Lions Measles Initiative Update

Lions Measles Initiative

Attention, Lions: WE DID IT!

Donations to One Shot, One Life: Lions Measles Initiative have surpassed our goal of $10 million. 

Thanks to the support of Lions across the globe, we've now raised $10,017,418 and met the challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which promised to match every $2 Lions raised with $1. This means that Lions are responsible for contributing $15 million toward the effort to eliminate measles — and for saving the lives of millions of children.

Lions have successfully met the Gates Challenge!

Dear Lion,

We did it!

It is my great pleasure and privilege to report to you that Lions have successfully met the Gates Challenge!

In the past year, all across the globe, Lions came together in support of One Shot, One Life: The Lions Measles Initiative by contributing an astounding US$10 million to help end the death and disease caused by measles. What a spectacular achievement!

As you know, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation promised to match every US$2 raised by Lions with US$1, if we reached our US$10 million goal. So, meeting the Gates Challenge means that Lions will be able to contribute a total of US$15 million this year to help protect the world's children from the brain damage, hearing loss, blindness and death caused by measles. Lions' dedication to combating this deadly disease is a clear demonstration of our deep commitment to protecting the health and well-being of our most vulnerable children. We have shown the world that we are not only Knights of the Blind but protectors of children, as well.

Although meeting the Gates Challenge was made possible through the efforts of all Lions, members in three countries contributed nearly US$6 million of the US$10 million raised and deserve our special thanks. The Lions of Multiple District 300 - Taiwan contributed US$2.9 million, the Lions of Japan mobilized US$2 million, and the Lions of Korea provided nearly US$1 million! I am truly grateful to our fellow Lions in OSEAL for their extraordinary generosity.

Many of you have recently asked me whether or not Lions Clubs International Foundation would continue its efforts to combat measles once our US$10 million goal had been met. LCIF is currently working with the Gates Foundation to chart our future course and it is my sincere hope that Lions all over the world will continue to build upon this extraordinary achievement.

As Chairperson of our Foundation, and the father of three healthy children, I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for rolling up your sleeves and getting to work on combating measles. Lions are giving the world's children a very precious gift: the chance to live a healthy life. It is my great hope that the day will soon come when no child's life is cut short by measles. I am so proud to be able to say that when that beautiful day does come, it will have been made possible, in part, through the efforts of Lions.

Sincerely,

Wing-Kun Tam
Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation

Message from Chairperson of LCI

Dear Lion,

 

Earlier this month I was in Bangkok, Thailand, to celebrate 10 years of Sight for Kids, one of our most successful partnerships. While celebrating our accomplishments, such as the vision screening of more than 16 million children, I was also struck by the fact that many people are still needlessly blind or visually impaired. Did you know that 80 percent of visual impairment in the world can be avoided or cured? That is why our Foundation provides support for preventing avoidable blindness and restoring sight to those in need.

LCIF has been collaborating with the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases through the Sabin Vaccine Institute to help end suffering caused by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including ones that affect sight. More than 1.4 billion people in the world are affected by these diseases. The Global Network envisions a world where children and families can grow in a community free of NTDs, with a goal to eliminate or control 10 common NTDs by 2020.

Through LCIF's SightFirst program, Lions have already been working towards this goal by focusing on two of the most common NTDs that affect sight: trachoma and onchocerciasis (river blindness). Through initiatives that prevent and treat infectious diseases, like our SightFirst programs, visual impairment around the world has been decreasing, according to the World Health Organization.

Another area of health where Lions' efforts are helping to make a difference is with measles. Thanks to routine immunization and vaccination campaigns, fewer children die each day. Though the number has declined, 380 children still die each day from this easily preventable disease. We have the power to help them.

With less than US$1 million left to meet the US$10 million challenge grant issued by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we will help vaccinate 157 million children this year alongside our partners through the One Shot, One Life: Lions Measles Initiative. Thank you for your continued donations and support of this initiative. We are truly making an impact on the world.

Sincerely,

Wing-Kun Tam

Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation