Above / John Cornielle, left, a representative of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, accepted a big check from Bob Hull, President of the Naperville Noon Lions Club. The gift of $25,000 will be used to support research for a cure to blindness caused by inherited retinal diseases.
The Naperville Noon Lions Foundation presented a check in the amount of $25,000 to the Foundation Fighting Blindness to assist in research to prevent inherited retinal disease.
The donation came at the right time as the Gund Family Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio, will match this donation dollar for dollar as part of their “Envision 20/20 Program” to raise 50 million dollars for research by June 2016.
This gift is one of the largest grants the Naperville Noon Lions have made in recent years, noted Bob Hull, President of the Club.
John Cornielle of DeKalb who is a volunteer and part time fund raiser for the Foundation Fighting Blindness accepted the Naperville Noon Lions Foundation check on Tuesday. Cornielle had spoken to the Lions on several occasions outlining the advances that had been made in this area of low vision research and as a result the Lions Board decided to jump in and assist in this area.
Lion Steve Hertzberg, who was president of the Club in the 1980’s, commented that the Club could not even think about a donation of $25,000 in 1988.
“It’s very fulfilling” he said.
The Foundation Fighting Blindness mission is to find prevention, treatment and cures for the entire spectrum of inherited retinal disease. They are comprised of generous donors from all walks of life with one thing in common: the belief in a future without vision loss.
“The Naperville Noon Lions are honored to support this worthwhile cause which is directly related to our mission,” Hull said.
Focused on their mission
Last year the Club through its Foundation raised more than $250,000 from four fund raising events. These funds were used to support our mission of providing eye examinations, eye glasses and hearing examinations to over 400 children and adults in the Naperville area who would not otherwise be able to afford these services. In addition, the Lions supported other initiatives in research and education of the blind and low vision individuals along with many Naperville social service agencies in the past year.
The Naperville Noon Lions Club meets every Tuesday (except the fifth Tuesday of each month) at Braconi’s Restaurant in Naperville. Guests and perspective members always are welcome.
For more information, call (630) 364-3922 or visit www.napervillenoonlions.org.
Editor’s Note / The Naperville Noon Lions Club sponsors a number of successful fundraising campaigns including Funnel Cakes at Exchange Club of Naperville Ribfest, the Lions Club Raffle during Jaycees Last Fling, and the annual Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day.
Members of the Noon Lions Club always are available to assist individuals who want to support their charitable efforts. Registration is now in progress for the Turkey Trot 5K with the motto, “Run Fast, EAT LATER, No Penalty!”
Photo courtesy Naperville Noon Lions Club