by Cassandra Rotolo February 1, 2019Diabetes: Lions Take on a Global Epidemic Diabetes: Lions Take on a Global Epidemic It’s an easy, 12-minute drive from Len Dompke’s suburban Chicago home to the local hospital. Yet, the first time Dompke made the drive, it was one of the hardest of his life. Making this drive meant recognizing and changing some unhealthy habits, which was not going to […] Continue Reading
by Jay Copp February 1, 2019‘Dogumentary’ Showcases Puppy RaisersThe King City Lions Club in Oregon welcomed a celebrity to one of their meetings: Potomac, a guide dog in training. Filmmakers were documenting his progress and the training of four other Labradors from Guide Dogs for the Blind, based in San Rafael, California. Potomac, lively and friendly, charmed the Lions, and the club declared […] Continue Reading
by Joan Cary February 1, 2019Beyond the CaneAccessible computers open up a whole new world for the blind Barry Carver will be the first to say he was just wasting time. He spent his days listening to audio books, had nowhere to go, and no hope for his future. But then the box from Computers for the Blind (CFTB) was delivered to […] Continue Reading
March 1, 2019We Speak for the TreesWith more than 1.4 million members, Lions have a powerful voice. And around the world, Lions are using that voice to raise awareness about climate change and mobilize. In 2011, then International President Wing-Kun Tam challenged Lions to plant 1 million trees. They responded by planting 15 million in every inhabited continent and have continued […] Continue Reading
March 1, 2019See You Later SeaweedSee You Later Seaweed On Saturday, November 17, 2018, more than 100 Hawaiian Leos, Lions, and friends partnered with the Malama Maunalua non-profit to pull nearly 6,000 pounds of invasive alien algae from Maunalua Bay in east Oahu. The seaweed, called gorilla orgo, out-competes native algae and coral leading to shifts in the ecosystem and […] Continue Reading
March 1, 2019Among the GiantsTaller than Cinderella’s castle, wider than a city street, the Sequoias of California are among the largest trees in the world and more than 3,000 years old. Every year about 200,000 people stroll in their shadows at the Calaveras Big Trees State Park in California, and roughly 8,000 children visit with school groups to learn […] Continue Reading
March 1, 2019What is a Tree Worth?You love it for the shade it gives, the way the fall color matches your front door, the limb that perfectly supports your baby’s swing. but what is it really worth? Location: Suburban Chicago, Illinois Species: Swamp White Oak Tree condition: Good (Healthy) Trunk Diameter: 25 inches Sun exposure: Full sun Value: US$215 per year […] Continue Reading
by Joan Cary March 1, 2019Planting the SeedLIONS INVEST IN THE FUTURE THROUGH EARLY EXPOSURE TO NATURE You don’t have to plant a forest to save the environment. Simply planting the seed for a love of nature in the younger generation may ensure they will grow to love and protect the natural world. NATURE IN EVERY NOOK Sarah Panganiban, the mother of […] Continue Reading
by Jamie Konigsfeld March 1, 2019Lions Celebrate 20 Years of SightFirst in MadagascarCataracts are the number one cause of blindness. Moved to change the reality for those affected, more than 20 years ago, Lions in Madagascar started a SightFirst project to address the issue. Since then, the Lions have gone on to do so much more. “When we see the smiles of the people we help, it […] Continue Reading
by Erin McIntyre March 1, 2019A Quiet VoiceIn a poster he created for a literacy class assignment, Mark Barniville shared all about himself, just like the teacher wanted. It was one of those get-to-know-you types of activities for the beginning of the year. He drew a bike, because he liked riding bikes. He advertised his love for steak and pizza, and wrote […] Continue Reading
March 1, 2019Free FruitThe Ngongotaha Lions Club in New Zealand has given a barren roadside a whole new purpose. In 2016 the club donated more than 400 fruit and native trees to the Rotorua Ngongotaha Rail Park. Lion Ross Thompson, organizer of the event, said funding from the city council enabled them to add fruit trees to the […] Continue Reading
March 1, 2019Showing up Big for RhinosThe Mafikeng Lions care about rhinos. And they want the world to care, too. While they celebrate World Rhino Day every year, this year they tried something special. They partnered with the International School of South Africa and recruited 780 staff, students, and Lions and Leos of the Mafikeng club to come together on the […] Continue Reading
May 1, 2019Food for ThoughtFood for Thought A Dade City, Florida resident leaves the Norma Godinez Education and Arts building with bags full of cereal, canned goods, and pasta. Dade City is home to a large population of farmworkers who work the fruit and vegetable fields that blanket the state’s interior. Farmworkers often work long hours picking food that […] Continue Reading
