Participants in this year’s Drive “Fore” Sight golf fundraiser
For decades, the Council has maintained a close relationship with Lions Clubs across the state. This friendship is rooted in our shared goal of supporting Wisconsinites who are blind or low vision. Lions Club International, the umbrella organization of local Lions Clubs are members, began supporting people with vision loss in 1925 when Helen Keller asked them to become “knights for the blind.” Many Lions Clubs bring awareness of our work to their members and raise money for the Council as a way to support a fellow organization working to empower people with vision loss in their own communities.
The Middleton Lions Club has been giving to the Council for several years. Allen Watrud, who has been with the Lions for nearly two decades, says he first heard about the Council when his dad was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration. “The Council really helped my dad out in a big way,” Allen says. “His vision was basically gone by the end, but the Council really helped to make his last few years a lot easier.” In recent years, Allen says that the Middleton Lions have been doing well financially and were looking for an organization that shared their values to support. Allen quickly brought up the Council, and the Middleton Lions have been giving ever since.
“We have a few fundraisers we do every year through the Middleton Good Neighbor Festival and a yearly golf outing,” Allen says. “One of the primary focuses of the Lions is to help people with vision loss, so the Council was right up our alley.” The Middleton Lions find other ways to give back in good times too. When Allen’s father passed away, he and the Lions decided to donate a video magnifier they bought from the Council to the Restoring Hope Transplant House in Middleton. “We do a lot of support for them too and thought it would be a good way to give back,” Allen says.
“There are hundreds of Lions and Lioness Clubs throughout the state,” says Lori Werbeckes, development director at the Council. “Keeping open communication with their members is another way to spread the word about the vital services the Council provides. We’re grateful for Lions’ fundraising efforts on behalf of the Council and people who are blind or low vision.”
The Council is proud to collaborate with Lions Clubs across Wisconsin, and with everyone who believes that people who are blind or low vision deserve to live with dignity and independence. If you would like to support the Council, visit WCBlind.org/Donate.