Since 1968, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has quietly powered some of Lions’ most visible and lasting contributions to communities around the world. More than 22,000 grants awarded, US$167 million in disaster relief, over 20 million young people guided through Lions Quest, and nearly 9.7 million cataract surgeries restoring sight and dignity. These aren’t just global milestones — they’re local stories, unfolding every day.
In India, that global force takes shape in countless ways: eye hospitals in small towns and big cities, mobile screening vans reaching the remotest villages, blood banks giving thousands a second chance, and schools shaping generations of young minds. These are just some of the outcomes when Lions’ service is strengthened by LCIF’s support.
Like light passing through a prism, each LCIF grant focuses purpose and disperses it into action — creating a spectrum of Lions’ service. This is the story of that spectrum: of projects made possible, communities transformed, and legacies built.
Leo District 317D had never received an LCIF service grant before. When the ₹4.17 lakhs approval came through in February 2025, it marked more than just funding—it validated the young leaders’ readiness to tackle hunger on a meaningful scale.
The milestone moment was preceded by rigorous learning and growth. The application process, which began in December 2024, was challenging. Leo leaders reached out to experienced fellow Leos and Lions across the district for guidance on navigating the detailed budgeting, planning, and execution requirements.
To amplify the project’s reach, the district raised an additional ₹2.22 lakhs through Lions fraternity contributions, bringing the total budget to ₹6.39 lakhs.
Aashasya wasn’t just about giving — it was about connecting, about truly being present.
A month after receiving funding, Leos got to work. The Aashasya initiative was launched in March 2025 with three targeted programs across Karnataka. The first program around Puttur and Sullia served 2,090 people. The second covered Mulki, Bedra, and Karkala, reaching 1,800 beneficiaries. The final program in Mangalore touched 3,110 lives.
The project focused primarily on orphanages and elder care homes, providing each person with nutritious ready-to-eat meals and food kits. What made Aashasya different was the personal touch—Leos didn’t just distribute food, they sat with beneficiaries, listened to their stories, and formed genuine bonds.
The project concluded in April 2025 after serving approximately 7,000 people. Beyond the numbers, Aashasya demonstrated something crucial: when Leos from different clubs collaborate, they create impact that extends far beyond individual efforts.
For Leo District 317D, the first LCIF grant opened doors to bigger possibilities. More importantly, it showed that systematic planning and community partnership can turn good intentions into meaningful action.
In 2007, then District Governor Dr. George Mathew envisioned setting up a hospital to provide high-quality eye care to the underprivileged in his hometown of Paika, in Kerala’s Kottayam district. The establishment of the Lions District 324E3 Charitable Trust in 2007 was the first step towards realizing this vision.
The Trust brought together 447 Lions members under a 17-member Governing Body, with Dr. George Mathew serving as the Founder Managing Trustee.
Through Dr. Mathew’s dedicated efforts, the Trust acquired 60 cents of land at Poovarani Village and constructed a two-story, 11,018 square foot facility. Kerala Governor Sri R. L. Bhatia laid the foundation stone on July 22, 2007, and Water Resources Minister Sri N. K. Premachandran inaugurated the hospital on June 20, 2008.
The hospital houses a well-equipped, state-of-the-art Operation Theatre, specifically designed for performing cataract surgeries. The hospital’s impact was significantly strengthened in 2016 when LCIF provided a grant of US$72,551 to procure advanced medical equipment. The hospital – staffed by a team of five doctors and 14 paramedical and supporting staff – has set itself an annual target of 1,500 cataract surgeries.
Impressive Figures
In the financial year 2024–25:
- 11,642 patients treated
- 1,425 cataract surgeries performed
Since the inception of the hospital, over 59,000 individuals have received treatment for various vision impairments.
What makes this hospital unique is its blend of free treatment for below-poverty-line patients and affordable care for others, maintaining inclusivity while ensuring sustainability. Regular weekly outreach camps extend services to surrounding rural areas. Following the passing of PDG Dr. Mathew, PDG C.V. Mathew now leads the Trust, continuing his legacy of community-focused care.
For Patran Nial Lions Club, District 321F, the fight against preventable blindness runs deep. Since its inception in 1984, the club has carried one persistent dream: their own eye care facility in their town of Patran, in Patiala district, Punjab.
However, the dream had to wait. And while they waited, members of the club organized eye screening camps in remote rural areas, identified patients who needed cataract surgery and ensured they received treatment in the closest hospitals.
