Lions Clubs District 4-L2 dedicates an 8-passenger van to Blind Childrens Center in Los Angeles

Lion Kenny Shu, a zone chairman and Charter President of West Covina Diamond Lions Club, presents the van along with Region Chairman Stephen Budzak (City of Industry); Immediate Past District Governor Judy Powell (Downtown Long Beach); and current District Governor Larry Dicus (Whittier Host) at this official dedication ceremony at the Center, located at 4120 Marathon St., near L.A. City College.

The fundraising proposal was presented by Shu at the Lions Clubs International District 4L2 cabinet meeting in October 2008, with a targeted time frame of nine months, said former District Governor Judy Powell of the Downtown Long Beach Lions Club. The remaining funds were matched by Lions Clubs International Foundation.

We assumed that raising the necessary funds to apply for a matching grant from LCIF would take the better part of the fiscal year, Powell said. Instead, the response was so quick that we had the money in the bank by February.

The $19,000 raised by local Lions clubs and individual Lions was enough to fund half the purchase cost of the van. An application for the matching grant was approved by International in July. The check arrived in September and the new van has been purchased.

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Shu came up with the idea for the fundraising project after visiting the center with a group of Lions last year, which led to the purchase of a Braille printer presented to the Blind Childrens Center last Christmas. For his diligence in getting the van project started and following through on generating participation, the Center recognized Shu as its Man of the Year this fall.
grant from our Lions Clubs International Foundation would take the better part of the fiscal year, says Powell. Instead, the response was so quick that we had the money in the bank by February!
The $19,000-plus raised was enough to fund half the purchase cost of a van. The three Lions then applied for a matching grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation to complete the funding. The grant was approved in July; the check arrived in September; and the new van has been purchased. The official dedication of the van will take place on Wednesday, December 9 at 10:30 a.m. at the Center, 4120 Marathon Street in Los Angeles.
Adds Shu, now Zone Chairman and Charter President of West Covina Diamond Lions Club, Last years Lions Clubs International President had Miracles Through Service as his theme. To me this van project is the perfect example of Lions clubs and members making miracles happen.
The selection of the project grew out of a visit by a group of Lions to the Center in September last year. Even before fundraising for the van went into high gear, the group had purchased and presented a new Braille printer to the the Center at last Christmas. Earlier this fall the Blind Childrens Center recognized Kenny Shu as its Man of the Year for his diligence in getting the project started and following through on generating participation.

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