Local Lions learn about foundations focusing on diabetes and helping the blind

For the August Graceville Lions Club meeting, the club had guest speakers from various Lions Club programs. Graceville club president Suzi Rodgers first introduced guest speakers Lions Vivian Henegar and Karen Stowers, both members of the High Point Lions Club. Rodgers went on to say that District Governor Vivian “is a retired schoolteacher,” who has held many leadership roles in the Lions Club, including the Past President of the Florida Diabetes Awareness Foundation, and the current President of the Florida Lions Foundation for the Blind. Rodgers also noted that Lion Karen Stowers had held many roles as well and is currently Zone Chair and on the Board of the Florida Lions Eye Bank.

Rodgers then gave the podium to District Governor Vivian Henegar, who was “thrilled to be” in this part of Florida, with her Partner in Service, Lion Karen Stowers. As president of the Lions Club’s oldest foundation, the Florida Lions Foundation for the Blind, Lion Vivian Henegar began with discussion about the purpose of this foundation. With a focus on eye surgeries, the Florida Lions Foundation for the Blind provides support to the visually impaired in need of assistance in making necessary accommodations, “bringing vision and hope to Florida” through sight, as mentioned on the foundation’s website. “We work primarily, not only with blind people, but we also do a great deal of work preventing blindness in people,” explained District Governor Henegar.

“Foundation grants don’t come out very often,” stated District Governor Henegar, going on to say the foundation grants “usually go to a doctor that is working in some part of the state.” Henegar noted that the Foundation has one doctor that has “been approved for $5000 for the last three or four years,” while also acknowledging others they have turned down for the inability to meet the guidelines.

District Governor Vivian Henegar also shared information about the foundation’s “campership program that is offered through the Florida Lions Foundation for the Blind website.” Henegar explained that the campership program offers financial assistance to children that would like to attend a summer camp but lack the financial resources. It does not matter what camp the child wants to attend explained Henegar before mentioning that they “definitely fund children for the diabetes camp.” To apply, visit the Florida Lions Foundation for the Blind website or contact a local member.

President Suzi Rodgers continued the program introducing our past Council Chair, Greg Evans. Rodgers introduced him stating that Evans is married with three kids, and he has been a Lions member since 2004. He is a Charter member of the online Lions by the Sea of District 35-O, where he is currently titled the sub-treasurer, explained President Suzi Rodgers. Lion Greg Evans has held many positions since he became a member. His current position is Multiple District Global Leadership Team Chair, he is in his second year as Multiple District 45 Diabetes Awareness Foundation President and has owned and operated a restaurant “for the last 37 years in Ormond by the Sea,” said Rodgers.

Evans thanked everyone for the invite and expressed gratitude for Henegar and Stowers, who are the two main diabetic trainers that have been traveling all over the state to support this program amidst a shortage of trainers within the club. Evans went on to say, “campership is an awesome and underutilized thing.” Encouraging all to seek information regarding this program to visit the website and contact them with any questions.

Evans shifted the focus commenting, “each district has six directors in it” who are trying to get more actively involved. Evans went on to note that with investments that started in 1958, the Lions Club has “about $15 million dollars in financial funds”, and all “the clubs operate off the interest” of those investments. “So, each club is allowed as many cases as the interest and dividends that we earn each year, which generally is somewhere between $400,000 and $500,000,” explained Evans in regard to how the financial side operates.

Evans then went on to speak on the Florida Eye Bank. “In 1962 the Lions started the Florida Eye Bank located in Miami,” said Greg Evans, before mentioning that Karen Stowers is on the board of directors and current president of the Florida Eye Bank. Evans went on to say that the Florida Eye Bank began harvesting eye tissue. The foundation also started a pathology lab during this time which performed autopsy on eyes, “which helps identify shaken baby syndrome” said Evans.

Since then, Evans noted that most of the eye banks are changing their names due to confusion with being mistaken as financial institutions. So, the Florida Eye Bank will be known as the Beauty of Sight, explained Evans. Evans went on to explain that the Beauty of Sight foundation started five years ago, focused on discovering new and effective technology and techniques within the industry by funding doctors to do research, like “Serum Tears”. Evans explained that Serum tears was invented in the Florida Eye Bank to effectively treat painfully dry eyes. Evans then speculated that the lab is working toward creating corneas from stem cells in the future, before he noted that the Florida Eye Bank has an open house every year in which all Lions Club members are invited.

Evans also spoke about the Lions Eye Transplant Research center in Tampa, founded in the 1970s. Which has now changed its name to Lions World Vision Institute after absorbing another entity called SightLife. During this period, Southeastern Guide Dog was founded. This entity trains blind service dogs for the visually impaired.

Going hand in hand with Dr. Callahan’s Diabetes Foundation, the Florida Lions Diabetic Retinopathy Foundation started about 7 years ago, explained Greg Evans. “This foundation has provided Lions Club with eight cameras” that are used by trained members to test for diabetic retinopathy. This foundation is involved in taking images of the back of the eye and sending them to medical professionals that can contact the patient for any necessary medical attention. The president of the Florida Lions Diabetic Retinopathy Foundation is trying to get more people involved with entity to provide better care to those in need.

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