May 1, 2019LION Day Helps Beet DiabetesIn Dover, New York, the elementary school children have taste-tested everything from healthy mangoes to golden beets during their lunch time. At home their parents are being educated about combatting diabetes. It all started when The Town of Dover Lions Katie Pallmer-House and Patti Zangle were inspired by the Lion mantra “Think Global, Act Local” […] Continue Reading
May 1, 2019Paying Off Lunch Debt Pays Off Big for KidsFor some students their school lunch is the only meal they will get all day. In Minnesota’s Minnetonka School District the Excelsior Lions are looking out for those children, seeing to it that everyone gets the food they need, and no child has to feel singled out for being different. The Lions donated money to […] Continue Reading
May 1, 2019Helen Keller is back in the Texas school curriculumPast International President Jimmy Ross (2006-2007) and dozens of Lions in Texas put pen to paper protesting a proposed change to the Texas school curriculum that would eliminate Helen Keller from lesson plans. The preliminary decision by the Texas State Board of Education in September caused a stir among the public, and Lions spoke up […] Continue Reading
by Jay Copp June 1, 2019A High NoteSometimes Saving One Life Can Help Change Your Own His father calls him “cheeky and cheerful.” Jayden, 3, also is—in the best sense possible—a mimic of sorts. Often confined to a hospital bed while he battles cancer, he’s accustomed to being helped. But he’s learned to do unto others as has been done for him. […] Continue Reading
June 1, 2019Prickly PartnerPrickly Partner Fifth grade students enjoy a full day of outdoor learning and exploration in the Sonoran Desert at Camp Cooper in Tucson, Arizona. Thanks to the generosity of Camp Cooper and the South Tucson Cyber & Lions Club, school children get hands-on learning about how to live more lightly on the earth. Continue Reading
by Jamie Konigsfeld June 1, 2019Lions Quest Students Partner With Leos To Protect The EnvironmentGanesha is the Elephant God, the remover of obstacles, the patron saint of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As no Hindu event starts without first invoking Ganesha, Lions Quest students and Leos find great importance in finding a way to honor Ganesha, and in an environmentally friendly way. Every year […] Continue Reading
by Aneeta Brown June 1, 2019CenterpieceCommunity Builds Life Around Lion-Built Lake Lions in their natural habitat sleep a lot. And they don’t like water. However, members of the Washington Lions Club in Missouri seldom nap. And they like water so much that they built an 11-acre lake and gave it to the city. The club is celebrating its 80th anniversary […] Continue Reading
by Joan Cary June 1, 2019Bigger Than MePartnerships often mean the difference between a fleeting project and a lasting legacy. Don’t Let this Die People come and go. They change their priorities or get pulled away for one reason or another. They get sick. They get old. At some point, they pass away. It is a hard truth of life. Individuals are […] Continue Reading
June 1, 2019Feeding a Lot of Hungry PeopleThe project was initiated by PID Vic Cheng Yong in partnership with the Filipino Chinese Lions Foundation and ATM Chain Foundation of China with the Quezon City Katarungan Central Lions Club and cost approximately US$76,000. It is the biggest project so far held by the Philippine Lions. The ATM Chain Foundation of China donated funds […] Continue Reading
June 1, 2019Guide Dogs Lead Marathon Runner Across Finish LineRunner Thomas Panek made history on March 17, 2019 after becoming the first blind person to run in the United Airlines New York City Half Marathon without a human guide. Panek, the president and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, ran with three Labrador retrievers that took turns in guiding him as he completed […] Continue Reading
by Jamie Konigsfeld July 1, 2019Sight for Kids, a Powerful PartnershipSight for Kids, a Powerful Partnership Ben was 3 years old. He should have felt happy, inquisitive, and brave. Instead, he always seemed to have an angry expression on his face. He rarely smiled. In addition, he had delayed motor skills and difficulty walking; he would frequently run into things. He was frustrated and expressed […] Continue Reading
by Joan Cary September 1, 2019Growing Up Green Fourth graders become foresters In the butterfly garden at Wescott Elementary School near Chicago, fourth graders cheered as they planted a 3-foot-tall tree for Arbor Day, gladly crawling on their knees to press dirt around the roots and make it secure. The Norway spruce wasn’t just any tree. Just like the saplings that the […] Continue Reading
September 1, 2019Back to the RootsEight years after a catastrophic Category 5 tornado levelled Irving Elementary in Joplin, Missouri, the school is rebuilt and looking better than ever, thanks to Lions, Leos, and LCIF working together. The Missouri Lions of District M6 and the Carl Junction Leos Club joined forces and went “Back to the Roots” for Earth Day, working […] Continue Reading
by Erin Kasdin September 22, 2019Mending the Social FabricAcross the country people of low socioeconomic status live shorter, sicker lives. But it isn’t that poor people have worse habits than healthy people. It’s that we’ve created environments that are so stressful it alters their genetic code. Continue Reading
October 1, 2019Blood Sugar on the BrainLION DR. MARCO SONGINI INVESTIGATES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DIABETES AND BRAIN HEALTH When we talk about diabetes, we typically talk about two versions of the condition: Type 1 or Type 2. It’s important to distinguish between the two, because the type determines the treatment. But what if there’s a new type of diabetes — one […] Continue Reading
by Kristine Levine October 1, 2019What childhood hunger taught me about generosityWhat childhood hunger taught me about generosity I was five years old when my mom took off with me to the coast. She said she needed a do-over. We were starting fresh, with no belongings, no toys, no furniture. She said we had empty hands so that we could catch new blessings. We also had […] Continue Reading
by Joan Cary October 1, 2019Summer of LunchesOn a hot July morning in the Allegheny Mountains, 15 volunteers are busy in a church kitchen, slicing cucumbers, washing apples, making and bagging and counting sandwiches – a labor of love that’s only complete when 200 healthy sack lunches have been handed one-on-one to the kids in their community. But even then the job’s […] Continue Reading
October 1, 2019Lions See a Need in VirginiaIn Williamsburg, Virginia, patients in need of eye care were often just that: in need. Without an eye clinic in town, they were referred to local practices, and because many of the people do not have their own transportation, the no-show rate for referrals was high. Patients had to wait several weeks to a few […] Continue Reading
by Joan Cary October 1, 2019Growing in the DarkLion Floyd Poruban proves life flourishes in all kinds of conditions “WELL , HOW DID YOU DO IT ?” “It’s easy,” Floyd Poruban said to his doubting professor. “One has a sticky flower and one has a dry flower.” A horticulture student at The Ohio State University (OSU), Poruban had been assigned to distinguish between […] Continue Reading
by Jamie Konigsfeld October 1, 2019KidSight Program Expands to Change Lives in ColombiaEsteban had never had his vision screened before. He had never seen those strange devices, but the Lions who brought them made him feel safe. He and his schoolmates lined up for vision testing, then followed the simple instructions: Look straight ahead and find the little bunny on the front of the machine. Esteban’s world […] Continue Reading
October 1, 2019LEGO Braille Bricks Put Inclusive Play at Your FingertipsNow parents of blind and visually impaired children will also need to watch their step: a new kind of LEGO brick is set for release in 2020. The Lego Group, the Danish toy company that makes the popular building block, has repurposed their hallmark knobs into braille dots. “With thousands of audiobooks and computer programs […] Continue Reading
by Jacob Granneman December 1, 2019Cleanup CrewThe Camas Lions Club in Washougal, Washington, is building community partnerships with the goal of taking on unfulfilled needs in Camas and Washougal. They’re starting by serving those who serve at the beloved Inter-Faith Treasure House. On Saturday, August 17, Lions came together to address several yard work issues at the house, and worked with […] Continue Reading
by Jamie Konigsfeld December 1, 2019SightFirst Gives New Life to People in Burkina FasoSightFirst Gives New Life to People in Burkina Faso LCIF’s SightFirst program has been restoring and protecting sight for almost 30 years and is now present in 102 countries. This extraordinary program develops comprehensive eye care systems providing aid to underserved populations by developing comprehensive eye care systems. Projects include training eye care professionals and […] Continue Reading
January 1, 2020Lights, Camera, Action Heroes!Children fighting cancer in Germany show off their inner superheroes thanks to Braunschweig Lions Club. Read story now. Continue Reading
