Georgia Lions in Action for Support of LCIF

By Immediate Past President Clement F. Kusiak

LCIF Chairperson for 2005-2006

These are very busy and productive days for LCIF. Supported by LCIF, Lions in the Gulf Coast are helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. In South Asia, Lions and LCIF are rebuilding homes in communities devastated by the tsunami. Throughout the world, Lions are volunteering and gearing up for Campaign SightFirst II.

LCIF mobilized $5 million for Hurricane Katrina Relief. That includes more than $4.5 million donated to LCIF by Lions and $340,000 from LCIF. LCIF is providing funds for Lions of Mississippi and Louisiana to continue important service projects. Due to the hurricane, Lions otherwise would not have been able to continue such projects as sight screenings, an eye bank and eye care services for the poor. LCIF also facilitated twinning between clubs in the Gulf Coast and clubs elsewhere, the distribution of UNICEF’s “school-in-box” for children at destroyed schools and a mobile eye van that provided free glasses. Working together, Lions and LCIF are helping victims of the hurricane who otherwise would have been neglected or overlooked.

LCIF and Lions are making great progress in helping victims of the tsunami in South Asia. More than 1,300 homes have been built or are being built in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Eventually, thousands of homes as well as schools and orphanages will be built. The rebuilding has been made possible by the $12 million donated to LCIF from Lions including $2.8 million from Lions in the United States. Thank you, Lions! Your generosity has enabled people devastated by the tsunami to try to return to their normal lives.

The aid to Katrina and tsunami victims is wonderful service but LCIF’s mission goes far beyond disaster relief. LCIF approves non-SightFirst grants three times a year and approves SightFirst grants three times a year also. Most recently, in November, the LCIF Board of Trustees approved US$3.3 million for 81 Lions’ projects. The grants will enable Lions worldwide to preserve sight and assist the blind, promote health, counter disability, nurture youth, serve the elderly and otherwise address vital humanitarian needs.

Campaign SightFirst II is moving forward. More than 7,000 Lion leaders have been recruited, 31 lead gifts made and 600 clubs applied to be model clubs. US$11.9 million has been raised to date for Campaign SightFirst II, even though intensive fund-raising by clubs does not begin until 2006-2007 and continues in 2007-2008. The US$150 million campaign will allow Lions to continue and expand the remarkable work of SightFirst, which prevented serious vision loss for 20 million people and restored the sight of 4.6 million people through cataract surgery. Please support the campaign. The sight of millions depends on the generosity of Lions.

Below is interesting information about your district’s recent grants and donations. As this data clearly shows, LCIF enjoys a thriving partnership with Lions to help their own communities and to help the world community.

LCIF needs your continued support through Melvin Jones Fellowships (MJF) and Contributing Memberships. As you may know, MJFs are the primary source of support for LCIF. A recognition of humanitarian work, an MJF is given to those who give US$1,000 to LCIF or to people for whom a donation was made by others. Contributing Memberships are an important source of support for LCIF, too. The annual program recognizes three levels of support: US$20, US$50 and US$100. Donors receive an attractive lapel pin.

Please visit our Web site to get the latest news, to download brochures or to learn more about obtaining grants and making donations. In closing, thank you for all your valuable support and please keep supporting the foundation either through your club or individually. Working together, we can bring help, hope and healing to children and adults who so desperately need it.

Multiple District 18 Information

Total Amount of LCIF Grants Awarded to MD 18: $971,897 (41 grants)

Recent Grants for MD 18:

18 B, Lions-Habitat Home, Effingham, $6,606, Oct. 2004

18 C, Tornado Relief, $10,000, March 2003

18 A, Tornado Relief, $5,000, Nov. 2002

18 E Lions-Habitat Home, Macon, $11,061, Sept. 2002

18 D, Camp Kudzu Adolescent Diabetes Program, $24,800, Sept. 2002

18 C, Flood Relief, $10,000, Sept. 2002

18 A, Lions-Habitat Home, Alpharetta, $21,819, April 2002

18 D, Lions-Habitat Home, Bogart, $39,375, Nov. 2001

18 E, Lions-Habitat Homes, West Point, $60,000, Nov. 2001

18 C, Lions-Habitat Homes, Moultrie, $51,750, June 2001

18 D, Equip Recording Studios for the Blind, $51,211, April 2001

18 F, Lions Habitat Home, Dublin, $22,500, April 2001

Donations by to LCIF By Fiscal Year

Total Donations of MD 18                            

 Coming soon.... Campaign Sightfirst II Web News at http://galions.org/csfii