The Wheeling Lions Club
Fund Raising
Chairman Lion Larry Travis
The Wheeling Lions Club will kick off its 2005-2006 Sight Conservation Fund in September with a general mailing to more than 3,500 households in the Ohio County area. Each year our generous benefactors contribute approximately $7,000 each year to support our charitable activities. Our main mission is to provide eye exams, eye care, and eyeglasses to those in our county who can not afford it.
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With the support of the Meagle Trust we have been able to expanded our eye conservation support to several other causes, such as, providing funds for eye care missions in Southern West Virginia, LCIF, West Virginia Sight Conservation Foundation, Leader Dogs, West Virginia Low Vision Center, and other Lion sponsored endeavors. In addition we have directed some of our fundraisers to help other deserving community efforts.
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To support the Sight Conservation Fund or any of our fund raisers, contact us at Lions Charities of Wheeling Inc. PO Box 1122 Wheeling, WV 26003.
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Grants from Local Foundations: The Irene Meagle Trust and the Harry S. Sands Trust provide funds annually to the Wheeling Lions Club for strictly sight conservation and helping the blind. We appreciate and recognize both trusts and their administrators for partnering with our club and to underwrite the charitable works of our club.
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50/50 raffle. The Wheeling Lions typically sell more than 1,000 raffle tickets and hold a drawing at the annual Christmas Party each year and again at the Spring golf scramble each year. This routine fund-raiser usually generates more than $500. Furthermore, the local ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers, assist the Wheeling Lions Club by allowing us to participate in their own 50-50 raffles, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Sight Conservation Fund.
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Golf Scramble and Steak Fry. The Wheeling Lions have teamed up with a local golfing association to host a Golf Scramble each year. We are always seeking hole and tee sponsors, as well as golfers. Interested individuals or companies should contact Lion Don Benson at his e-mail address <radar@hgo.net for information on donor levels, becoming a major sponsor, etc.
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Our fourth annual reverse raffle is scheduled for spring 2006 at a regular
meeting. We sell 100 tickets for $10 each in order to keep your chances of winning much higher than in other formats. The Lions guarantee the first ticket drawn $50, the 50th ticket drawn $50 and the last ticket a minimum of $400 (or 50% of the proceeds less the $100 already paid out, whichever is higher). We have this at a regular meeting with most of the ticket holders present. We have a lot of fun and fellowship pulling the tickets.
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Each December, the Wheeling Lions Club membership volunteer to ring bells for the local Salvation Army Kettle Drive, the single largest charitable fund raising event in the country.
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Our club has taken proceeds from several bequests and set up two endowment funds for mission related use with The Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley, Inc. By doing this, we have kept the pressure on the club to serve and raise current funds, while ensuring that at least 5% of the annual fund value of these endowment funds will either augment our existing fund development, or allow the club to broaden its charitable focus in the community.
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Wheeling Lions also support LCIF, the West Virginia Sight Foundation, Leader Dogs, and other Lion causes. During the parade of checks at the District Convention each year, the club participates in the Blind Ski Program and has recently made a significant financial commitment toward the purchase of a new mobile eye screening unit, which will be used across West Virginia to provide free eye screening for local residents in rural and urban, poor and developed areas.
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