Plano Early Lions Club
Support Activities
Lions Clubs International provides a means through which a local Lions Club can take part in Lion’s Regional, National, and International endeavors in support of programs directed toward the blind, the sight-impaired, those afflicted with diabetes and to others as their need is identified. Each year, Lions International advises the local club how much should be contributed (based on the number of member in the local club) to be considered 100% supportive. PELC has been 200% supportive each year for the last ten years.
In 2008, the forty members
of the Plano Early Lions Club will contribute approximately $1700 through
these projects to such projects as: The Texas Lion Foundation; the Lions
Sight and Tissue Foundation; Lions World Services for the Blind; Leader
Dogs for the Blind; the J.C. Hyer Lions Youth Camp; Camp New Horizons;
and, to provide eye exams and glasses.
In addition to these good works, the Plano Early Lions Club contributes mightily to projects and endeavors in Texas and, especially, in Plano. Some of these are:
Texas Lion Camp – Is a residential camping facility for children with physical disabilities, Type 1 diabetes, and cancer. Children with special needs from all over Texas are invited to attend the Camp which introduces the “Can Do” philosophy to children dealing with special medical conditions during a time designed for fun, exploration, and challenge.
In 2008, PELC will contribute $10,640 and has contributed approximately $100,000.00 to the camp over the past ten years.
PELC Scholarship Grant Program – Through academic record, essay, and interview, Plano high school seniors compete for scholarship grants to assist them in their pursuit of higher education.
In 2008, PELC will make $10,000 in scholarships available. It has conducted this program for ten years and has contributed $66,000.00 over that period to support forty-four of our community’s college bound young students.
Plano Children’s Medical Clinic - is decreasing the pain and suffering of Collin County children and intervening early in illness to prevent further problems. Thousands of children have come to the clinic for well care, sick care and immunizations. PCMC serves the Medicaid and low-income populations.
In 2008, PELC will contribute $1000 to help the children of our community that look to clinic for their, very real, medical needs. We have donated to the clinic about $4500.00 since 2001 and expect to continue to do so as long as there is a child in our community that needs the clinic’s care.
Collin County Adult Clinic – Through a roster of volunteer doctors, nurses, practitioner nurses, translators, administrative, and clerical staff, 45-60 patients are seen each week; and, 1300 individual patients have been served and there have been over 3,000 patient-return visits since its opening in 2003. Recently, a diabetic educational program has been developed which offers patients classes in two languages.
PELC continued to contribute to the clinic in 2008 with $1000 as it has for 4 years and has helped the clinic to continue to meet our community’s needs, especially in diabetic education and treatment.
Collin County Committee on Aging – Meals on Wheels – A program that provides a daily (Monday through Friday) hot, nutritious noon time meal and personal contact to the homebound elderly. Approximately 650 Collin County seniors receive Meals on Wheels.
PELC will contribute $1000 in 2008 to this needed service as it has over the past four years, a total of $4000.00 to assist the older members of our community realize much needed food for the body and for the soul.
The Assistance League of Greater Collin County – provides a wide range of programs to assist the residents throughout Collin County including Plano. Allen, McKinney, Frisco, and Prosper.
These services include providing clothing and hygiene kits to assault victims (Assault Survivor Kits); after school tutoring to students of Bright Elementary School (Bright Ideas); volunteers provide personal time and instruction for craft projects to residents of a limited income housing development (Making It Happen); providing new school clothing, socks, underwear and shoes (Operation School Bell); providing a selection of books and magazines to patients on surgical floors of a local hospital (Read Aloud Program); and, the preparation and donation of bereavement memory boxes which are presented by skilled hospital staff to parents who have lost a child through infant demise (Wee Memories).
PELC will contribute $1000.00 to the Assistance League beginning in 2008.
Plano YMCA - All YMCA programs are tools YMCAs use to accomplish their mission, achieve their vision of building strong kids, strong families and strong communities, and reinforce the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. YMCAs also use an asset-building approach in their work. Each association is different, reflecting the needs of the local community.
