Florida Lions Eye Bank changed its name to Beauty of Sight on September 1, 2023

Lions Clubs International is the World's Largest Service Organization, With Over 1.4 Million Members

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In 1925, Helen Keller challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Since Ms. Keller’s entreaty almost 100 years ago, Lions have worked on projects designed to prevent blindness, restore eyesight and improve eye health and eye care for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Today, sight programs remain one of the defining causes of Lions Clubs worldwide. One of These programs support Lions Eye Banks.

A Lions Eye Bank is a Non-For-Profit Organization:

Operates within the established Lions Clubs International Board Policy for the program.
Is sponsored by a Lions club, district or multiple districts.
Has an established working relationship with a medical facility.
Complies with government medical and education standards.
May coordinate Lions' financial assistance for sight-saving corneal transplant surgery.

Lions Club in Florida

Lions Clubs International Multiple District represents the Lions of Florida and the Bahamas 35. Multiple District 35 is subdivided into four geographical districts, one for each letter L, I, O, and N. District L serves the Florida panhandle and northern region of the state, district I serves the Gulf Coast area, district O serves the North Atlantic coast and central portion of the state, and District N serves south Florida, the Bahamas, Bonaire, Aruba and Curacao.

Among the four districts are over 200 individual clubs. The Multiple District 35 offices are located just south of downtown Orlando in the O district.

History of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Florida Lions Eye Bank

In 1960, two ophthalmologists at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Dr. Edward W.D. Norton and Dr. Victor Curtin encouraged Florida Lions Clubs to establish the first eye bank in Florida.

Legend has it that every Lion in Florida donated $6 to open the Florida Lions Eye Bank in 1962 at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Since its inception, the Lions of Florida have been a major supporters of Florida Lions Eye Bank.

COOPERATING PARTNERS