Category Archives: Fundraising

MLK Day of Service

17 Thursday Jan 2019

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“Everybody can be great because everyone can serve.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK Day of Service.png

Photo Credit to Corporation for National and Community Service 

Each January, we honor and celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1983, Legislation marked the birthday of Dr. King as a federal holiday. But in 1994, Congress designated the holiday as a national day of service. Each year, on the third Monday of January, we are all encouraged to look at Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthdate as a “day on, not a day off.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. In 1948, he received a BA degree from Morehouse College, at the age of 19. He was awarded a BD degree after three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary.

Shortly after, he became the pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He was always a strong advocate of civil rights, so he joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as a member of the executive committee. In early December 1955, he accepted leadership as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The boycott lasted a total of 382 days. On December 21, 1956, the Supreme Court of the United States declared bus segregation as unconstitutional. From that point on, people of all races rode the bus together as equals.

In 1957, he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a newly created organization that was formed to provide leadership for the civil rights movement. In the next eleven years, Dr. King would travel over six million miles and give over 2500 speeches. Meanwhile, he wrote five books as well as several articles and led enormous peaceful protests. He may be most known for leading the 1963 march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people and delivering his “I Have A Dream” speech. During his lifetime, he was arrested more than 25 times, awarded five honorary degrees and was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1968, while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, he was shot. He died on April 4.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all. The Day of Service is intended for engaging in community action that works to solve social problems. Service has an incredible ability to unite people of all ages and backgrounds while building stronger communities.

Honor the memory of Dr. King on Monday, January 21, by choosing to serve. Looking for a new service project? You need to see the Lions Club’s complete list of ideas for families. What project will you and your club start next? We’d love to hear in the comments below.

Happy MLK Day of Service from Lions Pride!

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Giving Thanks and Giving Back

22 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by in Fundraising, Giving Tips, Holidays, Special Events

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Today is a special day – Thanksgiving, a day where we gather with friends and family to STACKED_0.pngreflect on life’s greatest blessings. We love the message behind the holiday, but isn’t it ironic that less than 24 hours from now, many of us will be stampeding through retail stores to find this year’s newest tech gadget or a larger flat-screen TV? Why do we only get the one day to appreciate all that life has to offer, but multiple days dedicated to buying gifts?

The team at the Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact must have had similar questions because, in 2012, they introduced America to Giving Tuesday. The idea is simple. On the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (this year, it’s November 27) we take the day off from holiday shopping and instead give back.

On Thanksgiving, we give thanks.

On Black Friday, we get deals.

On Cyber Monday, we get online.

On Giving Tuesday, we give back.

How can you give back? That’s the beauty behind this holiday because the answer is any way you wish. You can choose to give time by helping a neighbor in need, give kindness by complimenting a stranger, give hope with a donation to your favorite nonprofit organization, or give knowledge to others with the power of your voice.

Regardless of whether you have $5 or $50, 10 minutes or 10 hours; all that matters is that you give. By finding a way to help your family, friends, community or organization of your choosing, you’ve done more than your part. Let’s join together to start a movement celebrating generosity and giving back.

The Lions Pride Office will be closed today and tomorrow in observance of the holiday but are excited to hear how you will be celebrating Giving Tuesday. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Wishing you and your family a happy Thanksgiving!

 

Help an Area Family in Need With Stuff the Bus

10 Thursday Aug 2017

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Although hard to believe, the new school year is right around the corner. Help local School Suppliesfamilies and children get ready for school by participating in Stuff the Bus 2017.

Did you know that in 2015, the cost of sending a single child back to school was estimated at $630? As childhood poverty continues to rise, it is becoming more challenging for families to find the resources to purchase necessary school supplies. You can help lighten their load by donating school supplies to a local Stuff the Bus Drive this Saturday, August 12.

We understand that time may have passed since you last purchased school supplies. Below you’ll see supplies most commonly found on area back to school lists.

  • Anti-bacterial wipes
  • Baby wipes
  • Backpacks
  • Ballpoint pens
  • Binders- 3-ring, 1 ½” to 2”
  • Binder Dividers – 5-tab set
  • Colored pencils
  • Compass
  • Crayons – 8 count, 24 count
  • Facial tissue
  • Flash drive
  • Folders – 2 pocket
  • Glue sticks
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Highlighters – Yellow
  • Washable markers – wide tip, 8 colors, thin tip – 8-12 colors
  • Sharpie Ultra-fine Marker – black
  • Spiral notebooks – single subject – wide lined & college rule
  • Loose-leaf notebook paper – wide-lined & college rule
  • Graphing paper
  • Printer paper – plain white
  • Index cards (100 pack)
  • Paper towels
  • #2 Pencils
  • Pencil case – zippered for 3-ring binder
  • Pencil sharpener
  • Pink erasers
  • Post-it notes
  • Ruler – 12″ with inches & centimeters
  • School box • School glue
  • Scissors – 4-5″ blunt & pointed tips
  • Small stapler
  • Staples
  • Whiteout (nonliquid)
  • Zip-lock bags – sandwich, quart & gallon

Area retailers are running great back to school sales; there’s never been a better time to pick up supplies. Whether you bring one item or handful of supplies, please know that you are making a difference for a local child by giving them the tools they need for a successful school career.

