Eldridge Lions Named Model Club
The Eldridge Lions Club recently earned the distinction from the International Association of Lions Clubs and its Foundation, of becoming a Model Club, one of only ten in the state. By becoming a Model Club, the Eldridge Lions are leading the way in a global effort to empower more community service by raising funds to support the needs of Lions’ local communities.
“I am very proud to be a member of our club and all that our members do to make the Eldridge/North Scott community a better place,” says current club President Ann Baughman. “Our club has been proudly serving this community for 68 years with a wide variety of service projects from providing funds for the shelter house and all-inclusive park at Sheridan Meadows, vision screenings for pre-k children to detect early eye health issues, awarding high school senior scholarships, delivering meals, playing bingo with Grand Haven residents, filling Blessing boxes, transporting cornea, and making s’mores! We are always looking for other ways we can serve. By becoming a Model Club through our commitment to raise $34,000 for our Foundation, we are demonstrating that not only are we committed to serve our local communities, but also our broader global community.”
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is the primary funding source for larger Lions’ projects worldwide. By providing grants, LCIF has enabled Lions clubs to exponentially expand their service and carry out more life-altering missions globally.
Campaign 100: LCIF Empowering Service is a campaign to raise money to expand Lions’ ability to help those is need today and for the next 100 years. While the campaign’s financial goal is $300 million, the ultimate goal is Lions’ ability to serve hundreds of millions of people by: increasing Lions’ impact in vision, youth, disaster relief, and humanitarian efforts; fighting the global epidemic of diabetes; and expanding efforts in childhood cancer, hunger and the environment.
In addition to the Eldridge Lions Club being a Model Club, it has had the distinction of being the home club of several past District Governors: Donald Hamann (1972-73), Arthur (Art) Matje (2010-11 and 2018-19), Kathy Rhinehart (2012-13), the late Robert (Bob) Rhinehart (2016-17), and Tony Hill (2019-20).
“I am also very proud of our club signing on to be a Model Club for our Foundation, which has been there for Iowans for the past 39 years by awarding over $1,600,000 in major grants” said Rick Baughman, LCIF District 9EC Coordinator. “In 2020, LCIF awarded the district with a $10,000 emergency grant to help those severely impacted by the derecho.”
“Our community is great, and we thank them for supporting our club’s fundraising efforts and service activities over the years” said Judy Kirby, LCIF Club Coordinator. “Serving our community is most rewarding and warms the heart. As Ann said, we are always looking for new ways to serve and new members to serve with. We would love to hear from you, the community. Contact us at [email protected].”