Lions Clubs foundation celebrates 30 years

OAK BROOK - Lions Clubs International Foundation is celebrating 30 years of improving vision and increasing eye screenings through its SightFirst grant program. Lions, in cooperation with health care providers and partner organizations, have impacted the sight of more than 488 million people worldwide through SightFirst, the foundation said.

"Lions everywhere are proud of the immense impact we have made in vision around the world," said foundation chairwoman Gudrun Yngvadottir said. "With SightFirst funding from (the foundation), we've heeded Helen Keller's 1925 call to be knights of the blind."

Established in 1990, the SightFirst program strengthens eye care systems in underserved communities, enabling them to fight blindness and vision loss, as well as assist those who are blind or visually impaired.

SightFirst's strategic partners includes the World Health Organization, and it also partners with the Carter Center, Special Olympics and Johnson & Johnson Vision.