Lions News & Events
Lions Pledge $3 Million to Prevent Blindness in Infants and Children
Minnesota Lions have a new initiative on the horizon: the Minnesota Lions Fund to Prevent Blindness in Infants and Children. Minnesota Lions Eye Bank, Inc., has pledged $3 million to the fund to help advance research, education, and patient care in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
The gift represents a milestone in the Lions' steadfast commitment to supporting the University's efforts in blindness prevention and marks the 50-year partnership between the Minnesota Lions, Minnesota Lions Eye Bank, and the Department of Ophthalmology.
Lions will gather at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota Campus and at Eastcliff, official residence of the University president, on Saturday, July 31, to celebrate this newest joint effort to help the people of Minnesota.
MInnesota Hosts Lions International Convention
The Minnesota Lions Eye Bank was pleased to host tours during the Lions International Convention (July 6 -10, 2009) in Minneapolis. Tour guests came to the eye bank from across the United States and the world, including Ontario, Malaysia, Slovenia, Philippines, and India. Eye bank staff also visited with thousands of Lions members who stopped by their booth in the Minneapolis Convention Center's Exhibit Hall.
On Wednesday, July 8, the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank hosted Eye Bank Conversations, a symposium for Lions and eye bankers. Speakers included Patricia Aiken-O'Neill, Esq., president and CEO of the Eye Bank Association of America; David Cress, president and CEO, North Memorial; Roberta Geiselhart, supervisor of investigators, Hennepin County Medical Examiners office; Jeffrey Kahn, director, Center for Bioethics, University of Minnesota; and Jackie Malling, executive director, Minnesota Lions Eye Bank.
At the Convention Center, Jennifer Marshall, Minnesota Lions Eye Bank public relations manager, teamed up with staff from the Midwest Eye-Banks, Iowa Lions Eye Bank, and Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin to present an educational seminar on Perfect Partners for Sight Restoration: Lions and Eye Banks.
The Minneapolis Ambassadors Lions Club and the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology (MAO) joined forces to offer vision screening to Lions International Convention participants. The free vision screening included acuity testing, glaucoma screening, and retina scans.
The Minnesota Lions Eye Bank offers its sincere thanks to all of the volunteers and participants who made these events possible.
Eye Bank Director Featured on Lion Magazine Cover
Minnesota Lions Eye Bank executive director, Lion Jackie Malling, braved a long and cold December photo shoot on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis to help promote the upcoming Lions International Convention in the February issue of Lion Magazine. Jackie recreated the now famous hat toss from the Mary Tyler Moore show's opening montage.
(left image) Lion Jackie Malling graces the cover of the February 2009 Lion Magazine.
(right image) Statue of Mary Tyler Moore on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, Minn.
Lions Visit
The Minnesota Lions Eye Bank has played host to some visiting Lions.
On October 23, an advance delegation of Belgian Lions was in town to check out the area prior to the upcoming Lions International Convention.
The eye bank was also fortunate to host visiting International Director Lion Wayne Davis from Virginia and his wife Lion Marjorie on January 9. ID Wayne was attending the 5M-6 Mid-Winter Convention and toured the eye bank, as well as the Lions Children's Eye Clinic at the University of Minnesota.
Lion Jay Krachmer, M.D., Chair of the University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology, 5M6 Vice District Governor Lion Charlie Anderson, International Director Lion Wayne E. Davis, and 5M6 District Governor Lion Greg Langbehn.