March is National Eye Donor Month

National Eye Donor Month is an excellent opportunity to tell others about your choice to be an eye donor. This month, learn more about eye donation at www.hleb.org/hero, and speak with your family and friends about your decision to donate. If you haven’t yet, pledge to be an eye, organ, and tissue donor on your state’s donor registry at www.donatelife.net.

The most important thing we can do to ensure our wishes are carried out is to make them known to our loved ones and the state donor registry, just like Danial did. Read more about this young man's remarkable story and the legacy he left by choosing life at every opportunity.

Eye Care Assistance: Supporting Independence in Missouri

Edwin of Springfield, MO lost much of his sight to a detached retina and cataracts, and subsequently, he lost his job. He needed his vision to return to his career in computers, but he didn’t have insurance or the means to pay for surgery. Thankfully, Edwin found the Eye Care Assistance program.

Edwin met the Foundation's guidelines for assistance, and within six weeks of submitting his application, he received the sight-saving surgery needed to remove cataracts in both eyes and implant a lens to correct nearsightedness. “If the Eye Care Assistance program wasn’t available, I would be at risk of losing my eyesight forever," Edwin said. "The Foundation’s support was awesome!” Today, Edwin has returned to a new position in the IT industry and enjoys the independence afforded by his improved eyesight.

You can support the Eye Care Assistance program and help hardworking Missourians like Edwin who need sight-saving surgery. At www.mlerf.org/give, you can join the Circle of Sight or sign up for a recurring monthly gift. You can also contact our development department at 800-283-1982 to coordinate your donation.

The Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation believes no Missourians should suffer from vision loss because they are unable to afford medical treatment.

In Your Community

April 9		April 11
St. John Hospital Donation Awareness Tuesday, April 9, 2013 Day & Night Shifts (exact time TBD) 3500 S. 4th St. Leavenworth, KS 66048 Heartland Lions Eye Banks will partner with Midwest Transplant Network to provide on-site education and publicity to staff and the general public through games and giveaways. See what else we've planned for National Donate Life Month at the HLEB Events Calendar.		Donate Life Day at the MO State Capitol Thursday, April 11, 2013 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 201 W. Capitol Ave. Jefferson City, MO 65101 Heartland Lions Eye Banks is proud to join Donate Life Missouri and the Governor's Organ Donation Advisory Committee for Donate Life Day in the Missouri State Capitol rotunda. This annual event, held in honor of National Donate Life Month, includes a donor registration drive and information about eye, organ, and tissue donation.
April 15-20		April 19
Lions Sight Week Monday, April 15 to Saturday, April 20, 2013 Lions club locations across Missouri This week-long observance celebrates the Missouri Lions' support of our sight restoration and preservation programs and honors their generous volunteerism. Learn how your club can be a part of this year's community service achievements by visiting the Lions Sight Week web page.		National Blue & Green Day Friday, April 19, 2013 All Day Everywhere! Show your support of eye, organ, and tissue donation by wearing blue and green today. Then take a picture of your Donate Life colors and upload it to the Donate Life America Facebook page from Friday, April 19 through 11:59pm on Sunday, April 21 to participate in this year's blue & green photo contest. Winners from five categories will win $100 gift cards.