LCIF and Lions are Making the World a Better Place

Dear Lions,   We have seen many amazing advancements throughout our lives. We have walked on the moon, we have phones that guide us when we are lost and we have robots that perform intricate surgeries. Yet, we still see hundreds of children die every single day from a vaccine-preventable disease.   Measles is a highly contagious disease. Those that survive are often left with serious complications, including brain damage, hearing loss and blindness. Too many children are lost to a disease that we can prevent. For about US$1, a simple vaccine provides immunity against measles. That is why we Lions committed to raising US$30 million for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, by 2017. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) will match our contributions, for a total of up to US$60 million mobilized for the fight against measles.   Over the next year, we will need to raise approximately US$10 million to fulfill our promise to the world’s children. I am asking each and every Lion to renew your dedication to the fight against this deadly disease. Together, we have vaccinated millions of children. But the work is not done and we cannot rest until it is. Please make a donation today to LCIF’s measles fund so that no more families have to endure the heartbreaking loss of a child to measles.   Sincerely,   Dr. Jitsuhiro Yamada Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation Lions Quest Proven Effective for Drug Prevention Lions Quest recently concluded a pilot program in Serbia, Macedonia (FYROM) and Montenegro. The results from that pilot show that Lions Quest was significantly effective in preventing the use of marijuana, alcohol and tobacco among youth. These results were presented at the European Union Society for Prevention Research, which helps to position LCIF and Lions Quest as thought leaders in the social-emotional learning field. Watch this video to see how Lions Quest has impacted students and teachers in Montenegro. Guatemala has Eliminated River Blindness Guatemala’s minister of health recently announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially verified the elimination of onchocerciasis from Guatemala. Guatemala is now the fourth country in the Americas to be verified free of this disease, after Colombia (2013), Ecuador (2014), and Mexico (2015). LCIF congratulates the people and government of Guatemala, The Carter Center’s Onchocerciasis Elimination Program for the Americas (OEPA), and many devoted Lions on this monumental achievement! Disaster Relief In times of crisis, like the recent earthquake in Italy, Lions are often among the first to offer critical supplies of food, water, temporary shelter, and clothing. LCIF is right there beside them, ready to support their efforts with fundraising assistance through disaster relief grant programs. Your generous donations to LCIF enable us to respond swiftly wherever and wherever the need exists. Please make a donation to LCIF’s disaster fund today so that we may continue to provide help and hope to those who need it most. Lions Clubs International & LCIF | 300 W. 22nd St. | Oak Brook, IL | 60523 | USA