Drive for Vision Golf A fund raising event that directly benefits the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) and Cherry Street Health Services Vision Program. This year the Grand Rapids Lions in conjunction with our sponsors, Grand Rapids Ophthalmology and Art Optical, raised over $31,000 to fund many programs to aid the visually impaired as well as the under-served in our community.  A fun event for golfers while supporting a very worthwhile cause.
Drive For Vision Pictures 2008

Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) The mission of the Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (ABVI) is to advance the independence of people who are blind or visually impaired and help prevent vision loss through services and education. ABVI teaches those who are visually impaired new ways to manage their daily lives, so that they can enjoy life and become more self-sufficient. Founded in 1913, ABVI serves thirteen counties in West Michigan.

Cherry Street Health Services The Grand Rapids Lions provide funding for the Vision Program that focuses on providing eye exams and glasses for the under-served of Grand Rapids.  Grand Rapids Ophthalmology provides the frames and lenses at cost and this year about 500 individuals will be accommodated.  Still we estimate that about 15,000 area individuals need glasses but cannot afford them.

Eyeglass Drop-Off The Grand Rapids Lions wants your old eyeglasses.  Your glasses can be dropped off at a variety of locations around town.  To read about where your glasses will be used, please take note of the Central American Vision Mission link.

Blind Dinner Date This annual fundraising dinner event allows the Grand Rapids Lions to highlight local programs and people that help children who live with vision loss.  All monies raised benefit: 
Cherry Street Health Services Vision Clinic, Early vision program for children at Ken-O-Sha, Youth programs at the Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Welcome Homes outreach program,  Grand Rapids Lions Community Foundation.  The event has grown each year.  Most recently, $20,000 was raised and distributed to the charities.
Blind Dinner Date Award Recipients and Pictures

Central American Vision Mission Each year, Lions collect used eyeglasses throughout the area.  The glasses are cleaned, prescriptions read and they are packed.  Lions travel to Central America and set up shop to examine and prescribe glasses for the disadvantaged in various countries.  Each year we dispense between 3000-4000 pairs of glasses to restore good sight to many in need.

Michigan Eye Bank & Transplantation Center Each year in Michigan, about 1500 corneal transplants are done while many wait due to the lack of sufficient donors.  Grand Rapids Lions travel West Michigan spreading the word about the benefits of Organ Donation including corneal gifts.  Our club also contributes financially to the Eye Bank supporting Research Grant Programs involving initial research about the causes and prevention of blinding eye disease.
"Buddy Day" is a partnership between the Secretary of State, the Gift of Life and the Michigan Eye-Bank for which the Lions volunteer.

Leader Dog for the Blind Located in Rochester, Michigan, this unique school trains more than 275 leader dogs each year and carefully matches each blind candidate to that special faithful companion that helps return each person to a life of increased mobility. The Grand Rapids Lions lead a statewide Lion fund raising effort that has provided over $250,000 to the Leader Dog program over the last few years.

High School Student Recognition About May 1st of each year, the Grand Rapids Lions provides a recognition award to two high school students from each of the five GR public high schools, the two Catholic high schools, the Christian high school and East Grand Rapids high school. The award recipients are selected by their respective principal and their guidance counselors. Awards are given for a combination of academic, athletic and community service excellence. The students, their principal and the top administrators of Kent County schools join the Lions for a special luncheon for lots of recognition, photo ops and awards.
High School Recognition Pictures

Sports & Activity Day In support of, and with grants from, the Children’s Miracle Network and DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids Lions help visually impaired youngsters have an active day of sports activity. Everyone wins a medal and dozens of visually impaired kids smile and warm the hearts of everyone involved.  
This event occurs outside as well as in the school gymnasium. The Lions have been involved in this from the beginning and organize the food distribution, drinks refreshments, barbecue lunch etc.
Sports Day Pictures

Lions White Cane Each year Lions take to the street corners in downtown Grand Rapids to collect money from passers by. This year over $5000 was contributed by the generous people in our town. The proceeds were used to fund programs for visually and neuro-visually impaired children at Ken-O-Sha School in Grand Rapids.
White Cane Day Pictures

Children's Christmas Shopping In cooperation with Meijer-Cascade, the Lions help disadvantaged youngsters do some Christmas shopping for their family. Each participating child is given a budgeted amount of spending money and then they are assisted by a Lion as they shop. Santa attends this event and spreads some cheer while Lions help the kids wrap their loving purchases. Breakfast is also provided and the Christmas spirit touches all.

Habitat for Humanity In July and August of 2001, the Lions built a Habitat Home on Grand Rapids NW side for a very deserving family. Major funding came in the form of a grant from the Lions International Foundation and was supplemented with financial support from the Grand Rapids Lions. Over 100 volunteers from the Lions as well as our family and friends, worked very hard six days a week throughout the two month period to complete the house. This home is one of 20 built this year by Kent County Habitat for Humanity.

Lions Rose Day A fund raising event, Rose Day is conducted in an 11 county area in southwestern Michigan. Lions team up to sell the roses and then on a Friday and Saturday, put on our delivery hats to place the flowers in the hands of an often surprised individual. It is so rewarding to see the smiles on the face of the recipient. "You've made my day" is an often heard reaction on delivery day.
Rose Day Pictures

Welcome Homes Founded in 1952, Welcome Homes served as the only residential facility in Michigan serving visually impaired retirees. In 1967 with the financial and leadership support of the Grand Rapids Lions, a new residential facility was built that tripled the capacity of this home.  Over time, this building was in need of replacement.  In response, it was decided that a more modern solution was needed, one that would allow the blind and visually impaired to remain closer to their home communities.  Welcome Homes is now a membership program for residential living centers wishing to provide specialized care for individuals dealing with varying stages of vision loss.