The Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), this year celebrating its 50th anniversary, was the topic at the Francis Scott Key Lions Club meeting on March 27. Club LCIF Chairman Lynn Stimmel reported the history of LCIF and how donations benefit many people worldwide. In brief, LCIF and Lions have: prevented vision loss for more than 30 million people, restored sight for more than 8 million people through cataract surgeries, provided 150 million treatments for river blindness, built or expanded over 600 eye clinics, conducted over 24 million vision screenings through Sight for Kids, screened over 370,000 athletes through the LCIF-Special Olympics Opening Eyes Program and provided prescription eyeglasses for an additional 161,000-plus, contributed more than $100 million in disaster relief worldwide, helped over 15 million students in 100 countries build positive life skills through Lions Quest, and affected countless lives through $800 million in LCIF grants, and will continue to do even more with the support of Lions and friends around the world.
Lions Clubs International, celebrating its centennial, is the world’s largest service club organization with almost 1.45 million members in approximately 47,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions Clubs have assisted the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. Lions Clubs are comprised of individuals who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. If you are community-minded, consider joining the FSK Lions Club, which has been serving the Frederick community since 1959 and meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. For reservations and meeting location, contact President Toni Gray at 240/626-6030.
For additional information on becoming a Lion, visit www.fsklions.org, or on Facebook at facebook.com/FrancisScottKeyLionsClub, at twitter.com/FSKLions or www.flickr.com/photos/fsklions/, or contact Membership Chairman Paul Gray through the club’s website, at membership@fsklions.org, or at 240/626-1511. To support the FSK Lions Club’s various charitable programs, visit www.cedarridgesoaps.com; use coupon code “FSKLions” upon check out, and the club will receive a percentage of your retail total with the funds raised benefiting Leader Dogs for the Blind and the Lions Clubs International Foundation. The link may also be accessed from the club’s website; click on the Projects tab, then on Fundraisers.
LCIF Chairman Lynn Stimmel reported the history of LCIF.