A pair of eyeglasses. A mobility cane. A week at Camp Dogwood. A vision screening that catches a problem early. These may seem like very different things, but they are all part of one important Lions effort called Brighter Visions.
Past District Governor Steve Cline of District 31-I joined the Apex Lions Club on August 20 to help us better understand just how much falls under the Brighter Visions umbrella, and why the work matters to communities across North Carolina.
This year, Steve is serving as the State Brighter Visions Chair, and he has set an ambitious goal: raise $1 million across North Carolina’s five Lions districts.
Why aim so high? Nearly 220,000 people in North Carolina are blind or visually impaired, according to information Steve shared with the club. Behind that number are individuals and families who may need services, resources, technology, recreation opportunities, or other forms of assistance.
So, What Is Brighter Visions?
Brighter Visions helps support a wide range of programs and services benefiting people who are blind or visually impaired, as well as efforts to prevent vision loss and identify vision problems.
Those efforts can include vision and hearing screenings, eye exams, eyeglasses, vouchers, eye surgeries, clinical eye research, mobility canes, Camp Dogwood sponsorships, KidSightUSA screening resources, special grants, public education and diabetes awareness, and assistive technologies such as electronic glasses and GPS-enabled canes.
In other words, Brighter Visions is not one project. It is a way Lions across North Carolina turn fundraising and volunteer service into practical help for people.
From Fundraising to Real People
Numbers are important, but Steve reminded us that numbers do not tell the whole story. His presentation included heartwarming stories about people who have benefited from the programs Lions support.
That struck a chord with us because volunteers do not always get to see the final result of their work. You might help with a fundraiser, make a donation, work an event, or spend hours behind the scenes without ever meeting the person who ultimately benefits.
Steve encouraged Lions to volunteer at Camp Dogwood and the Visually Impaired People (VIP) Fishing Tournament, two places where volunteers have an opportunity to spend time with the people our service supports and witness their joy firsthand.
That is a powerful reminder of why we do the work.
Apex Is Already Making a Difference
The Apex Lions Club has good reason to be proud of its contribution. Last year, Apex Lions raised $14,400 for Brighter Visions, the second-highest amount in our district. Steve also noted that only Districts 31-I and 31-S met or exceeded their fundraising goals last year. Now the challenge is to build on that success.
Steve knows something about ambitious fundraising. After 15 years as a teacher, he now owns a nursery and landscaping business. He has also served as his district’s Brighter Visions Chair for several years, helping raise almost $500,000 during that period.
As State Brighter Visions Chair, he is thinking about new ways to bring more people and organizations into the effort. One idea is expanding corporate sponsorship opportunities. Work is already underway to develop a corporate sponsorship package, creating another potential way for local businesses and community partners to join us in making an impact.
Now We Have Some Work to Do
Steve’s visit was educational, entertaining, and motivating. We came away with a better understanding of where Brighter Visions dollars go, who they help, and what could be possible if Lions, businesses, donors, and volunteers work together.
A $1 million statewide goal is ambitious. But every eye screening, every pair of glasses, every mobility cane, every Camp Dogwood experience, and every person helped starts with someone deciding the work is worth doing.
Here in Apex, we are ready to do our part.
If you have been looking for a way to serve your community, meet neighbors who care about making a difference, or partner with an organization that has been serving Apex since 1937, we would love to introduce you to the Apex Lions Club.
Learn more about the Apex Lions Club at ApexLions.org.
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