2814 DeKalb Avenue

Sycamore, Illinois 60178-3117

Visit our website at:
www.lionsofillinoisfoundation.org
815-756-5633 V
815-748-9088 TTY
815-748-9087 FAX

LIONS OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION

PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Lions of Illinois Vision Related Programs & Services:

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Used Eyeglass Collection

Comprehensive Statewide Low Vision Clinics
Semi-Annual Low Vision Clinic in Jacksonville
Mobile Diabetic Retinopathy/Macular Degeneration Screening
Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute
Charles I. Young Endowed Chair

Lions of Illinois Hearing Related Programs & Services

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Mobile Hearing Unit

Infant Hearing Screening
Cochlear Implant Program
LIF Used Hearing Aid Collection & Hearing Aid Bank (H.A.B.)

Camp Lions of Illinois Vision & Hearing Impaired Camps __Page 5

Camp Lions for Children
Camp Lions Adventure Wilderness School (C.L.A.W.S.)
Camp Lions Helen Keller Adult Program

Lions of Illinois Foundation Programs & Services

Club with providing services and aids to the blind/visually impaired, and deaf/
hearing impaired. LIF Social Services & Referral does
not pay the bills for helping these people, but utilizes its
expertise in finding assistance through other agencies or
the local Lions Club. It assists the Club in providing
the best care for the impaired individual at a reduced
cost. Our Foundation has access to many different resources and types of aids for the visually and hearing
impaired. All requests handled must be under the approval and sponsorship of
the local Lions Club. The Club is to follow-up on the request and notify our
Foundation of the status of the request within 60 days. In addition to processing requests, LIF Social Services and Referral staff also coordinates the
L.I.F.E. (Lions of Illinois Fund for Emergency) and the H.A.B. (Hearing Aid
Bank).

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Social Services & Referral

LIF Funds for Emergency (L.I.F.E.)

LIONS OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION VISION STATEMENT

The Vision of the Lions of Illinois Foundation is to create a permanent vehicle for the delivery
of programs and services to the visually and hearing impaired.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Lions of Illinois Foundation exists to assist in the general improvement of the quality of
life of those in Illinois having unmet needs. It is the specific mission of the Foundation to
provide quality programs and services to the people of Illinois for the detection, treatment, and
rehabilitation of visual and hearing impairments. The Foundation, solely, or in conjunction
with the Lions/Lioness Clubs, foundations, and other organizations, shall provide its assistance
through grant processes or delivered through direct or indirect programs and services.
MONETARY SUPPORT FOR THE LIONS OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION
The Lions, Lioness, and Leo Clubs throughout the State of Illinois provide the funding for
these programs through contributions and fundraising activities of our Foundation administered
functions. They are as follows: Candy Day; Sight & Sound Sweepstakes; Tootsie Pop Day;
LIF Night Walk; LIF Golf Tournament; Diabetes Alert Day; Eyeglass & Hearing Aid
Recycling; Unlock Your Heart Key Recycling; Pull Tab Recycling; Cell Phone Recycling,
& Adopt-A-Child.
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LIF SOCIAL SERVICES AND REFERRAL assists Lions

LIONS OF ILLINOIS FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY

(L.I.F.E.) is an interest free loan program offered to Illinois Lions and
Lioness Clubs to provide for the needs of the blind, visually impaired, deaf,
and hearing impaired. All inquiries should be directed to the Lions of Illinois
Foundation Social Services and Referrals Department. The Lions of Illinois
Foundation must first receive a request in writing from the Lions or Lioness
Club. The request is then reviewed by the District Governor, District Trustee,
and the Social Services Coordinator for their approval. Without approval,
funds cannot be disbursed. Only Lions or Lioness Clubs in
Illinois may borrow money from this fund, not individuals, nor private facilities. The fund is to be used only when
the Club does not have the financial means of providing
assistance, but wants to help an individual in need. The
minimum a Lions or Lioness Club may borrow is $300.00
(three hundred dollars) and maximum is $3,000.00 (three
thousand dollars). The loan must be repaid within a twoyear period from the time the money is disbursed.
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CAMP LIONS OF ILLINOIS

VISION & HEARING IMPAIRED CAMPS

CAMP LIONS FOR CHILDREN

has been in existence since 1957. Over 14,000
young campers have taken part in our program at
no cost to them. All funds to operate the camp
have been donated by the many Lion, Lioness, &
Leo Club members and friends of The Lions of
Illinois Foundation. Eligible campers are between the ages of 7-17 years old and have either a vision impairment of 20/200
after correction and/or a hearing impairment which requires daily usage a hearing
aid or cochlear implant and/or communication alternatives such as sign language
or lip reading. All campers must be self-reliant in all personal care and hygiene
and independently ambulatory around the camp.
Camp Lions offers swimming, horseback riding,
archery, water sports, nature hikes, games, singing, cookouts, captioned movies and arts &
crafts. Most importantly Camp Lions offers a
chance to develop friendships with other children
who have similar hearing or vision loss.

CAMP LIONS ADVENTURE WILDERNESS SCHOOL

(C.L.A.W.S.)

is our award-winning camp for teens, age 1417, who are

nominated to attend by Camp Counselors based on observed and developing
personal skills & strengths. C.L.A.W.S campers are faced with challenges which
help them to reach for new goals. The campers take part in a wilderness program
of tent camping, hiking, team building, and just for fun rock climbing. Each of
these exercises instill attributes such as better communication, trust in team members, and build self-esteem.

