Lions Club Support Roars!

May, 2000 Update

Vision 2000 nears its $1.2 million goal! Thanks to the support of the Lions Clubs of District 20-Y1, Vision 2000 is expected to be completed by the Fall of 2000. As the Lions continue to make contributions as part of their $250,000 pledge, the community is beginning to see the great importance of both the vision care and research at Upstate Medical University through the campaign s heightened publicity efforts. Pictured during a check presentation by the Lions is (L to R) Max Pepper, Lions Region Chair; John Zacharek, Vision 2000 campaign director of Upstate Medical University Foundation; Frank Couch, Lions Vision 2000 Fund Raising Chair; and Wayne Cunningham, Lions Vision 2000 Co-Chair.  

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Lions Put "Crunch" on Fund Raising Efforts

The Vision 2000 campaign continues to charge toward its $1.2 million goal. Thanks to the tremendous support of the Lions District 20-Y1, community leaders, local businesses, patients, faculty, staff, and the community at large, it is anticipated that Vision 2000 will be completed by the Fall of 2000.

1999 held several new firsts for the Vision 2000 campaign. As part of the campaign s mission to improve the awareness of the critical eye research and clinical care, Vision 2000 leaders instituted a comprehensive publicity effort. The results of this heightened exposure included several television segments detailing the research and care at the center, as well as a several articles published throughout the year in various print media.

"We feel that a significant part of the Vision 2000 campaign is educating the community about the important work that is done at University Vision Care and Research Centers,"  said John Zacharek of Upstate Medical University Foundation. "This effort goes beyond fund raising alone, and I think the community is now beginning to realize that we have some incredible things happening in eye research at Upstate Medical University."

Continuing to strengthen its relationship with the Lions Clubs, University Vision Care & Research Centers also hosted its first-ever "Lions Day" in May. Coordinated by the Foundation, this event offered the 60 Lions Clubs in Central and Southern New York the opportunity to tour the center and speak with a host of vision researchers, clinicians, and Vision 2000 representatives throughout the one-day event. According to Wayne Cunningham, Co-Chair of the Lions Vision 2000 effort, "Lions Day" was a huge success. "An event like Lions Day offers all Lions members the opportunity to see first-hand, the amazing advances that are being made at the center. We re extremely pleased to be establishing a relationship with University Vision Care & Research Centers and we all hope it will continue long into the future."

1999 also proved to be an outstanding year for the Lions fund raising efforts, as they secured a $75,000 grant from Lions International Foundation to improve equipment and services for the center. "I can t say enough about the Lions involvement in our fund raising efforts," said Dr. John Hoepner, Chair of University Vision Care & Research Centers. "Their commitment and dedication to the Vision 2000 campaign is the primary reason for our success."

For more information about Vision 2000 or University Vision Care & Research Centers, call (315) 464-4416 or go to www.upstate.edu/eye/vision2000/.

October, 1999 Update

To further their mission, to eliminate preventable blindness, the Lions Clubs of District 20-YI have pledged $250,000 over a three-year period to the Vision 2000 campaign for Upstate Medical University's University Vision Care & Research Centers.      

Members of the Lions Clubs of District 20-YI presented the first check in August totaling $115,000 of the $250,000 pledge. Of the $115,000 presented, $75,000 was made possible through a grant from Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF).   The remaining $40,000 was from the Lions District 20-Y1.       

Edward Cordes, M.D., immediate past international director and Franklin Couch, Lions Vision 2000 co-chair, presented the check. Dr. John Hoepner, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the SUNY Upstate Medical University and director of the University Vision Care & Research Centers accepted the check.  

The Lions Club's contribution will be used to further the center's initiatives in ophthalmic research and clinical care and to purchase special equipment.  In addition, the Lions Service Organization of District 20-YI will have an area at the center for people to discover the research that is developing at the center. The Lions Club members of District 20-YI comprise the CNY area from Skaneateles to Cooperstown and Mexico to Downsville.

District Governor for 98/99 Jeremy Purple and his predecessor Past District Governor (PDG) John Rusinko appointed a committee to develop the project. Lion Dick Frio and PDG Franklin Couch were responsible for the fund raising and applying for the grant in accord with the LCIF guidelines.

Ophthalmic research at the Upstate Medical University is conducted through its University Vision Care & Research Centers. The centers are multifaceted and draw upon the expertise and dedication of dozens of leading physicians and research scientists to provide medicine with advances in research, innovation in patient care and quality instruction in the practice of ophthalmology.

Vision 2000, with a goal of $1.2 million, is a program of the Health Science Center Foundation at Syracuse and is designed to increase the awareness, recognition and funding for the advancement of ophthalmology research and services at the Upstate Medical University.

Thanks to each of the following Lions Clubs of District 20-Y1 for supporting the Vision 2000 campaign and University Vision Care & Research Centers. Because of the generous support from each of these clubs and their dedicated members, the Vision 2000 campaign is quickly nearing its $1.2 million goal. Upon completion of the campaign, each of these clubs will receive permanent recognition by being placed on University Center for Vision Care's wall of honor.

Lions Clubs of District 20-Y1 who have supported the Vision 2000 Ophthalmology Advancement Campaign to date are: