LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION (LCIF)

Every day, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) works to fulfill our mission: "To support the efforts of Lions clubs worldwide in serving their local communities and the world community as they carry out essential humanitarian service projects."

Since our founding in 1968 we have strived to sustain Lions’ humanitarian service goals throughout the world, awarding over 12,000 grants totaling more than US$900 million, in the four key areas of sight, youth, disaster relief and other humanitarian efforts.

We give sight. LCIF is providing vision for those in need all over the world by combating eye diseases, creating infrastructure to improve eye care delivery, increasing the number of trained eye care professionals and making vision care more equitable and sustainable.

We support youth. All young people deserve to have an education, feel cared for and experience healthy development so they can have the chance to achieve their dreams. Through our positive youth development program, Lions Quest, LCIF is helping children learn to work together, make positive decisions and serve their communities. The Foundation also supports youth through constructing schools, youth centers and vocational training centers.

We provide disaster relief. Lions are often some of the first to arrive at a disaster to provide relief, and Foundation support is right there with them. We help devastated communities survive after disasters and bring hope by assisting in long-term efforts of rebuilding of homes and lives.

We address humanitarian needs. From working to combat global health issues such as measles and diabetes to empowering those with disabilities to lead more independent and fulfilling lives, LCIF is dedicated to a range of humanitarian service projects. The Foundation continues to develop and expand programs that meet emerging needs worldwide.

Through collaborations with non profit partners, LCIF leverages its resources and accomplishes much more than we could on our own. Major collaborative partners are:

Alcon provides Lions working with SightFirst projects in Latin America the opportunity to purchase low-cost, high-quality phacoemulsification consumables. Alcon also provides in-kind services in Colombia by providing free phaco equipment for cataract surgeries.

LCIF has awarded The Carter Center more than US$40 million (and other non-profits US$5.5 million) to prevent onchocerciasis or "river blindness" in Latin America and Africa. So far, close to 148 million treatments of Mectizan® have been delivered. The eradication of the disease in Latin America is within reach. LCIF is also partnering with The Carter Center to battle trachoma in two African nations. Pfizer, Inc. provides in-kind support for trachoma control programs as well.

The Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes Program began 2001. Since the program's inception, more than 350,000 athletes have been screened with prescription eyewear provided to more than 110,000 athletes. To date, LCIF has awarded more than US$13.3 million to Special Olympics for the Opening Eyes program, and pledged US$7.8 million in 2013 to expand the partnership for five years.

LCIF is partnering with the World Health Organization on the Project for the Elimination of Avoidable Childhood Blindness. LCIF has given more than US$7 million in SightFirst grant funding to establish 34 needs-based Lions eye care centers in countries all over the globe, aimed especially at delivering preventative, therapeutic, and rehabilitative eye care services for 121 million children. Phase II of the project, which began in 2011, supported 16 additional centers.

Corporate, NGO and Government Partners

LCIF is grateful for the generosity of our corporate, non-governmental and government partners. They share not just funds but a spirit of humanitarianism and a dedication to improve the lives of those in need. Thanks to these partners, LCIF has been able to expand programs, establish new initiatives and extend our services to others. Major partners are:

The Bausch + Lomb is partnering with LCIF to develop the Pediatric Cataract Initiative. In the pilot year of the program, Bausch + Lomb has granted US$350,000 to LCIF to screen and treat children in China as well as for research programs that will help fight pediatric cataract and prevent childhood blindness. Bausch + Lomb has committed an additional US$350,000 to continue this program for another year.

To support a Lions-Measles pilot program in four African countries, theGates Foundation awarded LCIF a grant for US$400,000. LCIF is providing an additional US$300,000 and Lions are managing and implementing the projects. In supporting the pilot program, Lions join the Measles Initiative, a worldwide effort. The partnership helped vaccinate 41 million children.

The Hilton Foundation is giving US$150,000 for the Lions' health education activities in Mali and Niger as part of the West African Water Initiative. The five-year grant helps Lions mobilize political will, increase the effectiveness of health education and enhance trachoma control activities.

Essilor will work with Lions to identify institutions in areas with significant blindness prevention needs and a lack of URE services. Essilor will supply lenses and lab equipment at cost, assist in training Lions volunteers on how to make new glasses, help secure frame vendors and find customers to purchase recycled materials from Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers.

Partnering with the First Response Team of America to rebuild homes, Lions helped to clear debris from 45 home sites after a tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, destroying 7,500 homes and displacing 50,000 people.

The Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth (JASDFW) donated US$100,000 to LCIF to assist ongoing disaster relief efforts in Sendai, Japan, after the earthquake and tsunami. The donation is helping to support Sendai Lions clubs’ immediate, medium- and long-term relief projects.

Johnson & Johnson has committed US$2 million to help fund Sight for Kids screenings for 17 milli