Dear LCIF District Coordinators, District Governors and Vice District Governors,

 

Many of you and the Lions you represent have asked what our association is doing to help the people of Haiti during their time of need.  As with previous disasters, Lions are responding with both monetary and in kind donations.  And, our International Lion leaders are conducting on the ground consultations with local Lion leaders and officials to assess and address both immediate and longer term needs.  Some examples of these efforts are included below in an update from our LCIF team, which also includes a recap of donations to date. 

 

Please review this material and contact me if you have any questions.  Please also encourage your Lions Club members to donate, and remind them that 100% of their donations will go toward the relief effort.  Furthermore, please remind everyone that LCIF is our foundation; it's Lions helping Lions provide humanatrian service to people in need through grants and hands on service activities.

 

In closing, many of the people in Haiti had very little before this earthquake.  On January 12th (less than one month ago) their country was devastated by this horrific earthquake, and they need our help now.  This is what we do as Lions; helping people in need.  If you haven't donated yet, please consider doing so now.  Donations can be made online through the LCIF website at 

http://lionsclubs.org/donations/lions_lcif_online_donation-disaster-haiti.php or checks can be mailed to Lions Clubs International at 300 West 22nd Street, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523.  Please remember to specify the Haiti relief fund on your check.

 

Sincerely yours in Lionism & Service,

PCC John Wargo

LCIF Multiple District 20 Coordinator

 

PS-Please cascade this communication to your email lists.

 

 

Update from our LCIF Development Team:

 

VIDEO OF LCIF'S WORK ON THE GROUND IN HAITI:

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/lci-foundation/haiti-relief/index.php

PHOTOS OF LIONS WORK IN HAITI/LCIF Chairperson Al's visit the other week:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lionsclubsorg/sets/72157623296743258/

TESTIMONIALS FROM LOCAL LIONS:
http://lionsclubs.org/EN/lci-foundation/haiti-relief/testimonials.php

A LISTING OF SOME OF THE HAITI DONATIONS RECEIVED/PLEDGED:
http://lionsclubs.org/EN/lci-foundation/haiti-relief/lions-respond.php

 

To date, LCIF has received more than US$1.8 in Haiti relief donations from Lions and clubs worldwide which will support both our short term and long term aid and rebuidling efforts. To date, we've processed nearly US$20,000 in donations from the Lions of MD20, and our donor processing staff is working overtime to ensure that all donations are entered into our database as quickly as possible. As you can imagine, there has been a large increase in donation volume, thankfully, and we're doing our best to keep up with entering the donations.

 

All funds are cashed upon receipt and deposited into our Haiti relief accts so they are accessible, but it does take some time to identify and connect in our database who the donors are, etc.

 

In the immediate hours following the January 12th earthquake, LCIF granted US$50,000 to the Lions of Haiti in order to provide the first provisions of immediate aid, including water, food, medicines and first aid supplies. Since then tents, additional aid and supplies have been sent.

Currently, LCIF is working directly with Lions of Haiti as well as Lions in neighboring countries to continue to assess and address critical immediate needs and also develop a long-term reconstruction plan. An initial truckload of relief supplies has been transported by Dominican Republic Lions to Haitian Lions and Leos, and supplies were distributed to an orphanage and hospital. A second supply of goods will distributed in the coming days by Lions. More than 200 tents are being set up for victims and relief workers to establish three Lions tent city.