PELC supports the community based view of the YMCA and will contribute $1000 to the Plano YMCA in 2008 to continue its valuable services to the members of our community. PELC has done so since 1998 and has contributed approximately $7000.00 over that period.
Ronald McDonald House of Dallas - The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas is a temporary home-away-from-home that serves and sustains families of seriously ill or injured children receiving treatment in a Dallas hospital. More than just a place to sleep, the Ronald McDonald House provides a warm, safe, and comfortable home for sick children and their families.
PELC, in recognition that the needs of the Plano community extend beyond the boundaries of the city of Plano, our club will contribute to the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas as it has since 2001, for a total of $2500.00 over that period.
The Samaritan Inn - Since 1984, The Samaritan Inn, a non-profit organization, has helped thousands of homeless people in Collin County regain their independence with comprehensive programs and the help of caring individuals and corporations. The Samaritan Inn was established in 1984 after community leaders joined together to address the issue of homelessness in Collin County. Twenty three years later, The Samaritan Inn is still the only homeless shelter in a county of over 700,000 residents.
In 2008, PELC continues its commitment to helping our neighbors who need a hand up by contributing $1000 to The Samaritan Inn as it has since 1998. Its $8100.00 in contributions over these years has touched and helped give aid to thousands of our neighbors.
CITY House – Collin Intervention to Youth, Inc. - CITY House Transitional Living Program was founded in 2001 to help young adults who become homeless and wish to live independently, but don’t have the skills or knowledge to succeed on their own. This program helps them develop the skills and confidence needed to become responsible, productive members of the community, especially when coping with difficult circumstances and relationships.
The Transitional Living Program offers both residential and non-residential services to 16 to 21 year olds who need help transitioning to the responsibilities of adulthood. Services are provided to pregnant, parenting, and homeless young adults.
PELC has been asked to, and will contribute, $1000 to CITY House in 2008.
Click for Success – Strategies that Empower the Economically Disadvantaged collects used personal computers and peripheral equipment from donors, reconditions them and then distributes them, along with lessons on how they are used, to the young, disadvantaged of our community to help them cross the “Digital Divide”. This assists and provides the means for the young of our community to have the necessary tools for their education and enables them to more successfully cross the educational and economic bridge that education provides.
In 2008, PELC renews its commitment to assisting those in our community that have a real need for this service with a contribution of $1000 as it has since 2007. In addition to funding, several members have identified, obtained, and donated personal computers to this needed service and have served as mentors.
South Collin County Habitat for Humanity – Plano – With the help of individuals, organizations, churches, and communities, HfH built ten decent, affordable houses. PELC helped with a contribution of $1000.00; and, since 2002 PELC has contributed 6150.00 to this world famous organization
Plano Santas – provides food, clothing, and gifts for families in need at the holiday times. Over 350 families were provided support this holiday season by the Plano Santas organization in Plano.
In addition to contributing $1000.00_each year over the past two years to these bringers of joy, PELC joined with the Plano Santas to host the City of Plano’s Christmas Parade beginning in 2007.
CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates – provides trained community volunteers to advocate the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in the court system. These volunteers are appointed by the judges as Guardian Ad Litem on 100% of the abuse and neglect cases. The goal is for the volunteer to be a voice for these children. The result is that each child is placed into a safe, loving home where he or she can thrive.
In 2008, PELC will contribute $750.00 to this much needed and effective organization. Since 2000, PELC has contributed $6250.00 and plans to continue to do so.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County – To fulfill its mission to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as responsible, caring and productive citizens, the B & G Clubs of CC provides more than 3,800 area children and teenagers with a safe place to learn and grow in the vulnerable hours between school and home.
In 2008, PELC will contribute
$750 to the B & G Clubs of Collin County. Over the past eight years,
PELC has contributed $5750 to this much needed service.
In addition to these sizable gifts, in 2008 the Plano Early Lions Club will contribute $500 to each of: