Media
Newspaper Articles
Project KidCare- Ann Arbor News, August 24, 2008
http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/08/lions_club_members_show_they_c.html
Project KidCare- Washtenaw County Department of Human Services Newsletter
Feasts for Families- Dexter Leader, November 20, 2008
Faces in the Crowd- Ann Arbor News, November 30, 2008
http://www.mlive.com/annarbornews/features/index.ssf/2008/12/photo_gallery_faces_in_the_cro_4.html
Lion Pride, Center Spread - November
http://www.lionsofmi.com/files/pdf/lpnov2008.pdf
Press Releases
FEASTS FOR FAMILIES
ANN ARBOR, MI- Sixty-one local families will have a little brighter Thanksgiving this year, thanks to the Lions Clubs of Region 1, Zone 1.
The Zone project, entitled Feasts for Families, consisted of seven Lions Clubs gathering various traditional Thanksgiving dinner items and packaging them into baskets equipped to feed a family of four. The clubs, including Ann Arbor (Host) Lions, Ann Arbor Evening Lions, Manchester Lions, Saline Lions, Chelsea Lions, Huron Valley Sunrise Lions and Dexter Lions assembled 61 baskets altogether.
“Today we made a difference to dozens of families over the Thanksgiving Holidays, and in these economic times, it's a big difference,” said Barry Allen, Lions Club Zone Chairman.
Each club chose individually where their baskets would be distributed. Ann Arbor (Host) and Evening clubs took fifteen of the baskets to the Washtenaw County Department of Human Services building to be distributed just in time for the holiday. Other baskets went to Faith in Action, Dexter Family Services, Saline Social Services, Manchester Family Services and local churches.
HOST AGREES TO HOST
September 15, 2008, ANN ARBOR, MI- Ann Arbor (Host) members John Krienke and Alison Claerhout traveled to Career Day at Eastern Michigan University on September 9 to promote the up-and-coming Eastern Michigan University Campus Lions Club. The Ann Arbor (Host) Lions have agreed to become the Host Club for the EMU Campus Lions, with Lion John Krienke accepting the position of Guiding Lion.
Several future Campus Lions members accompanied the (Host) club at the event, including President elect, Josiah Osburn. “I found myself with a goal for my honors project at EMU. This goal has brought me to accept the honor of acting president in the pursuit of anticipated support from student government in establishing our new Lion's Club at Eastern.
Twenty students signed up to learn more about the club and a couple interests have agreed to join, according to Osburn. Many of the students had heard of the services Lions provide and a few had even benefitted from a club in their hometown.
“Seeking my degree in Secondary Special Education Hearing Impaired fits the efforts that Lion's pour into communities all over the world,” said Osburn.
The EMU Campus Lions are currently in the final stages of becoming a Registered Student Organization and hope to be functioning well enough to produce Thanksgiving baskets for those in need this year.
ANN ARBOR COUNCIL OF LIONS SUPPORT GRADUATE STUDENT
September 10, 2008, ANN ARBOR, MI- At the age of 8, Sarah Kruger of Dexter was diagnosed with Stargardts Macular Degeneration and declared legally blind. With the help of a closed circuit television for magnification, provided by the Dexter Lions, Sarah was able to defy her obstacles and continue her education through high school, into college.
Kruger, now 25, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Eastern Michigan University and is working to obtain her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Michigan. While still in need of a visual aide, the equipment that has brought her to this point is extremely out of date and has fallen into disrepair.
In May, Kruger approached the Ann Arbor Lions to help her purchase a much needed hand held magnifier called an Amigo to help with her studies. After careful consideration of her current financial status, each of the Ann Arbor clubs voted to donate $600 towards the purchase of the new equipment.
“I had a little anxiety about starting school and not having a visual aide,” said Kruger. “I really truly appreciate it. I don’t know what I would have done this semester.”
The Amigo arrived just in time for the beginning of the semester and she could not have been more grateful.
“It is fantastic and has already gotten a ton of use," said Kruger.
Sarah’s future plans include using her knowledge and skills to support the needs of the blind and visually impaired.
PACK YOUR BAGS!
August 13, 2008, ANN ARBOR, MI- The Ann Arbor (Host) Lions packed their bags on August 13 for Project KidCare, a new initiative developed by the Lions to provide backpacks full of school supplies and tote bags containing hygiene and comfort items for foster care children in Washtenaw County.
According to James Johnson, the Community Resource Coordinator for the State Department of Human Resources in Washtenaw County, there are approximately 254 open foster care cases in our county.
The care packages containing school supplies, fleece blankets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, stuffed animals, hair care products, deodorant and many other items were delivered to the Washtenaw County Department of Human Services.
“This is just one of many ways for community members to help foster care children in Washtenaw County,” said Lisa Langley, President of the Ann Arbor (Host) Lions Club. Other needs of the Washtenaw County Department of Human Services include being a foster parent or mentor, volunteering at their office or “adopting” families around the holidays. To learn how you can help as an individual or group, contact Johnson at 734-481-8377.
Future plans for Project KidCare include the dissemination of more care totes in the winter, spring and summer in collaboration with the Manchester Lions Club.
