Above / For more than 20 years, the Naperville Noon Lions Club Funnel Cakes Booth at Ribfest has been one of many ways the service organization raises funds for its aim to support in the areas of vision, hearing and related community causes. (PN File Photo)
The Naperville Noon Lions Foundation has approved $29,000 in grants and donations to local organizations related to the Lions mission of providing support in the areas of vision, hearing and related community causes.
The largest donation of $10,000 was made to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Bell academy to support their Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning Program (BELL Program). NFB BELL Academy provides children ages 4-12 with intense Braille instruction through fun and hands-on learning activities. NFB BELL Academy targets blind and low-vision children who do not receive enough Braille and nonvisual skill instruction in school or who could benefit from Braille enrichment over the summer mouths.
The Naperville Noon Lions Foundation also donated $5,000 to the Foundation Fighting Blindness to support their research projects for individuals who have low vision or no vision because of inherited retinal diseases. The research includes such efforts to find the best way to help people whose photoreceptor cells, the cells that convert light into signals the brain interprets as images, have failed or never worked correctly.
Other donations were given to Hear Us, Inc., Canine Companions, Beep Baseball, Second Sense, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, We Grow Dreams and Loaves and Fishes.
Fundraising initiatives support grants
Funds were raised in the Foundation’s four main campaigns which include the annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, Summer Raffle, fall Candy Day sale and Funnel Cake sales at Naperville Ribfest.
“We’re honored to be able to support these worthwhile causes both in research, education of low-vision individuals and support of our community,” noted Lion President Linda Stragulla. “We also thank the Naperville community for all of the support they have given to the Lions over many years so that we might continue to help those in need.”
For more information about the Naperville Noon Lions Club, its meetings at Braconi’s Restaurant and membership opportunities, visit www.napervillenoonlions.org or call (630) 364-3922.
Story submitted by Bob Hull for the Naperville Noon Lions Club.