To find a drive near you, please visit your local Lions Club website or search Facebook for local events. On behalf of Lions Pride and all Wisconsin Lions, thank you for helping us Stuff the Bus!

The 10th Annual Lions Pride Shoot Preparations

08 Thursday Jun 2017

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If you’ve been keeping up with us at any point in the last decade, you know that early9th Annual Shootsummer is an especially busy time of the year for our staff. On the second Saturday of June for the past ten years, we’ve traveled to Milford Hills in Johnson Creek for the annual Lions Pride Sporting Clays Shoot.

Despite the fact that it is a one-day event, the staff has spent months preparing – registering shooters, enlisting sponsors, collecting door prizes and auction items, coordinating the day’s activities with the Milford Hills staff and recruiting volunteers. Now that the final week is upon us and all of our participants are signed up, we can work on the last details of creating signage and finalizing all of our station games and activities.

At the beginning of the year, we knew that this event would be different from past years without Dewey, but the fact has become ever clear throughout all of our preparations. It’s been impossible not to think of him as we continue to assemble the various elements of his favorite fundraising event. The Pride Shoot was his favorite fundraising event and something that he looked forward to year after year. This year’s event will be dedicated to his memory, and we know that he will be with us in spirit on Saturday.

Although we still have a lot to accomplish before the weekend, we know that everything will get done – it always does! We’d like to thank all of our donors, sponsors and volunteers in advance for all of your support. It truly takes an army to create and implement a successful event, and the Pride Shoot would not be what it is without all of your help.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to get back to work!

See you on Saturday,
Lions Pride Staff

9th Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser & New Shooter Tips

09 Thursday Jun 2016

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Pride Shoot PreparationIt’s been a busy week here at Lions Pride! We’ve been preparing for this weekend’s 9th Annual Pride Shoot Sporting Clays Fundraiser happening again at Milford Hills Hunt Club in Johnson Creek. Our sporting clays fundraiser is one of our most popular events of the year where both Lions and Non-Lions come together to spend the day in the beautiful rolling hills of Southern Wisconsin.

While many of our participants are active supporters of Lions Pride with some prior experience shooting sporting clays, we understand that there may be a few newbies out there who may enjoy a few pointers before the shoot. Read through our list of beginner’s tips to feel more comfortable before Saturday morning:

  • Determine your dominant eye

Many new shooters assume that since they are right-handed, they also have a dominant right eye. While this is common, it is not always the case. To verify eye dominance, follow this exercise: stand tall and point to an object on the opposite side of the room. Close your left eye, and if you can still see the object at the end of your finger, your right is dominant. If the object has moved, open your left eye and close your right. If the object is still at the end of your finger, your left eye is dominant.  

  • Always practice safety first when out on the course

Handle your gun as if it were loaded, but keep it unloaded until you are ready to shoot. You’ll also want to make sure that your muzzle is always pointed down until you are ready to shoot, and never point your gun at anything that you don’t want to shoot.

  • Use the proper stance

Rather than aiming, you will want to get in the habit of pointing your gun. To accomplish this, stand with your front leg slightly bent and your back leg straight. You will also want to bend a little at the hip and slightly lean forward.

  • Focus on the target

While this may sound like obvious advice, you may be surprised to learn that it’s hard not to look down at your gun barrel or bead. Get into the routine of staying focused on the target.

  • Choose your target ahead of time

When it’s your turn, you are typically going to want to shoot the lower target first because the recoil will automatically bring you to the higher target. Keep this in mind, unless of course; you are interested in taking on a more challenging shot!

Experienced shooters, what advice would you give to someone new to the game? Learn more tips by visiting MEC Shooting Sports.

We are looking forward to seeing all of our fundraiser participants this weekend. Good luck to all of our shooters; we cannot thank you enough for your ongoing support. We are especially thankful for the volunteers who come to help; we could not manage without them.

Was your schedule too full to get to this year’s Shoot? Plan on attending next year, the 10th Annual Lions Pride Sporting Clay Fundraising Shoot will be held on June 10, 2017.

