Sightlines Newsletter

Thank you for your continued support! By supporting the Foundation in our mission to restore and preserve sight, you rescue thousands from a lifetime of blindness.

Vision Screening Changes the Lives of a Son and His Mother

The Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation recently received the following letter from a mother whose son was screened by our Children's Vision Screening (CVS) program:

"I enrolled my son, Xavier, at the Starshine Preschool in Independence, Mo. when he was 2. The concern of leaving Xavier with anyone other than family was a major issue.

Xavier was 'busy.' I never used the word 'hyper' and asked everyone that came in contact with Xavier to respect my concern with being 'labeled.' I am positive his teachers went home not wanting to return or hoping Xavier would not return. He was more than 'just a boy...'

JUNE 9

JULY 21

AUGUST 4-5

Board of Directors Meeting

9 a.m.
Stoney Creek Inn
Columbia, MO
All Lions members are invited to attend our board meetings. For more information, call 800-283-1982 or email pr@mlerf.org.

Missouri Lions All-Star Football Game

7 p.m.
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO
Come cheer on the Blue and Gold teams as graduating high school seniors play to raise funds for the Foundation!

Back-to-School Children's Vision Screening

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Sunday
Saint Louis Science Center
St. Louis, MO
The Foundation will host its biggest screening event of the year. To volunteer, contact Tamara Oberbeck at 573-777-8554.

Missouri Lions Clubs Help Save Sight for 2,555 Preschoolers

Thanks to some incredible volunteers, preschoolers across Missouri are better prepared for kindergarten this fall. In recognition of Lions Sight Week (LSW), May 6-12, volunteers from Missouri Lions Clubs partnered with the Foundation’s CVS program to provide free vision screenings to daycares and preschools.

The result – a record-breaking 2,555 children were screened in one week for a variety of vision problems, any of which could steal their eyesight and affect their ability to learn in school. See which clubs participated and learn how they changed lives right here in Missouri.

Foundation Receives Two Incredible Honors

Since 1995, the Foundation’s CVS program has screened 240,000 children across Missouri for the leading causes of vision loss. This spring, the program was recognized by two Missouri organizations.

On May 3, 2012, the CVS program was one of five St. Louis programs honored for Demonstrating Innovative Solutions at FOCUS St. Louis' What's Right with the Region! Awards. The award was accepted by our executive director, Dr. Ron Walkenbach, and Lion Becky Henderson, an active CVS volunteer whose husband, PDG Wayne Henderson, helped launch the program.

In addition, the Foundation received a two-year $75,000 Basic Support Grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. The grant will help cover salaries and supplies for the CVS program, helping expand free screenings statewide.

Missouri Lions Clubs

Take a look at what we're doing in your community! Review the monthly program stats for your Lions district and the top giving Lions Clubs for 7/1/11 - 5/31/12.

Are you curious to know how the Foundation has served individuals in your own community? Check out our MLERF Impact Maps to see recipient information for your district.

Each Thursday, the Foundation sends out CVS and Healthy Vision Screening (HVS) information for the next two weeks through the Lions Listserv. This is a simple way to find screenings in your area and to volunteer at an upcoming event. If you're not on the Listserv, please contact PDG J.Y. Miller at j.y.miller@sbcglobal.net to be added.