Our Charities
Here are some of the core programs the Lion's Clubs support
Leader Dog For The Blind
Founded in 1939 by Lions Club members, Charles Nutting, Don Schuur and S.A. Dodge, Leader Dogs for the Blind has operated one of the world’s most respected and innovative guide dog programs. The free, 25-day residential training program welcomes clients who are legally blind, at least 16 years old, have good orientation and mobility skills and are able to care for their dog. Their mission is to empower people who are blind or visually impaired with lifelong skills for safe and independent daily travel.
To learn more about their programs and services visit LeaderDog.org
Penrickton Center
Penrickton Center for Blind Children is a unique, private non-profit agency, providing five-day residential, day care, and consultation/evaluation services to blind, multi-disabled children ages one through twelve. Each program is individually designed to promote independence in all aspects of daily living. Penrickton Center utilizes its experience and expertise to train and serve families, children and professionals through support services, education and advocacy.
Beaumont Silent Children Fund
Beaumont's Center for Childhood Speech and Language Disorders was established in 1972 to help children with speech and language disorders learn to communicate. As one of the largest hospital-based children's speech and language centers in the United States, they provide a variety of specialty care programs for children with speech and language disorders such as:
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Developmental Aspasia
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Receptive language disorders
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Expressive language disorders
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Developmental apraxia
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Developmental dyspraxia
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Articulartion disorder
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Pragmatic disorders
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Stuttering
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Down syndrome
The Lions Clubs provide support for children in need through the Beaumont Silent Children's Speech Fund
Eversight Michigan
The Eversight Michigan was organized in 1957 as a joint project of the Ann Arbor Host Lions Club and the University of Michigan Medical Center. After many years of support by a group of dedicated Lions Clubs, the Eye-Bank as it was known as was accepted as a State Project of the Michigan Lions in 1971. In March 2015, the organization changed its name to Eversight to inspire even more people to support its work and re-energize its mission to preserve and restore sight.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
The primary objective of the Lions program is to reduce the number of new cases of blindness caused by diabetic retinopathy through diabetes education, early detection and treatment, and support of research. Lions are especially encouraged to conduct awareness activities during the month of November--Lions Diabetes Education Month.
Bear Lake Youth Camp for the Visually Impaired
The Lions Club's Bear Lake Camp has found a permanent home in Lapeer. The camp has moved three times since it was started in 1982 in Franklin. It moved to Altman, then to Oxford and finally to Lapeer. The camp can house up to 160 children and welcomes children who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, cancer patients and those with juvenile diabetes. They aspire to provide a premiere outdoor recreational/educational facility providing opportunities for people of special needs to enhance self-worth, attain independence, acquire social skills and realize their full potential as human beings.
Recycled for Sight Program
Used eyeglasses that are collected by Lions and other volunteers are recycled at one of ten Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers throughout the world. The used eyeglasses are cleaned, repaired and classified by prescription. The eyeglasses are then distributed to those in need by Lion volunteers and other organizations hosting optical missions in developing countries.
Please donate your used eyeglasses, sunglasses and hearing aids at:
Bloomfield Twp. Library
West Bloomfield Twp. Library
Lions All State Band
Each year from 1948 to 1977, a high school band was selected to represent the Lions of Michigan in the annual parade at their international convention. In 1978, an all-state band was organized to honor and play for an incoming Lions International President from Michigan. The Lions All State Band was created and has appeared annually at conventions thereafter.
Madonna: Deaf and Hearing Impaired
Since it's inception in 1976, Madonna University's Office of Disability Resources (O.D.R.) has assisted more than one thousand (1000) students with disabilities. The O.D.R. employs four full-time employees who work as a team to create the best possible learning environment for students with disabilities. They are sensitive to the needs of individual students and are also fluent in American Sign Language.
Lions Quest Program
A school-based, comprehensive, positive youth development and prevention programs that unite the home, school and community, to cultivate capable and healthy young people of strong character, through life skills, character education, SEL, civic values, drug prevention, and service-learning education.