MLERF Celebrates 20 Years as Lions' State Sight Project
The 2007 calendar year marks a very special anniversary for the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation and the Lions of the state of Missouri. Twenty years ago at the 1987 Missouri Lions State Convention in Joplin, MO, the Missouri Lions voted to assume the Eye Research Foundation of Missouri (or, soon-to-be Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation) as its state sight project.

Together, with the help of the Lions of the state of Missouri, we have been able to touch the lives of thousands of individuals here in our home state, across the U.S., and even worldwide. For example, since 1987 our programs have:

• Provided corneas for transplant to over 24,000 people through the Heartland Lions Eye Bank.
• Screened over 72,000 children for amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” through our Amblyopia Prevention program.  Over 3,000 children have been referred to eye care specialists for further testing and diagnosis through this program, since it began in 1995.
• Provided glaucoma screenings to over 20,000 Missourians through our Glaucoma Detection program.  Approximately 950 individuals were found to have elevated eye pressure and referred to an eye care specialist.
• Assisted over 100 uninsured individuals throughout the state of Missouri who cannot afford vision care through our Eye Care Assistance program, since its inception in 1994.

In 2007, we encourage you and your Club to reaffirm your commitment to the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation. That could be as simple as taking the time to learn more about our mission, requesting more information or an informational program on MLERF, or taking a tour of one of our offices.  Another way that your club can support MLERF and its work is by making a sight pledge donation to our organization.

It’s amazing to think that in the last twenty years, the Lions Clubs of Missouri have donated over $4 million to MLERF!  We thank you for your dedication and ongoing support of our mission.

Today, the need for your financial support is greater than ever as our programs are expanding and new technologies are being implemented to advance our mission. To ensure the continued success of your state sight project for the next twenty years and beyond, we encourage your club to consider making a donation, or increasing your current giving level, to MLERF.

With your help and continued support, we can make the next 20 years record-breaking- helping to preserve and restore sight to even more individuals in need.