Dear
Lions of the World,
It
is with great sadness
that the world's
attention is focused on
the devastating
earthquakes in Haiti
that left 1.5 million
homeless, up to 200,000
dead, and countless
injured and traumatized.
It will take
years for the country to
fully recover, but we
know that Lions will be
there every step of the
way.
Just
like Lions have done
with the South Asian
tsunami, Hurricane
Katrina, the Sichuan
earthquake in China and
other calamities, Lions
and LCIF will be there
for the both the short- and
long-term -
providing immediate aid
now but also working to
rebuild communities, to
restore hope and to
support those affected for
as long as it takes.
If
there is one thing that
makes Lions unique from
other service agencies,
it's that we commit for
the long term and we
work within the affected
communities - through
our local Lions -- to
rebuild for a better
tomorrow. The
Haitian Lions are our
brothers and sisters,
members of our
international family,
and we will never let
them down.
As
you are likely aware,
Lions have already moved
swiftly to provide
immediate assistance
despite the coordination
challenges. Lions
relief tents are being
shipped from Sweden;
Lions from Canada on a
mission in Haiti during
the quake gave first aid
assistance during the
first hours and days;
and Lions in the
Caribbean area are
sending aid over land
and by sea. Additionally,
a coordinating committee
of Lions in Haiti,
Dominican Republic and
nearby countries are
actively planning for
the next steps, and our
foundation chairperson,
Al Brandel, immediate
past international
president, will be
traveling there to meet
with them beginning
tomorrow.
Naturally,
the response by Lions to
LCIF's Lions Hope for
Haiti donation
appeal has been
tremendous. Within
days, we have already
mobilized more than
US$350,000. By
the time you receive
this email, I am sure it
will be even much, much
more. But
we'll need millions more
if we are to help the
country rebuild, to
provide homes for the
homeless, to rebuild
schools for the
children, to
rehabilitate those left
disabled, and to help
heal so many shattered
and broken hearts.
So please donate
what you can.
Lastly,
I am extremely saddened
to report that two of
our Haitian Lions -- our
family -- have perished
and other Lions may have
lost family members.
On behalf of
Lions the world over and
members of our
international board, we
offer our sincere,
heartfelt condolences
and sympathies to our
Lions family who have
suffered such personal
losses.
To
our Lions family in
Haiti, I commit to you
that the Lions of the
world will be there for
you today, tomorrow,
next week, next month,
next year, the year
after that - and again
for as long as it takes.
With
sympathies,
Eberhard
J. Wirfs
International President
Edward L. Lieberman, Esq.