CAMP LIONS HELEN KELLER is a

free one-week adult summer

camp for individuals with hearing or vision impairments age 18 and older. Visually
& hearing impaired adults often feel as isolated as do children. Camp Helen Keller
allows them to meet new friends easing some of that loneliness. Adult campers can
enjoy swimming, horseback riding, pontoon boat rides, nature projects, a dance,
talent show, nature walks, and more. .Adult campers are encouraged to bring an
assistant if needed.
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LIONS OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION

VISION RELATED PROGRAMS & SERVICES

USED EYEGLASS COLLECTION Since 1994 the Lions of

Illinois have distributed more than 3,000,000 pairs of graded, used eyeglasses
to indigent countries in Central and South America. Lions, Lioness, and Leo
Clubs throughout Illinois collect eyeglasses and distribute them to various
medical missionary groups. When the glasses are received in these countries,
trained Doctors and technicians examine needy individuals and
provide them with free prescription glasses as close to their sight
needs as possible. Without this service, many of these
people would never see clearly.

SEEING IS BELIEVING

is the title given to our Statewide

Low Vision Comprehensive Visual Evaluation Clinical Program, administered

by our Lions of Illinois Foundation in conjunction with the Deicke Center for
Visual Rehabilitation and the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. This program
serves the needs of many children each year by providing a comprehensive
visual evaluation conducted by Low Vision Optometrists. These Optometrists
prescribe specially crafted devices that maximize their remaining sight.
Examples include: magnifiers, special glasses, telescopes and sun wear. In
addition to the examination, the children are provided with adaptive training
and counseling to assist them in gaining a better understanding and awareness
of their vision loss.

JACKSONVILLE SEMIANNUAL LOW VISION

CLINIC has been in operation for over twentyfive years. Our Foundation, using trained Doctors of
Optometry, examine children who have severe visual
impairments and, after an extensive examination,
prescribe and provide special low vision aids. These
devices provide the children with an opportunity to
see better and improve school performance.

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MOBILE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

SCREENING PROGRAM
In conjunction with Illinois Retina Associates, our Foundation has expanded vision services to include a Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program. This program is
designed to screen people throughout Illinois who are in high-risk categories
for Diabetic Retinopathy. Screenings are free to the public and made possible
through the use of a mobile unit which travels throughout Illinois. The mobile
unit carries a non-mydriatic camera with digital imaging capability which
photographs the retina. These digital images (computer photos) of the retina
are reviewed by professional staff at Illinois Retina Associates. Those persons
found to exhibit symptoms of these retinal diseases after screening are encouraged to seek the ophthalmologic assistance of their choice. Each Diabetic Retinopathy Screening is sponsored by a Lions or Lioness Club as scheduled
through the LIF offices.

LIONS

OF ILLINOIS

EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

is located at 1905 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago near the Eye and Ear Infirmary. The Institute,
comprised of Doctors of Medicine, Psychology, staff researchers and technicians, provides advanced technology, studies and research to achieve the goal
of conquering blindness. The Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute is worldrenowned because of the development of advances through research to find the
causes and cures for eye disease.

THE CHARLES I. YOUNG ENDOWED

PROFESSORIAL CHAIR
Our Lions of Illinois Foundation, with the support of the
Lions of Illinois, led a successful campaign to raise $1.2
million to finance a Professorial Chair. This Professorial
Chair is provided for use at the Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute. The
income generated by the Chair ensures continued funding for research into the
causes of blindness.

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LIONS OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION

HEARING RELATED PROGRAMS & SERVICES

MOBILE HEARING UNIT

began auditory screenings in 1987. Its
purpose is to detect hearing loss by screening individuals using the equipment in the
unit. Those individuals detected with a
hearing loss are encouraged to seek additional testing by a local hearing professional. The purpose of the testing is to inform the individual of potential
hearing problems before serious hearing loss or deafness occurs. The Mobile
Hearing Unit, staffed by a trained technician, has screened over 150,000 Illinois residents. Mobile Hearing Unit Screenings are sponsored by a Lions or
Lioness Club as scheduled through the LIF offices.

INFANT HEARING SCREENINGS In cooperation with our

Foundation, audiologists throughout the State (trained in the use of the Otacoustic Emission Screening device), screen infants age one day to five years
old for hearing loss. Screening sites are coordinated by our Foundation.
Screening results and recommendations are sent to the childrens parents or
legal guardians. Children who fail the screening are encouraged to seek local
hospitals/clinics for further hearing tests and treatment.

COCHLEAR IMPLANT PROGRAM was established in 1987

by the Lions of Illinois. The Cochlear Implant Center is located at the University of Illinois at Chicago. This Center provides children and adults with a
behind the ear, cochlear implant. These individuals are given a chance to hear
when a normal hearing aid would not work.

LIF USED HEARING AID COLLECTION AND

HEARING AID BANK (H.A.B.) In addition to Illinois Lions
collecting used eyeglasses, they also collect used hearing aids that are refurbished by major hearing aid manufacturers. The reclaimed aids are then used
by Hearing Aid Clinics where patients are examined and fitted with the aids.

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