by Jamie Konigsfeld January 1, 2020A Blueberry Orchard for GenerationsAn Empty Space Next door to the Albany Victory Gardens in Albany, New York, were unsightly, deserted lots. There were homes on the land that were previously declared uninhabitable, so they sat empty, dangerous, and unbeneficial to the environment. Lion Gregory Sheldon envisioned a better use for this land. He partnered with Albany Victory Gardens, […] Continue Reading
by Joan Cary January 1, 2020This Old HouseWhen this young couple’s dream home wasn’t safe for their son, Lions stepped in – and brought their tool belts. Jay and Veronika McHugh had hundreds of people living around them but knew none of them. Their busy city life in Ottawa, Ontario, left them longing for a tighter knit community where they could own […] Continue Reading
by Jamie Konigsfeld January 1, 2020Clearing Clouded Vision in VanuatuClerence has battled diabetes since she was a baby. Unable to afford medical care, she developed cataracts which seriously impaired her vision. She lives in the gorgeous archipelago nation of Vanuatu, home to lush rainforests, soft sand beaches, and surrounded by turquoise water; however, the 23-year-old woman could no longer see its beauty. In Clerence’s […] Continue Reading
January 1, 2020Super KidsLions in Germany believe life should have as many magical moments as possible. Those moments can help keep courage up and hope alive in difficult times. And that’s exactly what the Braunschweig Lions Club wanted to do for a total of nine children at the Braunschweig Pediatric Cancer ward (K5). They launched the project “Our […] Continue Reading
March 1, 2020Leos Feed into Helping Those Living with HIV/AIDSThe Coppell High School Leo Club in Texas reached out to seven non-profit organizations in their quest to find a community project. What they chose proved that a little kindness and conversation over a warm, home-cooked meal can go a long way. On five occasions the Coppell Leos AIDS Supper Club in partnership with AIDS […] Continue Reading
by Sam Harnett And Chris Hoff April 1, 2020The Waggle DanceAerial Gilbert can tell a lot about her bees just by listening. She has three beehives on her back patio in Petaluma, California. “I can hear how the bees are behaving — if they’re agitated, if there are other bees trying to get in the hive, or if it’s too crowded or too hot or […] Continue Reading
by Erin Kasdin April 1, 2020The World According to SoundThis one-hour live show puts the listener in the dark Have you ever heard the hum of a giraffe? Did you even know they make sounds? Until recently, scientists didn’t either. It was assumed that their 13-foot long necks were too long to produce sufficient air flow to vibrate their vocal chords and produce noise. […] Continue Reading
April 1, 2020Potawatomie Wildlife ParkVISITORS FIND PEACE IN THIS REFUGE FOR ENDANGERED PLANTS AND ANIMALS At the Potawatomie Wildlife Park, a small not-for-profit natural sanctuary for plants and animals in northern Indiana, the bells and whistles of a larger park are gladly traded for the peace and serenity of nature. From the woodlands, wetlands, ponds, and prairie, visitors might […] Continue Reading
by Joan Cary April 1, 2020The Bird ArtistIn early spring, sometimes as early as the first cold mornings of March, Jeff Klinefelter will rouse before daybreak and drive out to his pond to get in place before the migrating ducks or other birds light on the water or the woodland edge. Continue Reading
April 1, 2020Lions Solve a Food Scarcity ProblemWhen the only grocery store for miles closed in the small town of Tionesta, Pa., residents found themselves in a food desert. It seems hard to believe on the banks of the Allegheny River, along the lush Allegheny National Forest, but getting healthy food meant driving to towns 30 to 45 minutes away on hilly […] Continue Reading
April 1, 2020Taking Care of the EarthAs the world honors the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the environmentally conscious Lions of Bowie, Maryland, have their own big numbers to celebrate. The Lions will hit the 500 mark on rain barrel sales this spring, having sold the recycled plastic 55-gallon barrels since starting the project in 2010. And on April 18, they […] Continue Reading
April 1, 2020After Flooding, the Revival of an EcosystemIn the aftermath, the city of Fargo purchased the land (and homes) in the floodplain. The homes were razed and the area was banned from development. Jane Pettinger, a Lion who lives in Fargo, not far from the River, says the area was in limbo. The homes had been torn down, but the landscaping and […] Continue Reading
April 1, 202050th Anniversary of Earth DayApril 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Established in 1970, the first Earth Day mobilized 20 million Americans and is credited with launching the modern environmental movement. It is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event and has led to many landmark environmental laws. In 2016, the United Nations chose Earth […] Continue Reading