Local people with a concern for helping others are the people who join the Lions Club.
2011-2012 Club President Anne Fahning (716) 440-0841 Membership Chairman Al Ackerman (716) 773-2699
Mission: "We Serve" is the Lions' Motto. The mission of the Grand Island Lions Club is to help those in need in our community with special emphasis on the vision and hearing impaired, and children with disabilities. Major fundraisers include a spaghetti dinner in the spring and a "White Cane" drive in August. Our major event is the "Special Kids Picnic" in July when over one thousand special needs children from the Erie-Niagara area are treated to a picnic that includes a lunch along with boat rides, pony rides, and other entertainment. We also perform MTI Photo-screening of children's eyes (for early detection of eye disease) coordinated through the local school systems. In addition we collect eyeglasses and hearing aids for the disadvantaged and have a "loan closet" for distribution of walkers, wheelchairs and other durable goods. Our Club is also active in a number of drives both locally and internationally to help the vision impaired. Our Club also recognizes the importance of youth in our community. We participate annually in a Peace Poster Contest, which encourages our middle-school age children to creatively express their concept of world peace. We award scholarships to high school graduates, based on their community involvement, scholastic achievements and other criteria.
Special Kids Picnic 2011
On July 20 at the Buffalo Launch Club grounds over 750 children and staff were treated to boat rides, pony rides, Shriner Mini Kar rides, magicians, clowns, face painting, popcorn, soda, hot dogs and hamburgers. The Niagara Experience Players, a group of young people from Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda, entertained the children with singing and dancing. Over 110 volunteers from the Grand Island, Ransomville, Kenmore, Merritton Ontario Lions Clubs teamed with Excalibur Leisure Skills, private boat owners, Knights of Columbus, Grand Island High School cheerleaders and football team as well as Girl Scout Troop 39 and Boy Scout Troop 104 and community citizens worked to make the day a special summer experience for kids with special needs. Participating schools were Erie 1 BOCES, Niagara Orleans BOCES, Autistic Services, and Heritage Education Centers, Sweet Home School, People Inc, and the Health association of Niagara County Day Camp.
Lions Join the Ride for Roswell The Grand Island Lions Club will be participating in the Ride for Roswell-Grand Island on August 21st. The Ride supports our world renowned Cancer Institute and helps raise money for cancer research. Anyone who would like to join our Lions Club Team can sign up here: http://giving.roswellpark.org/page.aspx?pid=1205. Once you register you can choose "Grand Island Lions Club" as your team.
Lions donate $75,000 for Miracle League! The Grand Island Lions Club has been working with Miracle League of Grand Island and Western New York for the last six months helping with fundraising, submitting grants and getting other Lions Clubs involved with Miracle League. We now report our grant application to Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/lci-foundation/index.php has been fully funded. Because the $75,000 requires matching funds, the Grand Island Lions Club has been working together with Miracle League with various fundraisers. In addition, Other Lions Clubs in the District are participating. The Lancaster Lions have co-sponsored the grant application while the Amherst Lions donated $1000 from a recent pancake breakfast fundraiser. Lions District 20N, of which the Grand Island Lions is a member, also donated $1000. Our Grand Island Club also has three smaller grants that will be submitted to help Miracle League.
Lions Club District 20N Governor Gary Carini presents a check for $75,000 to Teresa Hooper, President of Miracle League of Grand Island and Western New York. Also present 2nd from left Grand Island Lions 2nd Vice President Tom Witkowski, President Dave Chervinsky, and Grand Island Lions and Miracle League member Mike Steinagel.
