LEAP Lab:The Katie & Kelly Show |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K267W7aP-Zk
Published on Feb 27, 2015
The Lions Eyeglass Assistance Program (LEAP) will soon be manufacturing brand new eyeglasses and making them available to Lions Clubs and the providers you work with at a low, affordable price. This new LEAP Lab promises to change the landscape of providing new eyeglasses to people in need and has the potential to stretch your Lions Club’s hard earned dollars even further. Learn more about this program with Katie Warren, Optical Lab Manager and Kelly Asbra, Optical Lab Director.(Click on link, above, to find out more!)
Published on Feb 27, 2015
The Lions Eyeglass Assistance Program (LEAP) will soon be manufacturing brand new eyeglasses and making them available to Lions Clubs and the providers you work with at a low, affordable price. This new LEAP Lab promises to change the landscape of providing new eyeglasses to people in need and has the potential to stretch your Lions Club’s hard earned dollars even further. Learn more about this program with Katie Warren, Optical Lab Manager and Kelly Asbra, Optical Lab Director.(Click on link, above, to find out more!)
LCIF Shares in Celebration of River Blindness Elimination in Colombia
BOGOTÁ, Colombia, July 29, 2013 – Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) Chairperson Wayne Madden joined Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at a special ceremony to congratulate President Juan Manuel Santos and the people of Colombia for becoming the first of six countries in the Americas to eliminate river blindness. Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is a parasitic disease that can cause intense itching, eyesight damage, and irreversible blindness.
“This is a momentous day for the people of Colombia, and it’s an honor to share in their celebration. Lions are committed to preserving sight and eliminating preventable blindness around the world. Colombia is proof that when compassionate, committed people work together, that goal is within our reach,” said LCIF Chairperson Wayne Madden.
To advance the river blindness campaign in the Americas, LCIF donated over US$3 million to The Carter Center, which has led the campaign to wipe out the disease in Latin America.
“Colombia’s achievement demonstrates that a future free from river blindness is possible for everyone in the Americas,” said former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, founder of The Carter Center and a Lions club member.
In 1999, Lions joined The Carter Center in the fight against river blindness in Latin America, which targeted six countries in which the disease was endemic: Brazil, Colombiahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K267W7aP-Zk, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela.
When the program was launched, an estimated 500,000 people in the Americas were at risk of river blindness in those six countries. As the result of the highly successful campaign, transmission of this once ‘neglected’ tropical disease has been broken in 96 percent of the region.
River blindness was eliminated by providing a community-wide administration of the medicine ivermectin (Mectizan®, donated by Merck) to all people in the afflicted area, followed by three years of post-treatment surveillance to determine if transmission would recur. The elimination of the disease in Colombia was verified on April 5, 2013 by the World Health Organization.
Through LCIF’s SightFirst program, which funds high-quality, sustainable projects that address the major causes of blindness and vision impairment, Lions have contributed over US$42 million dollars to The Carter Center for onchocerciasis and trachoma projects in Latin America and Africa.
“This is a momentous day for the people of Colombia, and it’s an honor to share in their celebration. Lions are committed to preserving sight and eliminating preventable blindness around the world. Colombia is proof that when compassionate, committed people work together, that goal is within our reach,” said LCIF Chairperson Wayne Madden.
To advance the river blindness campaign in the Americas, LCIF donated over US$3 million to The Carter Center, which has led the campaign to wipe out the disease in Latin America.
“Colombia’s achievement demonstrates that a future free from river blindness is possible for everyone in the Americas,” said former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, founder of The Carter Center and a Lions club member.
In 1999, Lions joined The Carter Center in the fight against river blindness in Latin America, which targeted six countries in which the disease was endemic: Brazil, Colombiahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K267W7aP-Zk, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela.
When the program was launched, an estimated 500,000 people in the Americas were at risk of river blindness in those six countries. As the result of the highly successful campaign, transmission of this once ‘neglected’ tropical disease has been broken in 96 percent of the region.
River blindness was eliminated by providing a community-wide administration of the medicine ivermectin (Mectizan®, donated by Merck) to all people in the afflicted area, followed by three years of post-treatment surveillance to determine if transmission would recur. The elimination of the disease in Colombia was verified on April 5, 2013 by the World Health Organization.
Through LCIF’s SightFirst program, which funds high-quality, sustainable projects that address the major causes of blindness and vision impairment, Lions have contributed over US$42 million dollars to The Carter Center for onchocerciasis and trachoma projects in Latin America and Africa.
What is Lion's Quest?
Lions Quest
Lions Quest Growth
The Lions Quest program continues to grow worldwide. New countries implementing Lions Quest this year include Bulgaria, Malawi, Mauritius and the Philippines. In addition, four new countries recently received funding to support implementation, including Egypt, Indonesia, Moldova and Uruguay.
New Grants Approved
At the January SightFirst Advisory Committee Meeting, 18 grants were approved for US$5,430,891. This includes a grant to expand the Childhood Blindness project over the next two years to 18 additional centers in eight new countries or areas. Additionally, 14 grants were approved totaling US$540,000 at the Lions Quest Advisory Committee Meeting. More information about all the recently approved grants is online. To date, LCIF has awarded 10,057 grants totaling US$708 million.
Relief Following Disasters
Following devastating flooding in Australia, LCIF provided four emergency grants totaling US$50,000 to aid local Lions in their relief efforts. LCIF also awarded US$10,000 to Lions in Brazil following massive flooding. Funds helped purchase relief supplies for those who have been displaced by the flooding, including food, water and medicines. Lions wishing to help in relief efforts can make a designated donation to LCIF for Australia or Brazil. Additionally, LCIF provided relief for other recent natural disasters, including in Sri Lanka, Philippines and elsewhere. When disasters strike, Lions are often first on the scene to provide immediate relief and the last to leave. Each year, LCIF awards nearly US$2 million in funds to support both immediate and long-term relief. These humanitarian efforts are a direct result of Lions' generous support from around the world.
Support UNICEF's School-in-a-Box Program
In 1996, Lions Clubs International began working with UNICEF to support the School-in-a-Box program. For 15 years, the Lions/UNICEF School-in-a-Box program has provided educational supplies to teachers in areas affected by civil unrest and natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis. To commemorate this program, a special check presentation to the U.S. Fund UNICEF is planned for Lions Day at the United Nations in March. Lions can support this program by donating to LCIF. Donations in any amount are welcome. Each UNICEF School-in-a-Box costs approximately US$257. Lions clubs, Leo clubs, districts or multiple districts that wish to support the purchase of a School-in-a-Box kit should donate to LCIF, noting "School-in-a-Box" in the comments section. Contact LCIF Donor Services for assistance with donations. Clubs, districts or multiple districts that contribute US$500 or more in each fiscal year can receive a Lions/UNICEF School-in-a-Box banner patch.