Take Your Daughter to Work Day & A Look Inside Lions Pride

28 Thursday Apr 2016

Posted by in Conventions, Fundraising, Lions Camp, Special Events

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Every year on the fourth Thursday of April, Lions Pride Boothparents across the United States celebrate Take Your Daughter to Work Day. Gloria Steinem created the event in 1993, to expand the career horizons of young girls. Today, Take Your Daughter to Work Day has evolved to “Take Our Children to Work Day” because women now make up half of the US workforce.

Since our kids are officially grown and have work of their own, we thought it would be fun to give our readers and supporters a look inside the daily operations of Lions Pride.

As you may already be familiar, our mission is to preserve, protect and provide. We are continuously looking for ways to help support WLF projects focusing on the Wisconsin Lions Camp, the eyeglass recycling center, diabetes education, early children’s vision screening and more. Donors have a unique opportunity when working with Lions Pride because they have the chance to voice exactly which projects they choose to support.

We just wrapped up our convention season. Throughout the past Lionistic year, we visited many different Lions Club districts around the state, educating them about our organization. We are now moving on to planning and preparing for our next fundraising event, the 9th Annual Sporting Clay Shoot, which will take place on June 11, 2016, at Milford Hills Hunt Club in Johnson Creek.

Although our daily schedule is a bit more unpredictable, we expect to be working alongside the Board of Directors, communicating with our donors, managing the budget, coordinating with the Wisconsin Lions Foundation, keeping up with administrative duties and more.

Typically, our organization consists of one full-time person and two part-time people; however, we are currently searching for a part-time office manager to help with the organization responsibilities. (If you know of someone who fits the job description, please let us know.)

As you can see, there’s never a dull moment around here! We feel so lucky to represent such an outstanding organization with an important message and filled with phenomenal supporters. What else do you want to know about Lions Pride?

Happy “Take Our Children to Work Day”!

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

21 Thursday Apr 2016

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Wisconsin Lions Camp

Grab your party hat and a pair of work gloves because tomorrow is Mother Nature’s birthday! The 22nd of every April marks Earth Day, the chance for all of us to appreciate the world that we live in and rethink the way we treat our home.

We have a lot of admiration for organizations that are continuously celebrating the planet all year-round. We’ve seen many large organizations, such as General Mills and Starbucks; adopt more sustainable and eco-friendly business practices. As we were brainstorming green organizations, another organization also immediately came to mind; one that is a little more local and very close to our hearts, the Wisconsin Lions Camp.

As many of you already know the camp is situated on 440 acres of land centered around Lions Lake. The camp is home to hundreds of weekly campers throughout the summer months. During their week away, campers and staff spend a vast majority of their time outdoors so it should come as no surprise they have a great respect for Mother Nature.

In addition to assisting children with self-confidence and interdependence, the Wisconsin Lions Camp staff focuses on providing campers with a strong environmental awareness. The kids are encouraged to sign up for programs to learn more about certain areas of the environment. Activities include participating in nature hikes, learning about the many animals living in the forest by learning about tracks and taking part in water study. They also get to hear lots of nature’s stories and play animal trivia. The biggest takeaway for kids is to leave nature in better condition than what you found it in.

As individuals, we can learn a lot from Lions Camp by treating every day like Earth Day. Go green by implementing one (or more) of the Earth-friendly tips:

  1. Plant a tree. You’ve probably heard the saying, “The best day to plant a tree, the second best day is today.” Clean the air and provide oxygen for everyone to enjoy. Did you know that in one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people?
  2. Go paperless. There are many ways for bills to be delivered. Save paper by exploring a paperless option.
  3. Walk to work or school. If it’s not possible to get from Point A to Point B with just your two feet, consider carpooling.
  4. Create a recycling plan for you and your family. Decrease the amount of waste in your household by devising a weekly plan. Check with your local municipality to learn what can and cannot be recycled.
  5. Invest in a refillable water bottle. Studies show that United States landfills are overflowing with over 2 million plastic water bottles. Help keep plastic out of landfills by refilling your own bottle.
  6. Organize a group cleanup day to keep your community looking its very best. With enough help, the work will be completed in no time at all.

P.S. You can make even more of an impact by planning environmental projects for your entire community!

At Lions Pride Endowment Fund, our job is to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all other WLF projects. We think those three words can also apply to our responsibility as conscious citizens.

Making small changes in our lifestyles can make a big difference to the world we live in. Let’s all work together to preserve, protect and provide for Mother Nature. Let’s all start celebrating Earth Day, every day!

 

How to Plan Your Next Community Service Project

07 Thursday Apr 2016

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April is National Community Service Month. When was the time you and your club organized a project that was close to your heart? If it seems like it’s later, rather than sooner, there’s never been a better time to start the planning process.Lions Helping Hand

To help guide you through the process, follow these steps from Lions Club International:

  1. Brainstorm a list of possible programs

    You can find a need by asking yourself and your club the following questions:
    a. What do you like best about your community?
    b. What could use improving in the community?
    c. What kinds of resources are required to make the proposed improvements?