Lions Journey For Sight - April 2009
The Lions Clubs of Western New York is hosting the 20th anniversary of the Lions Journey For Sight on Saturday, April 25, at Tuscarora State Park, 3371 Lake Road (Route 18), in Wilson, NY. Registration begins at 10 a.m. with the walk underway at 11 a.m. The Walk is from 0 to 4 miles with a route suitable for any age or physical ability. Entertainment will be provided by the Niagara Experience Players and the Strawberry Festival Idol winners. There will be free food and refreshments for the fee of just $5.00. If a commemorative tee shirt is wanted, fee is $15.00. All information is available on line at www.20nlions.org or call 773-4437. Beneficiaries are Canine Helpers for the Handicapped, Niagara County food pantries, Vision Beyond Sight, SEE Program, and Lions Camp Badger. This event is being promoted by the Grand Island Lions Club.
2009 Grand Island Lions Spaghetti Dinner is a Huge Success!
On Monday March 30th the Grand Island Lions had their 39th annual Spaghetti Dinner at the Grand Island Holliday Inn. The event, thanks to the tremendous participation from our Grand Island community, was a resounding success and raised money for the "Special Kids Picnic" to be held on July 15th at the Buffalo Launch Club.
Lions Sight Night (Halloween) October 31st 2008 The Grand Island Lions, with the help of children from the community, volunteer each year to collect eyeglasses and hearing aids, and recycle them to help the disadvantaged around the world to see and hear again. If you would like to volunteer or for more information Click Here ________________________________________________________
Campaign Sight First II The Lions are in the midst of Campaign SightFirst II, a global initiative to raise $200 million for our blindness prevention and sight retention efforts around the world. Thirty-seven million people are blind with 80% losing their vision needlessly. With current growth, 41 million more individuals will lose their sight by 2020. We have pledged not to allow this to happen. Eleven adults and one child lose their sight forever every minute. Please help us in this cause - every donation will be welcomed! For more information about The Grand Island Lions contribution to Campaign Sight First II and how you can help, call (716) 773-4437, or email at liontom20n@roadrunner.com.
Lions Club Spaghetti Dinner - April 2008 The Lions Club's 38th Annual Spaghetti Dinner will take place at the Holiday Inn Ballroom from 5-8 p.m. Monday, April 14th 2008. This major Lions fundraiser supports the annual Special Kids Picnic at the Bufalo Launch Club. Cost of the dinners are Adults/$7.00, Childern 5 - 12/$4.00, Under 5 FREE. The event will feature a Chinese Auction, Bake Sale and Face Painting. For more information contact Lion Dick Crawford at (716) 773-4121 or email at rcrawjr@verizon.net
Lions Club "Special Kids Picnic July 16, 2008 The Lions Club's 50th Annual "Special Kids Picnic will take place at the Buffalo Launch Club from 9AM to 2PM Wednesday July 16th 2008. Over one thousand special needs children from the Erie-Niagara area are treated to a picnic that includes a lunch along with boat rides, pony rides, and other entertainment. For information on the "Special Kids Picnic" Contact the Chairman, Lion Mike Steinagel at (716) 713-6205 or email at msteinag@ycp.edu
Grand Island, New York is one of the world's most unique locations. To those who live here, it is much more. It shares the natural brilliance of neighboring Niagara Falls, as well as the vibrancy and vitality of nearby Buffalo. Grand Island is located on the Niagara River, an international border between the United States and Canada. While serving the Community of Grand Island and Western New York, Our Club interacts and shares in activities of our "Sister Club" the Merritton Lions Club of St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada. To visit our "Sister Club" go to:Merritton Lions Club
To see an enlarged view of the above photo click here
Photo courtesy of Paul McCarthy and the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce Taken by Mark Dettmer - Angel Arts Publications Available as postcard, Chamber Office (5/$1.00)
If you are a member of this organization, we need your help. GIECOM.Net has partnered with the Connections program to help Grand Island as a community "Get it Together." Please visit our website G-I-Together.ORG and fill out our SURVEY. Every group on Grand Island will have its own FREE web page showing: meeting times and location, contact persons, your Mission Statement and a listing of events. We will also be linking your news events that appear in the local media and on IsledeGrande.Com, Grand Island's E-News Source, to your page, maintaining an archived journal of pictures and news. This is the perfect opportunity for your group to connect with potential new members and the community.
