whatever it takes to make communities better places to live. And we matter locally because people know they can count on the Lions to pitch in. In fact, it’s impossible to imagine what communities would be like without their local Lions club. And while we’re known for improving eyesight, our causes are as diverse as our membership.

Our members are very different from one another in many respects, but they share a core belief: community is what we make it. And for our members, being part of something larger matters. Because as Lions, they have the power to improve communities and the world. They are living proof that the whole really is bigger than the sum of its parts.

It’s fun to be a Lion — connect with fellow members both locally and internationally in activities that are more than just leisure or recreation. The shared experiences and achievements of Lions club members are powerful and treasured.

When you join Lions, you join a global service network. So at the same time you’re helping your own community locally, you can also contribute to Lions community efforts in other countries. A Lion never wonders, “What can one person do?”

Lions in Mali organized a vision screening that reached 29,000 children and adults. More than 1,000 were later treated by the African Institute for Tropical Ophthalmology — the premier eye hospital and training institute in West Africa, which is funded by Lions. Because we dream big, the people of West Africa can see a better tomorrow.

As part of Brazil’s Children’s Day, Lions Club Manaus gave the children of a disadvantaged community in Manaus the chance to laugh and play. It’s an example of how we can turn a sack race into an opportunity to connect.

To make more Turkish women aware of the importance of early detection of breast cancer, the Istanbul Lions sponsored a fitness marathon, distributed educational materials and purchased breast cancer screening equipment, which was later donated to the General Purpose Hospital of the Turkish Kidney Foundation.

When your children and your community see you wearing your Lions vest or pin, they know that you’re sincere about the importance of giving back and collaborating with others

.When the tsunami devastated Southeast Asia, the Lions were ready to help. Lions worldwide donated over US$14 million within weeks of the disaster. They built Lion Villages consisting of more than 1,000 homes with electricity and deep-water wells.They distributed supplies, coordinated shipping and provided first-aid treatment. And while Lions weren’t able to restore everything to the way it was, they were able to restore hope.