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Serving the Community for 58 Years
The Lions Club of Sunland-Tujunga, chartered in 1949, is a part of Lions Clubs International, a 1.3 million member group dedicated to service at home and around the world.
The Redcoats
We are called the "Redcoats" because we always wear red jackets or shirts to our functions.
The Watermelon Festival
The Watermelon Festival of the Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club has provided a weekend of fun for the community every summer for forty-six years. It is also the primary fund raiser for the club.
ALL net profits raised from the Festival are used for the service and philanthropic work of the club.
The Lions Challenge - Be the Knights of the Blind
In 1926, Helen Keller challenged the Lions to be "Knights of the Blind". Since that time, Lions have worked tirelessly to eradicate preventable blindness and improve vision for people in all countries. The Sunland-Tujunga Lions invest in the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) which provides grants to clubs throughout the world to help with their local projects, funds Lions In Sight to provide recycled eyeglasses through Lions clinics in Third World countries; operates Lions SightFirst, providing cataract surgeries, treating river blindness and trachoma, building eye clinics and training medical personnel in eye surgery and eye disease treatment in the Third World; and is often first on the scene when there is a disaster, working through local Lions Clubs to meet the immediate needs of the community.
Our Community Services
Vision and Health
In 1999, the S-T Lions spearheaded the drive to open the Lions Optometric Vision Clinic at MEND, a poverty center in Pacoima, with funds from area Lions Clubs, the Anonymous Foundation, and LCIF. When MEND outgrew its facility on Van Nuys Blvd. and built a much larger Center on San Fernando Road, Lions helped design the space for a new Vision Clinic and are raising money to equip it at this time. Club funds also go to Guide Dogs of America in Sylmar and the Guide Dogs of the Desert, the Foundation for the Jr. Blind, Canine Companions for Independence for the disabled, City of Hope, Foundation for the Junior Blind, the Lions Eyemobile, The Lions Hearing Foundation, Southern California Lions Eye Institute, Tierra del Sol, and the Lions Camp Teresita Pines in Wrightwood where a special camping experience is provided for deaf children every summer.
Children and Youth
The Lions are concerned with the needs of our children and youth, giving financial support to local scout groups, the YMCA, Blue Shadows Equestrian Drill team, the New Heaven on Earth Ranch Foundation, Boys Republic, the California Theatrical Youth Ballet and Valley View Vaulters. Money is budgeted to help deserving students with scholarships, camperships and funds, helping them travel to UpClose Washington DC, or to state or national competitions. Lions sponsor the Sunland Park Easter Egg Hunt and help out with Halloween at the Park.
The International Peace Poster Contest for middle school students is sponsored by the Lions in the fall, and the Student Speakers Contest for high school students is a winter project. At Christmas the Lions sponsor Liberty Day and the Lions Fishing Trip for Blind Kids each summer was begun by the local club. Major support is given to students wishing to travel abroad in the summer as part of the Lions Youth Exchange Program, and Lion families host YEPers visiting California.
Community Needs and Involvement
Money is set aside in every budget to respond to emergency needs in the community, the S-T Temporary Aid Center, and MEND. Families receive food baskets each year at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club is a member of the Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce, helps underwrite the C of C's annual Fireworks Show, and participates in the Fourth of July Parade and the S-T Neighborhood Council. McGroarty Art Center receives financial support from the club.
Lions Recycle
Lions collect pull-tabs from soda cans for Ronald McDonald House and labels from Campbell Soup cans for Lions Camp Teresita Pines; small toiletry items from hotels and used suitcases, duffel, sport and tote bags for Kases for Kids; used stamps and greeting cards are given to Our Lady of Lourdes School for its stamp club and art program; and used plastic and paper shopping bags are saved for the S-T Temporary Aid Center.
The Lions Motto
The support of the community for the Annual Watermelon Festival makes it possible for the Lions of Sunland-Tujunga to live up to the Lions motto,
"We Serve"
as we reach out in many ways to be of help when we are needed.
Why Don't You Become a Lion?
Would you like to be a part of this dynamic and effective international organization? Contact Lion Peter Schellenbach at 818-353-4554. Let "We Serve" be your motto also. |
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