White Cane
The official Fund-Raiser to Support Vision Care
The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
White Cane can be held at any time during the year
2009 Goal: $167,500
Lions Help Restore Hope
The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
1775 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033-4005
(404) 325-3630 in Atlanta, 1-800-718-7483 outside Atlanta. FAX: (404) 636-5549
Table of Contents_______________________
INTRODUCTION
* Letter from J.C. Coefield, Jr., White Cane Chairman………………….. 3
* Lighthouse Fact Sheet……………………………………………………... 4
* Programs and Services ………………………………………………….... 5-6
* Results ……………………………………………………………………….. 7
* Lighthouse Restores Hope – Client Stories …………………………… 8
Secrets to Success
* Before You Get Started……………...……………………………….......... 9
IDEAS FOR YOUR EVENT
* Secrets to a Successful Letter Writing Campaign…………………….. 10-12
* Fundraising Ideas…………………………………………………………… 13-14
* Store Collections……………………………………………………………. 15-16
SAMPLES & ORDER FORMS
* Radio Spots………………………………………………………………….. 17
* Press Releases……………………………………………………………… 18-20
* Proclamation…………………………………………………………………. 21
ORDER FORMS
* Lighthouse Supply Order Form…………………………………………… 22
* White Cane Days, Inc Order Form………………………………………… 23
Appendix A:
* South Cobb Lions Club Samples………………………………………….. 24-28
Appendix B:
* Union County Lions Club Samples………………………………………. 29-32
Appendix C:
* Camellia City Lions Club Baby Derby Example……………………….. 33-38
Appendix D:
* Wal-Mart Grant Application………………………………………………… 39-40
Appendix E:
* Sample Flyer……………….………………………………………………… 41-42
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GEORGIA LIONS LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION, INC.
A MAJOR SERVICE PROJECT OF GEORGIA LIONS CLUBS
1775 Clairmont Road, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4005 • 404/325-3630 Fax 404/636-5549 1-800-718 SITE (1-800-718-7483)
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Dear Fellow Lions,
You are in a position to make a tremendous difference in providing critical sight and hearing services to Georgians, who without the help of the Lighthouse, would have nowhere else to turn. These needs can be as simple as a hearing aid or white cane, or as complex as a cornea transplant or and intra-ocular lens implant for cataracts. No matter the services provided, it means a significant improvement in the quality of life for the recipient.
Sometime we may think that the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation is a separate entity from our local club or even from ourselves as an individual Lion. In reality, just the opposite is true. Over 50 years ago, the Georgia Lions who founded the Lighthouse wrote into its Constitution and By-laws the following:
"Article VIII, Section 1. (Membership) Each member of an active Lions or Lioness Club in Georgia Multiple District 18 is automatically a member of the Lions Lighthouse, and, as such, is privileged to give it their whole hearted support, both morally and financially."
These visionary Lions, over 50 years ago, realized that there are some things that an individual or local Lions Club just can't do alone. For this reason they decided that if ALL the Lions of Georgia would ban together for a common goal, we could help those who otherwise would have no hope.
When each of us was inducted into our club, we took an oath in which we agreed to support the programs of our club, district and Lions International. The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation is one of our Multiple District's programs, highly deserving of our continuous support
I ask that you support White Cane this year to your club's utmost potential, and in doing so you and your club will help the Lions of Georgia surpass the Lighthouse services currently being provided.
Please review the information in this booklet and see how your support can help bring a brighter future for those in need. Lets work together as Lions to supply sight and hearing services to those who need them.
"Everyone has the right to see and hear." By working together, we can give others the opportunity to see the beauty of nature or hear the song of life that we may take for granted.
Thanks in advance for your support of White Cane!
Yours in Lionism,
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J.C. Coefielid
MD18 White Cane Chairman
Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation
Fact Sheet
The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Inc. provides vision and hearing care to Georgians in financial need. The Lions Lighthouse serves residents who have no where else to turn for eye exams, eyeglasses, eye surgeries, prosthetic eyes, and hearing aids.
MISSION & HISTORY
The mission of the Lions Lighthouse is to foster sight conservation and restoration, and hearing conservation, with particular emphasis on youth. Founded in 1949 as a major service project of Lions Clubs of Georgia, more than 225 Lions and Lionesses clubs provide financial and volunteer support for the Lions Lighthouse.
EFFICIENCY
Over $.90 of every dollar given to the Georgia Lions Lighthouse goes directly to program services.
We work diligently to ensure that donations are used wisely and help as many people as possible. Therefore, the Lighthouse receives over $4 of medical services for every $1 spent on medical services.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
The Lighthouse is fortunate to have strong support from the Lions Clubs. Approximately 3,256 lions support the Lighthouse each year through personal gifts, club contributions, and fund-raising efforts.
We also partner with Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Anesthesiologists, Audiologists, and hospitals across the state to ensure clients receive the help they need. These medical providers greatly discount their services for the Lighthouse. We have a long standing relationship with Emory Eye Center.
The Lighthouse also works with County Health Departments and DFACS offices to ensure clients know about the services we offer.
Programs and Services___________
Eye Surgeries
The Lighthouse Foundation provides eye surgery to uninsured Georgians in danger of permanent vision loss. In our 2008-2009 year the Lighthouse provided 306 eye surgeries to low-income uninsured Georgians, and we anticipate serving over 300 this year. The success of the eye surgery program is due to the hard work of our Ophthalmologists greatly reducing their cost to help those in need. In fact every dollar we spend is matched by $6 of in-kind medical services.
Vision Clinics
The clinic program of the Lighthouse hosts 14 vision clinics around the state. Last year we provided over 3,000 people an eye exam and eyeglasses. The clinics enable doctors to diagnose and treat serious eye conditions before the patient experiences permanent vision loss. Monthly clinics now operate in Atlanta, Decatur, Athens, Macon, Savannah, Tifton, and Brunswick.
Operation I Care:
The Lighthouse ships over 100,000 pairs of recycled glasses to developing nations around the world.
Vision Screenings
Vision Screenings allow us to educate the public about the need for vision care, especially when certain risk factors such as diabetes are present. Screenings are typically at community events, and many take place throughout rural Georgia.
Hearing Service
The Lighthouse Foundation is the primary resource for low–income residents seeking hearing aid assistance. Hearing aids were provided to over 800 GA residents last year.
The average cost of a hearing aid is $1500 each, but only costs our clients between $60 to $205 each, depending on their income. In the past, more than 70% of our clients have been senior citizens. In marketing our new program, the Foundation will continue assisting seniors, but will target the working poor.
Learn more at www.lionslighthouse.org
Lighthouse Restores Hope___________
PERRY QUARRELS
Perry Quarles took care of his ailing father, did the best he could. His eyesight was failing him and he could no longer drive. Hospice care, who was tending to some of his fathers needs, also bought them groceries, which Perry could no longer do for himself. When his Dad passed away in October of 2004, Perry was 70% blind in his right eye and 40% blind in his left. Only months later when he was able to get an eye exam his vision was completely gone in his right eye and 70% in his left, but the doctor he saw said that their was nothing he could do to help his vision. After meeting Lion Ron Crow, he was directed to an eye surgery specialist who informed him that he had severe cataracts. The surgery was expensive, he was not working, he did not have insurance and he was not going be able to afford it. His doctor contacted the Lighthouse and with the help of the Lighthouse, he was able to have surgery on his right eye and then eight weeks later on his left. When his vision was impaired, his daughter had a baby and he could barely see him. She had another child after the surgery and Perry was able to see her at birth. Perry said, “Now I can see my Grandchildren grow.”
DOROTHY
“It was like people were speaking a foreign language” - Dorothy, a spry 80 something, moved to Georgia several years ago to help take care of her daughter who had suffered a major stroke. She noticed that it was getting increasingly hard to hear things clearly. “It was like people were speaking a foreign language”, Dorothy said. Today, with her new, affordable aid purchased through the Lighthouse, Dorothy is better able to hear. She once again can fully participate in church, understand her grandchildren and hear the television. Once again the world is speaking a language Dorothy can understand.
