Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin

LEBW Updates

New Recovery Kits & Corneal Tissue Boxes

On Saturday, October 1, we began using new boxes to transport corneal tissue and recovery kits. For clubs transporting inbound tissue, tissue coming into LEBW, you will now be transporting a blue, corrugated plastic box. The blue boxes will replace the existing brown cardboard boxes.

In addition, these same boxes will also be used when you transport recovery kits out to our Recovery Technicians along your routes. Inside the recovery kit are all the tools our Recovery Technicians need to recover corneal tissue from donors. Once they have recovered the tissue, they place it into a cooler inside the blue box so it can make its journey back to LEBW, where the tissue is evaluated and processed.

For outbound tissue boxes, there are a few minor changes to look for if you are a Transporter who transports tissue to hospitals/ surgical centers. This tissue will still be in a white box, but on top of the box will be a delivery label with the address to where the box needs to go. Below the address are instructions about how to make the delivery once the box has reached its destination. Below that are each route the box will take once it has left LEBW.

We are also very excited to share the latest LEBW Transporter Toolkit with you. The newly updated toolkit contains information about transporting and other pertinent information to help you be a successful LEBW Dispatcher and Transporter. We hope you take the time to review the new Transporter Toolkit - if you have any questions, please contact Adam Crowson, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 877-233-2354 ext. 212 or acrowson@lebw.org.

Thank you for your continuous support in helping to give the gift of sight!

LEBW’s Cumulative Gift Giving Program

On January 1, 2021, LEBW began its new cumulative gift giving program. From that date forward, donors will be recognized for their cumulative lifetime gifts to LEBW. Gifts from Lions Clubs, private or corporate donors, donations made in memory or honor of an individual(s), contributions designated for a specific fund, and all other avenues of giving are included when establishing a donor(s) cumulative giving level. We hope that providing more recognition and benefits to our donors will highlight the need for more support for essential programs such as charity care, donor family services, donor memorial garden, education and surgical training, and general operations. In addition, the donor(s) name will be prominently displayed at the LEBW office on a new interactive digital donor wall. Completion of the wall is expected by the end of June 2023.

LEVELS NAME

$500 Gift of Sight $1,000 Knight of Sight $2,500 Founder of Sight $5,000 Hope of Sight $10,000 Angel of Sight $25,000 Advocate of Sight $50,000 Ambassador of Sight $100,000 Innovator of Sight $250,000 Visionary of Sight $500,000 Helen Keller’s Inspiration of Sight

Your donation supports the following areas:

CHARITY CARE: Provides the gift of sight to individuals who do not have the means to afford their cornea transplant or aftercare.

DONOR FAMILY SERVICES: This fund helps to defray the cost of providing grief support, materials, and programs for our donor families as they recover from their loss.

DONOR MEMORIAL GARDEN: LEBW is raising funds to build a special garden to honor and remember individuals who helped change and enhance the lives of others through their gift of sight donation. The garden will be a lasting, living tribute to those who gave the gift of sight.

EDUCATION AND SURGICAL TRAINING

FUND: This fund helps defray the cost of providing education to the public, healthcare professionals, medical examiner offices, surgeons, residents and LEBW staff.

GENERAL OPERATING FUND: This fund helps LEBW defray the rising costs of operating the eye bank, helps us purchase necessary medical supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff to replace outdated and obsolete eye banking equipment and other necessary supplies.

WANTED: FULL-TIME PROJECT SUPERVISOR, Wisconsin Lions Foundation

The Project Supervisor is a full time, hourly position. The main responsibilities are supervising and coordinating the activities of four of the statewide projects administered by the Wisconsin Lions Foundation-Eyeglass Recycling, Diabetes Awareness, Vision Screening and the Hearing Project. Applicant must be 21 years or older, have a valid driver’s license and 2-3 years of experience in a business office setting. Must have experience with Microsoft Office, Excel, Access and Google docs. Must be able to work independently and accurately and able to understand written and verbal instructions. $18-$20 per hour, based on experience, plus benefits. Please send resume by Tuesday, Nov. 15 to: Wisconsin Lions Foundation, 3834 County Road A, Rosholt WI 54473 or email – ehartvig@wlf.info

CALLING ALL FUTURE LEADERS!

Coming in January, RLLI (Regional Lions Learning Institute)

This institute will prepare Lions for leadership positions at all levels. It is open to Lions members ready to pursue leadership roles within their Lions communities. Club leaders would also benefit from attending and familiarizing themselves with leadership skills and a deeper understanding of how to better serve clubs and their communities. WHEN: January 13, 14, & 15, 2023 WHERE: Wisconsin Lions Camp COST: Free to all registered attendees REGISTER: Email your name & club, to PCC Geri Schlender at gss@frontiernet.net DEADLINE: January 2, 2023