Chicago Filipino American Lions Club: Model of Community Service

By: Ryan Tejero

 

Every Lions Club has a mission to meet the needs of local communities it serves. This organization is built on the core belief, which is to serve humanity. Right when it was founded in 1917, Lions Club’s primary goal was to fight blindness. But since it was a dynamic organization, its projects branched out into other humanitarian goals of caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding seniors and the disabled.

For many years, Lions Club has been conducting vision screenings, equipping hospitals and clinics, distributing medicine and raising awareness on eye diseases. Working on its mission of providing vision for all, Lions Clubs have extended their commitment to sight conservation through countless local efforts and through its international SightFirst Program, which operates to eradicate blindness.

Another notable community project of Lions Club is its support for the youth and schools through scholarships, recreation and mentoring. Across the globe, Lions Clubs offers many programs, including the Peace Poster Contest, Youth Camps and Exchange and Lions Quest. The Leo Program provides the youth of the world with an opportunity for personal development through volunteering. There are approximately 144,000 Leos and 5,700 Leo clubs in more than 140 countries worldwide.

Through its Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), the organization has awarded more than US$700 million in grants, since 1968, to support numerous Lions humanitarian projects around the world. LCIF was also ranked the number one non-governmental organization in a 2007 study by The Financial Times.

In times of disasters, both the Foundation and Lions are helping communities by monitoring the areas affected by natural disasters so they could provide the immediate needs of the victims such as food, water, clothing and medical supplies – and aiding in long-term reconstruction.

True to its motto: “We Serve,” Lions are part of a global service network by doing whatever is necessary to help their designated local communities. Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.

Here in Chicago, one of the most active chapters of Lions Club is the Chicago Filipino American Lions Club (CFALC). It is composed of dedicated and committed community leaders, whose unselfish efforts to serve the local area has gained them an outstanding reputation. CFALC upholds the highest ideals of a true Lions Club.

This month of April, CFALC held a fairytale-themed fundraiser for the Chicago Lighthouse for the blind. It was a semi-formal event with headdress for ladies or mad hat for men. The program of this event featured the ceremonial Pledge of Allegiance by Lions Club members, entertainment provided by A&P Angels with CFALC, presentation of the 2018 Lion King & Queen, presentation of pins to CFALC members, and the highlight, which was the recognition of this year’s recipients of the Humanitarian Service Awards. There was a special guest appearance of Chicago’s Fil-Am teen singer, Kayla Tejero, who serenaded the awardees with a famous song by Mariah Carey – Hero. This event was held on April 21, 2018 at the Lone Tree Manor. The current officers of Chicago Filipino American Lions Club (CFALC): President: Vishnu Mahant; 1st Vice President: Veronica Fertig; 2nd Vice President: Felix Llanes; Secretary :Flor Castil; Asst. Secretary: Marissa Crome; Treasurer: Marjorie Llanes; Asst. Treasurer: Zenaida De Guzman; Tail twister: Amy Mayuga; David Belbis; Tamer; Zanty Dela Cruz, and Robert Chavez; Membership Chairperson: Lito Pineda, Chaz Patron. Board of Directors: Anita Rosa, Liza Vasich, Leticia Freihaut, Lourdes Livas, Delfin Masangcay, Yoly Zoleta, Region 2 Chairperson: Ben Zoleta, The recipients of the CFALC Humanitarian Service Awards were: Lourdes Livas, Marilyn and Brian Mclean, Manuel & Remedios Escalona, Benjamin & Clemencita Butuyan, David & Dionalane Cannon, Enrico & Janet-Reyes Macaranas, Jr Roque & Jet Gruezo, Pastor Pascual & Lydia Tyco, and Rosa Kazmi & Jim Wiehe.

President Vishnu Mahant

Flor Castil was the over-all program coordinator and the co-emcee of this year’s CFALC fundraiser for the Chicago Lighthouse on April 21, 2018.

Chicago Fil-Am Teen Singer, Kayla, was the special guest performer of the CFALC fundraiser.