Funding for the project was made possible by the annual Lions White Cane Street Drive. Donations were also made by Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Dexter, JoAnne Fabrics of Ypsilanti and the Maple Road K-Mart in Ann Arbor.
The Ann Arbor (Host) Lions Club was chartered at the outset of the Great Depression in 1929. It is the founder of the Michigan Eye-Bank and has been serving the community for over 79 years. For more information on how to help the Ann Arbor (Host) Lions Club help others, contact President Lisa Langley at 734-769-2430.
SAY CHEESE!
July 14, 2008, ANN ARBOR, MI- Ann Arbor (Host) Lions, along with members of the Huron Valley Sunrise Lions Club and the Ann Arbor Evening Lions Club spent one Saturday morning behind the camera training for Project Kidsight, a non-invasive screening program developed to check preschoolers for early visual problems. This cost-effective procedure is said to be more accurate than those used in a doctor’s office for children between the ages of 1 and 5.
Trained volunteers use a special MTI PhotoScreener to take a Polaroid picture of a child’s eyes. The eccentric flash of the camera detects problems that can cause amblyopia (reduced vision in an eye from disuse). The photo is checked for readability and then sent to Children’s Hospital of Michigan for evaluation.
“This is a great low-cost program that Lions can do to help the children of their community,” said Dexter Lion Larry France, who is 11B-1 Kidsight District Chairman.
The Ann Arbor Council of Lions Clubs, consisting of members from the three Ann Arbor Clubs, has agreed to adopt Project Kidsight and is currently in the process of contacting local daycare centers and preschools to host the event.
RAISING GREEN ON THE GREEN
July 14, 2008, ANN ARBOR, MI- Golfers came from far and wide to participate in the Ann Arbor (Host) Lions Golf Outing on July 7 at the U of M Golf Course. The annual event raises money each year to support various vision related projects and organizations including the Michigan Eye-Bank, Washtenaw County Library for the Blind and many others.
“It was a beautiful day to have such a wonderful event,” said golfing participant and Michigan Eye-Bank Communications Associate Stephanie Tossey. “It was great to see so many people out here to back such a great cause.”
Eighty golfers attended the event to form 16 teams in pursuit of the trophy. Other contests included two betting holes, and prizes for the longest drive and closest to the pin in both the men’s and the women’s division.
The Ann Arbor (Host) Lions, along with the University of Michigan Medical Center, founded the Michigan Eye-Bank in 1957. The Michigan Eye-Bank is a division of Midwest Eye-Banks, a 501(c)(3), independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight.
ANN ARBOR (HOST) LIONS SUPPORT LOCAL LIBRARY
June 3, 2008, ANN ARBOR, MI- Washtenaw County Librarian Margaret Wolf was presented with a $2,000 check from the Ann Arbor (Host) Lions Club on June 3, at the club’s bi-weekly meeting. The donation will be used to support programs at the Washtenaw County Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled (LBPD) that would not normally be within the library’s budget.
One program benefitting from this gift, entitled Many Ways of Seeing, pairs a University of Michigan student with a disabled library consumer to create works of art with clay. “It allows the participant to develop their artistic ability, while teaching the student a different perspective and form of expression,” said Wolf.
Library Board Member Donna DeButts was also present at the meeting and appreciative of the donation. “The success of the LBPD would not be possible without all hands on deck. Lion’s financial support makes it possible for us to put on these special programs,” said DeButts.
The Lions Club’s mission is to create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation. Funding for this donation was raised through the 2007 Ann Arbor (Host) Lions Club Annual Golf Benefit. This year’s event is scheduled for July 7, at the University of Michigan Golf Course.
Washtenaw County Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled (LBPD) is a public library that also loans books, magazines, and videos in alternative formats (recorded cassette, large print, Braille, descriptive video) to individuals in Jackson, Livingston, and Washtenaw Counties who are unable to read or use printed materials due to a physical disability (blindness, macular degeneration, paralysis, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, dyslexia, etc.).
ANN ARBOR COUNCIL OF LIONS SUPPORT VISIONS 2008
May 14, 2008, ANN ARBOR, MI- Honorary Lions Club member Elza Bryan and Lion George Williams were two of the many members of the Ann Arbor Council of Lions who answered questions and volunteered their time to assist those attending the Visions 2008 Fair. The Council consists of the Ann Arbor (Host), Ann Arbor Evening and Huron Valley Sunrise Lions Clubs. Elza suffers from macular degeneration and has benefitted from Lions’ service, “I always enjoy being with Lions Club members. They are very nice and help me clean up my yard every year.”
Approximately 1,000 attended the biannual event on May 14 at Washtenaw Community College. Over 50 exhibitors were present, offering both traditional and the most current technology for the blind and visually impaired.
“We’re here today not only to offer assistance, but also to let people know that we’re still here and need their support,” said First Vice President Richard Westbury of the Huron Valley Sunrise Lions Club. “Service clubs are going by the wayside. To continue serving as we did in the past, there is a great need for the next generation to step forward.”
Newsletters
Paws-N-Claws December 2007/January 2008
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