Dear Fellow Lions,
I enjoyed visiting with many of you during the International Convention and I look forward to continuing our service together this year as LCIF Chairperson. We have much to accomplish this year in order achieve our Campaign SightFirst II goal as well as spread the word about LCIF. In this message, I would like to update you on a number of LCIF news items.
LCIF Ranked Best NGO Worldwide
In a special report released Thursday, July 5, 2007, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) ranked best among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide. From 34 global organizations, LCIF came in first for its execution of programs, demonstrated accountability, communications internally and externally, program adaptability to the surrounding community, and understanding the goals of its corporate supporters. The assessment was published in the Financial Times' Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy special report. The full story can be read online at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_lcif_times.shtml.
Vote NOW to Help Eradicate Preventable Blindness
LCIF has been selected by American Express as one of the top 50 project ideas in The Members Project, an exciting initiative that brings American Express Cardmembers together to do something good for our world. Join Cardmembers across the country to vote for LCIF's incredible idea to eliminate preventable blindness, presented to American Express by the Diamondhead Lions Club in Mississippi, USA. For every vote LCIF receives, US$1 will be donated to LCIF by American Express up to US$5 million. Cast your vote NOW for LCIF at membersproject.com http://www.membersproject.com/Health_Fitness/723. LCIF is Project ID #723. You only have until July 15 to keep LCIF in the top 25! Please share this information with your friends, family and co-workers so they can vote for LCIF. To learn more visit the LCIF Web site at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_lcif_amex.shtml.
Grants Awarded at June Board Meeting
More than US$2.4 million in grants were approved at the June 2007 LCIF Board Meeting. Lions clubs from all over the world were granted funds to assist many humanitarian projects, such as partnering with Lions in Malaysia for a clean water project (Korea), equipping a rehabilitation center for the disabled (Italy), upgrading the kitchen and dining room at an Easter Seals camp (Canada) and constructing a clinic and vocational center for the disabled (Honduras). Read the complete story and view the entire list of approved grants at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_lcif_newgrants.shtml.
There are number of new materials, including a new DVD and CD of LCIF publications available to you to help promote LCIF in your club and district. A list of these materials can found at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lcif_pr_tools.shtml. I look forward to this year and thank you for your continued support and dedication to LCIF. LCIF is able to fulfill its mission of helping Lions serve worldwide through your support.
Serving Through LCIF,
Jimmy M. Ross
Message from 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. Campaign staff are setting up a leadership structure, accepting lead gifts, establishing model clubs and laying the groundwork for intensive fund-raising by clubs in 2006-2007 and 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 21 and LCIF
Total Amount of LCIF Grants Awarded to MD 21: $985,639 (29 grants)
Recent Grants for MD 21:
MD 21, Expand Lions-Quest, $100,000, March 2005
21 C, Medical Mission to Philippines, $10,000, Oct. 2003
MD 21, Equipment for Macular Degeneration Research, $65,423, June 2003
21 C, Medical Mission to Philippines, $10,000, Jan. 2003
21 C, Lions-Habitat Home, Flagstaff, $38,250, Nov. 2001
21 A, Lions Medical Mission to Philippines, $10,000, Jan. 2001
21 A, Flood Relief, $10,000, Oct. 2000
21 C, Lions-Habitat Home, Payson, $36,825, Sept. 2000
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Donations to LCIF by Fiscal Year
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2004-2005
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7/1/2005 to 10/31/2005
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| 21 A |
$60,243
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$24,395
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| 21 B |
$41,691
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$24,054
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| 21 C |
$38,207
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$13,885
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New Melvin Jones Fellows
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2004-2005
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All-Time Total
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| 21 A |
33
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478
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| 21 B |
20
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473
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| 21 C |
19
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364
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LCIF Tsunami Relief Update
Bulletin 2 – Jan. 5, 2005
Lions in Action
Supported by LCIF, several thousand local Lions are now providing immediate relief aid such as food, water and clothing from the west coast of India to Thailand and south to Indonesia. Local Lions in hundreds of places are at the scenes of the disaster, helping to organize relief and ensuring that people get vital relief supplies. Lions from nearby nations also have sent volunteer workers. The Taiwan Lions, for example, sent a medical team to Sri Lanka. The service of Lions is enabling communities to take care of their children, elderly, those with disabilities and other especially vulnerable people.
Here are a few examples of how local Lions are helping victims in South Asia:
• In Sri Lanka, Lions are working 16-hour days in organizing relief aid and are a key partner of the government’s relief agency and of the country's president. Enhancing their ability to assist in the relief, Lions hold key positions in the community. The former president is a Lion, as is the current Minister of Housing. District 306-B sent 60 truckloads of food and supplies to several relocation camps. Lions receive police escorts for the deliveries. District 306-A is organizing the installation of tents at new relocation camps in southern Sri Lanka at the government's request.
• In Indonesia, Lions are contributing greatly to relief efforts in some of the hardest hit areas. Thirty clubs near Medan provide logistical support for aid shipments to Bandh Acheh and send out four trucks of materials daily. They also are providing shelter, food, and clothing to refugees who have entered Medan. Lion-doctors from Jakarta and Medan are providing medical treatment. Lions also are making preliminary plans to support the educational needs of orphans.
• In India, 20 Lions’ ambulances and a team of 80 Lions volunteer medical doctors are providing first aid near Chennai. Nearly 70 clubs fanned out in the region from Parassalla to Haripad to distribute food and clothes at the relief camps. Lion-doctors conducted free treatment at relief centers.
• In Thailand, Lions in Bangkok have sent water tanks and trucks loaded with supplies to Phuket. Lions are working with government officials and relief agencies to provide for basic needs at relocation camps.
Generosity of Lions
LCIF’s grants for the tsunami disaster, made possible, of course, by prior donations by Lions, now total US$470,000 and will climb much higher as needs are continually assessed and requests for assistance are made. Additionally, Lions throughout the world are making pledges of support, including US$120,000 from the Lions of Sweden and US$200,000 from the Lions of Korea.
Hundreds of clubs and individuals also have sent funds to LCIF. The Vancouver Metropolitan Lions Club in Canada, for example, sent LCIF a check for US$6,600. Club President Raymond Wong told LCIF, “Everyday we saw on the news that the amount of casualties are increasing by the thousands. We share the same view of most Lions that we have to do something to support the unfortunate people who have to deal with this great tragedy. We hope this small token of donations can bring some immediate help to the people in those regions. In the meantime, I have taken the initiative to ask the other clubs in our district to support this great cause.”
LCIF’s Long-Term Aid
LCIF provides immediate relief and long-term reconstruction after a disaster. LCIF is not only helping people stay alive after the tsunami but it also will rebuild communities for years to come. The real impact of LCIF’s assistance to South Asia will be fully realized in the next several years as LCIF partners with Lions to rebuild homes, schools and community centers. This long-term approach plays to the strength of LCIF and Lions, who belong to their communities, understand local needs and know how to get things done.
LCIF’s prior success with disaster relief in South Asia bodes well for its initiatives in response to the tsunami. LCIF has recently assisted with aid and reconstruction in the aftermath of two major natural disasters in India. In 2001, US$2.5 million was mobilized to assist communities rebuild after the Gujarat earthquake. The funds built 734 homes for people displaced by the earthquake, 20 primary schools, and a general hospital. In 2000, LCIF assisted with almost US$500,000 to assist rebuild areas affected by the Orissa cyclone. A total of 360 homes, nine community centers, five schools, and two orphanages were constructed.
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