Saving Seniors From Vision Loss for 30 Years

It's a gradual and painless disease that slowly steals the sight of its victim, which once lost, can never be regained. Each year, more than 46,000 Missourians suffer from glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness, but only half know they are afflicted.

Since 1981, the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation has provided free glaucoma screenings to 30,000 Missourians. During National Glaucoma Awareness Month this January, the Foundation encourages you to learn more about the disease and find a free glaucoma screening in your area.

Donate Life Float Celebrated at Rose Parade

Heartland Lions Eye Banks is honored to have placed 15 roses on the Donate Life Rose Parade float, Seize the Day!, in recognition of our cornea recipients and eye donors. We're also excited to share that Seize the Day! was named the winner of the 2011 Tournament of Roses Theme Trophy!

Check out the float photos on the Donate Life Float Facebook page and learn more about our 15 honorees.

Lions Clubs' Donations Help Children in Need

The Foundation's Children's Vision Screening program screens children for the leading causes of blindness. However, we identified that Greene County in Southwest Missouri was an area in which the need was not being met - only 4% of children under age 5 were being screened in comparison to 7% in the rest of Missouri.

Thanks to two generous donations from the Branson-Hollister and Freistatt Lions Clubs, we now have the equipment needed to help reach our goal of screening 6,500 Southwest Missouri children in 2010/2011!

Check Out the New Kansas Donor Registry!

Need an easy-to-keep New Year's resolution? Make 2011 the year you pledge to become an eye, organ and tissue donor in the state of Kansas!

In November 2010, Eye Bank partner, Midwest Transplant Network, launched www.donatelifekansas.com, the state's new first-person consent registry, as well as a public relations campaign - Live It. Give It. Life.

By registering as a donor through the site or when renewing or obtaining a driver's license, you can ensure that your pledge is legally binding and your family doesn't have to make the final decision regarding your donation wishes.

Visit www.hleb.org to meet the cornea recipients whose lives have been changed thanks to the miracle of eye donation.

Two newspapers recently ran articles on Thomas Klinginsmith, one of our donors on the Donate Life Rose Parade -The Carthage Press and The Joplin Globe.

In addition, the Washington Missourian wrote an article on donor honoree Thomas Coons.

KOMU in Columbia interviewed Tamara Oberbeck, vision screening program manager, about National Glaucoma Awareness Month and our free glaucoma screenings.

National Glaucoma Awareness Month
January 1-31, 2011
Did you know glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in adults? Learn how you can reduce your risk and find free screenings in your area!

HLEB Donor Drive & Glaucoma Screening Event
January 28, 2011
10801 Pear Tree Dr.
St. Ann, MO 63074
Stop by the Eye Bank's St. Louis branch to join the Missouri organ donor registry, meet the staff and get a free vision screening.

Foundation Board of Directors Meeting
April 2, 2010, 9 a.m.
MLERF Library
404 Portland St.
Columbia, MO 65201

As a reminder, if your club is having an upcoming event to help support the Foundation, please let us know. We'd be happy to promote it through our website, Facebook and Twitter!

If you would like to volunteer at an upcoming screening event, be sure to sign up through our Sight Ambassador page.

Take a look at what we're doing in your community! Review the monthly program stats for your Lions district.

Top Giving Lions Clubs for 7/1/10 - 12/31/10