Identify and list three to five qualities and improvements.

  1. Designate committees

    After coming up with your list of ideas, set up committees to research the projects further. Committee members should continue to brainstorm ideas for implementation, possible action steps and include other interested participants.

  2. Conduct research

    Reach out to community contacts to learn more about the opportunity. Find out if they think the project will help the community and if they have ideas about how the project can be completed.

  3. Develop relationships with other community organizations

    In many cases, two heads are better than one. Community organizations may already have completed substantial research about your project topic and have more ideas on how to accomplish the goal.

  4. Create a written plan

    Projects with a written plan that includes lots of details are much more likely to get completed. Be sure to include the goals and objectives, time frame and necessary resources.

  5. Implement your plan

    Involve your members and other interested participants throughout the project implementation phase. Don’t forget to keep everyone up-to-date on the progress and reward success. When the project is complete, take some time to review the entire planning process to determine what worked and what didn’t to improve the next project plan.

Lions Pride is always on the lookout to find Lions Clubs that are interested in supporting the Wisconsin Lions Camp and all other WLF projects. If you and your club are interested in learning more, contact us today to find out what Lions Pride is all about. You could even be featured in a future blog post! Let’s work together to preserve, provide and protect for Lions Camp and all other WLF statewide projects.

Happy Community Service Month!

Deadline for Thrivent Choice® Dollars Soon Approaching

03 Thursday Mar 2016

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LPEF LogoFinances seem to be on everyone’s mind this time of year. Every day, we get a little closer to April 15. If you have not already filed your 2015 taxes, you are probably busy getting all of your documents in order, to bring to your accountant but don’t let this important date distract you from other nearing deadlines such as one happening on March 31 for Thrivent Financial members. The last day of the month marks the end of the 2015 year to for members to direct their Choice Dollars to qualifying organizations.

If you aren’t already familiar with Thrivent Financial, they are a not-for-profit organization that helps Christians be wise with their money and live generously. In addition to offering life insurance, annuities and mutual funds, they offer several opportunities for their members to make a difference in their communities.

One such program is called Thrivent Choice® where eligible members are designated Choice Dollars that can be directed to enrolled organizations. Last year, 1699 churches and organizations in the South Wisconsin region received over $3.7 million in Choice Dollars charitable grant funds.

Of course, there is a deadline for any program, and this particular one is only 28 days away on March 31, 2016. If you have unused Thrivent Choice Dollars, we would be honored if you chose to support the Lions Pride Endowment Fund. Your Choice Dollars will help preserve, provide and protect all Wisconsin Lions Foundation projects. Our largest project, the Wisconsin Lions Camp, is dedicated to a week of summer fun for children who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, cognitively disabled and children with type I or type II diabetes. The goal of Lions Camp is to assist every child in the development of self-confidence, interdependence, social skills, outdoor recreational skills and environmental awareness, but most importantly to for the child to have a fun, memorable experience.

Thanks to the support of our donors, 140 children will benefit from the life altering experience one week at Lions Camp affords them. With your help, we can continue helping children with special needs have the experience of a lifetime.

Thrivent Choice

Wisconsin Hunters Checklist and Deer Hide Collection

19 Thursday Nov 2015

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The weekend is drawing near. If you’re one of over 600,000 licensed outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen of Wisconsin, then you’ve probably been looking forward to the start of gun season since the last day of the 2014 season. We understand that part of your anticipation is due to love of the woods, but the other part is because you have likely been preparing for months.

If you’re an avid hunter, you may have a checklist similar to the one seen below, courtesy of Gander Mountain. The list includes over 100 items of necessary items such as blaze orange, ammo and more.

Gander Mountain Checklist

Serious hunters know that successful hunts don’t happen on luck alone. You have been studying your deer cam, preparing your food plot and double-checking your stand for safety. You’re ready to meet any deer that comes through the blind.

But, what happens when you do have a successful hunt? If you like venison, you may harvest the deer on your own. If you like beef sticks, you may have a preferred meat market; but what do you plan on doing with the hide?

This deer season, we hope you’ll consider donating your hide. Since 1991, Wisconsin Lions Camp has been collecting deer hides with the help of Lions Club volunteers from all over the state.

The drop-off process for hunters is easy. Simply find a collection site near you and bring your hide. Volunteers will then preserve the hide to be later sold. All proceeds will go towards sending kids to camp. Our goal for the year is to reach $100,000, and with your help, we will also be a success.

From all of us here at Lions Pride, we wish all Wisconsin Hunters, a safe and successful hunt! Thank you for your continued support.