MATTHEW FARIAS
Matthew Farias, 5 years old, had his eyes examined on November 4, at the first Georgia Lions Lighthouse Eye Clinic, sponsored by the Lighthouse Foundation in partnership with Good Samaritan Health Center and the Emory Eye Center. Matthew Farias does not qualify for PeachCare because his parents are missionaries in Georgia on a Religious Visa. Without the clinic Matthew could not have had this exam, which caught his amblyopia or lazy eye. Matthew has been wearing a patch to correct the problem, but without this clinic he may have lost use of that eye completely. He was among 48 people who received vision care at the first Georgia Lions Lighthouse Eye Clinic.
More stories of hope can be found on www.lionslighthouse.org
Before you get Started…________________
Ø Does your White Cane Fundraiser raise money?
If you are putting in a lot of effort without much reward, try something different. Three Lions Clubs have very successful letter writing campaigns that do not take a lot of effort and raise between $5,000-$10,000.
Ø Are you educating the public about Sight Conservation and Lionism?
Every White Cane activity should be educational. Pass out literature while you are collecting donations or include information in your solicitation letter.
Ø Have you contacted the local press about White Cane?
Newspaper articles, radio spots, and even TV publicity from the local TV station all make a big difference in the success of your event. Advertise before and during your event, and have a follow up article about the success of the event. Make sure that those businesses that helped you get coverage as well.
Ø Are you making a direct solicitation?
Most people do not give because they are not asked. Be honest and sincere in asking people to donate to this wonderful cause. All donations go directly to providing sight services!
Ø Are you thanking your supporters?
Did you know it takes approximately 7 “thank yous” for someone to feel appreciated! Personal notes are one of the best ways to thank someone for their support, but you may also want to try certificates, and better yet purchase a $5 frame. The business with likely display the certificate in its lobby, which relates to great publicity for your club.
Some things to think about:
:
Start EARLY! The earlier you start planning the less stress you will have closer to the event. If you are using the letter writing campaign, it is extremely important to send out letters early on in the year to provide adequate time to receive checks and responses. Many times it takes a long time for grants to go through.
BE CREATIVE. Creativity grabs attention. The more attention you can grab, the better chance of receiving donation.
Remember White Cane is not just one day. White Cane day is everyday. It’s much easier to raise money over the year rather than raising money in one day.
Build anticipation for the event. Make sure you advertise for your event. You put so much hard word into setting up and organizing the event you need to make sure that people know about it. The way to make the money is by people showing up.
Make sure people know where their money is going. Use facts and figures. People need to know exactly what percentage of the money donated goes to the services. They also like to know what these services are. A good way of doing this is to show them a brochure. Pictures and success stories are always a good way to draw people in.
Think about your community and Club’s strengths and weaknesses. Some fundraising techniques work differently depending on the makeup of the club and the community. Think about those characteristics and build upon them. Building upon already existing strengths is much easier than developing new strengths.
Receive input from other resources. Make sure to ask for suggestions from your club members. They may be able to help improve or build upon your ideas. Call other clubs that have similar community demographics and see what they do. Search the internet. The internet has a virtually endless amount of fundraiser ideas.
Ways to Raise Money:
Letter Writing Campaign__________________
This has proven to be one of the easiest and most effective White Cane fundraising activities. The South Cobb Lions Club raises $7,000+ annually, Atlanta Lions Club raises $12,000 annually, and the Union County Lions Club raised $5,000+ last year. Below is a step by step guide to a successful campaign. ** Note this is an activity where the details count, please follow all the steps!
1) Have each Lion submit 10-20 names of individuals and 10-20 names of companies that should receive a letter. Submissions should include contact information.
2) One person in the club will create a spreadsheet with this information and make sure to note who submitted the name.
3) Create a letter and pledge form that can be mail merged. You may want to create a different letter for companies and individuals. We have included sample letters from the three Lions Clubs listed above for you to use as a guide. The letter should tell the reader how the money will be used, and how they will be recognized. See Appendix A&B for examples.
4) Make sure the letter is on Lions Club letterhead.
5) Have your Club President and White Cane Chairman sign the letters.
6) Bring all of the letters to a club meeting and have the people who submitted the name write a personal note, such as “hope you can support this wonderful cause”, or “thanks for all your past support, please consider giving again this year.” They should also sign the letter. This is one of the most important steps because PEOPLE GIVE TO PEOPLE AND NOT CAUSES.