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History
of the Foundation
The Council
appoints six board members to serve on the Foundation, representing
the Eastern, Central and Western Pennsylvania areas. They
serve for three year terms
and are eligible for re-appointment by council vote.
The Foundation
is unique, in that it directly supports research grants and
is not
involved in a day to day clinical activity.
However,
major clinical projects have been funded, mainly for equipment,
at the
Lions Eye Pavilion at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia;
the Pennsylvania Lions
Laser Center in the Eye and Ear Institute, University of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania Lions Vision and Eye Research Center at Milton
S. Hershey Medical Center, the Center
for Molecular Ophthalmology at University of Pennsylvania
Scheie Eye
Institute and the Molecular and Regulatory Biology Research
Laboratory
at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
How
Funds are Raised
All funds
are raised by the Lion and Lioness club members in the State
of
Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania's
multiple district is composed of 18 sub districts and each
district
has an elected District Governor who normally serves a one
year term. The District
Governor appoints an Eye Research District Chairman who is
responsible for
arranging the collection of funds by the District.
All funds
are forwarded to the Treasurer of the Foundation for deposit.
Memorial
Endowment Fund
Amounts
of $500.00 or more can be contributed to a Lions memorial
Endowment
Fund, in honor of an individual or clubs.
As with
other endowment funds, the principle remains intact but the
interest
is used as part of the general fund.
How
Grants are Awarded
Requests
for research funds are directed to the Chairman of the Board.
The
Chairman then forwards the proposals to an Optometric or Ophthalmic
Advisory
Board depending on the nature of the project.
When all
the recommendations have been received, the Foundation members
meet
to vote on final disposition.
The Board
meets quarterly, or at the request of the Chairman, and serve
without
pay in keeping with the motto of Lions Clubs International,
"We Serve".
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