How the Lions Help
Interested in Becoming a Lion?
You can join the many kind, caring Lions in Hampton Roads who work together to help serve our community by giving the Gift of Sight.
The Lions Clubs International's mission is to empower Lions clubs, volunteers, and partners to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian services and grants that impact lives globally, and encourage peace and international understanding.
Head to this website for the Lions Clubs International to search for the contact information for the Lions Club closest to you!
The Lions Medical Eye Bank and Research Center of Eastern Virginia is proud to continue to partner with the Lions Clubs that helped established our organization in 1978. The monetary support from the Lions Clubs of District 24I continues to bolster our mission today.
Monetary assistance from local Lions Clubs has helped us restore the sight to thousands of individuals in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, across the United States, and throughout the world. Hampton Roads Lions also take an active hand in serving the Lions Medical Eye Bank as community representatives for tissue donation, board members, staff members, and even medical directors. Without the continued support and generosity of the Lions Clubs, we could not provide the precious gift of sight to thousands more in need.
Internationally, Lions Clubs have long championed eye banks as a key to restoring sight to the blind and nearly blind. At the 1925 Lions Club International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, Helen Keller herself addressed the crowd of dedicated community servants. During this address, Helen Keller challenged the Lions to “Be the knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” Since that pivotal moment in our history, Lions have founded eye banks around the globe, and established many successful initiatives with the goal of eradicating blindness. The crusade against darkness is continuous and today the Lions remain steadfast in their support of eye banking.
Contributions made by District 24-I Clubs to the Eye Bank help defray costs associated with donor awareness campaigns, tissue procurement and evaluation, donor blood testing, tissue processing and distribution, and maintenance of a state-of-the-art laboratory facility.
As the Lions Medical Eye Bank celebrates over forty years of operation we want to stress the importance of the role individual Lions and their Clubs play in promoting donor awareness as a way of insuring that those awaiting transplantation receive the best possible chance to have good vision. Lions are the key to your community’s understanding and acceptance of eye donation as a means to help others improve their lives.
Giving Back to Lions Clubs
Staff of the Lions Medical Eye Bank are available to speak to local Lions Clubs about eye donation and corneal transplantation. Please contact info@lionseyebank.org to coordinate with a staff member who can attend your next meeting.
Tours of the Lions Medical Eye Bank facilities are available to local Lions Clubs. Please contact info@lionseyebank.org for more details and to schedule a tour.