"Let's Hear it for Leader Dog!"
“We Serve” is our motto, who are we? Millions of men and women all over the world, who proudly make up The Lions Club International. For me, I believe our magic is how we work together to answer our communities most challenging problems, we are proud members that go out everyday and strive to not only be strong business professional, but we also strive to give 100% back to our communities.
For the first time ever The Georgia Lions Club did something no other club or civic organization in Georgia had ever done, they partnered with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream team on June 26th, 2011 game at Phillips Arena.
I was so excited to be the Host, as a proud Atlanta Lions member myself. The Lions had the great opportunity to represent the Lighthouse Foundation, as well as raise awareness and donations for The Lead Dog Foundation at the June 26th Basketball Arena game.
The event was amazing, standing in the tunnel walking out to the court you could hear the Atlanta Dream fans roaring with excitement. The current lions president, David Proulx and a past Lions presentient, Scott Rogers accompanied me out onto the arena floor with large donation checks from our sponsors! To see the Atlanta Lions team up with The National Leader Dog Foundation raise donations for thousands of visually impaired people all across the United States was an absolute rush.
Let me quickly to tell you a little about the Leader Dog Foundation - Founded by three Detroit area Lions Clubs members in 1939, Leader Dogs for the Blind provides guide dogs to people who are blind and visually impaired to enhance their mobility, independence and quality of life. This is a life-changing event that opens the door to independence, safety and self-worth for many of individuals. Lots of children also benefit from this program.
I was so excited to see my Company Premier Logic sponsor this amazing event and cause. Here is the Dream Mascot presenting the Premier Logic check on the court:
Let me leave you with a quick story..... A young woman at 26 with two small children at home (2 & 4) learns that in 6 months she will be 100% blind due to a irreversible corneal disease. There is no cure. This young woman is not only a mother of two young kids, but she is also a school teacher, a teacher responsible for many of our bright minds of the future. This young woman was stricken with fear when faced with this rapidly approaching reality and reached out for help, The Leader Dog foundation was her answer.
Flash forward three years latter and the teacher is walked into her school gym by her guide dog with all 1,200 students of the school in attendance. To her surprise the First Lady of the United States is live by teleconference. She was awarded The Congressional Teachers Award of the year. Tears filled the room; there was not a dry eye. This young woman that once feared becoming non-mobile, not only continued to be an amazing mom to her children who needed her, an amazing wife to her husband, but she was able to continue to be an amazing teacher! She was able to help inspire thousands of young children through her teaching and her story. Without The Leader Dog program this young woman essence and the thousand of life’s she touched might have been lost!
This is one of thousand of stories that the Leader dog foundation has to share.
Our end result
Atlanta Dream game and Leader Dog's for the Blind fund raiser - including the donation checks that we received, raised over $4000.00 for Leader Dog's!! This is significant and is the largest contribution to Leader Dogs for the Blind from the Atlanta Lions Club in decade!
The Atlanta Lions made a huge impression on the Atlanta Community, doing what Lions do best...serving! I am proud to be an Atlanta Lion!
The event would have never been possible without the brainchild and main project lead, Pam Schlomer of Schlomer Business Services. She is a hard working small business owner and also a proud Atlanta Lion, who took on the huge challenge of putting this event together!
Learn more about Pam and her company at
Some of the other great sponsor who donated to the event!
Learn more about Leader Dog Foundation
Learn more about Atlanta Lions
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