In 2010, the club established a trust and purchased 22,500 sq. ft of land. It had the vision, the commitment, the community need. All they needed now were the resources.
In 2012, the club received an LCIF grant of US$51,000 that enabled the construction of a 15,200 sq. ft. facility complete with modern amenities and its own sewage and effluent treatment plant. A mini-bus purchased through grant funding ensures that even patients from remote villages can access care, regardless of their financial circumstances.
What was once a vision is now a trusted centre for eye health across 60 kms of rural India
A second LCIF grant of Rs.1.36 crores in 2021 helped further upgrade the hospital.
The LCIF grant didn’t just build a hospital — it built trust. The State Bank of India, impressed by the club’s commitment and professionalism, donated an ambulance in 2024.
Today, the 30-bed hospital draws patients from across a 60-kilometer radius, covering parts of Punjab and Haryana. Approximately 700 cataract surgeries are performed here each year, while its skilled surgeons also undertake complex procedures such as vitrectomy, glaucoma, and corneal surgeries. Chairperson of the hospital Lion S.K. Bansal, Club President Anju Kakaria and Director Prit Paul Kakaria intend to further enhance the services and expand their reach to serve more people. The project is well-supported by the District Governor Ravinder Sagger and Vice District Governors A.P. Jandu and Ajay Goel.
At Patran, LCIF’s role went beyond funding infrastructure — it laid the foundation for a trusted community institution.
Gauhati Lions Eye Hospital, a flagship project of Gauhati Lions Club, District 322G, has been serving the visually impaired in Guwahati, Assam since 1997. Over the years, however, the facility faced real limitations—outdated equipment, restricted capacity, and thousands of people in remote areas still living without access to basic eye care.
The turning point came with an LCIF grant that did more than upgrade equipment — it transformed the hospital into a centre of excellence.
New diagnostic and surgical equipment arrived, enhancing the hospital’s capabilities. The numbers tell the story: cataract surgeries jumped from approximately 2,300 in 2021-2022 to over 5,000 expected this year. A new retina clinic now serves 300 to 400 patients monthly. Most importantly, these services remain free or at minimal cost for those who need them most.
But the real change happened beyond the hospital walls. LCIF funding enabled mobile eye screening units to reach distant villages where many had never seen an eye doctor. Elderly villagers who had accepted blindness as inevitable suddenly had options.
A 65-year-old woman from Barpeta embodied this transformation. Blind for three years due to cataracts, she had resigned herself to darkness. Then a mobile unit reached her village. After successful surgery at Gauhati Lions Eye Hospital, she saw her grandchildren’s faces for the first time in years.
The grant also funded training for local ophthalmic assistants and nurses, creating a sustainable model that keeps serving long after the initial investment. Better infrastructure, skilled staff, and expanded outreach mean the hospital now touches thousands more lives each year, across Northeast India.
LCIF didn’t just improve a hospital—it restored an entire region’s access to sight.
The words “your child has cancer” shatter a family’s world in an instant. Everything that once seemed certain suddenly becomes fragile, and the future feels overwhelming. For families from villages around Gwalior, a cancer diagnosis means leaving everything behind—their home, their work, their support systems—to stay near the Cancer Hospital & Research Centre for months of treatment. The cost of accommodation adds to the burden of mounting medical bills.
Witnessing this struggle firsthand, the Gwalior Lions Club of District 3233-E1, decided something had to change.
In 2021-2022, the club approached Dr. B.R. Srivastava, a Lion and trustee of the Cancer Care Trust Gwalior, with a proposal to build a residential facility, where families could find refuge during their child’s treatment. The Trust agreed to provide land adjacent to their Cancer Hospital & Research Centre.
But building a proper facility would cost Rs.2.4 crores – far beyond what one club could manage alone. The breakthrough came when LCIF approved a grant which sparked a wave of community support. PDG G.L. Bhojwani contributed Rs.5 lakhs from his company’s CSR fund, while Charanjeet Nagpal added Rs.11 lakhs from his organization. Individual room sponsorships at Rs. 1 lakh each brought in additional support from Lions across the region.
Today, the Krishnavanti Ramprakash Nagpal Smriti Lions Vishranti Grah spans 15,000 square feet of constructed space with an additional 20,000 square feet of landscaped gardens. The facility houses 19 private rooms with attached bathrooms, each accommodating three people, plus four larger dormitories that can house 60 people each.
On June 15, 2025, the facility was inaugurated by PID Dr. Aruna Oswal who praised the project’s completion and urged other clubs to pursue similar initiatives. Dr. B.R. Srivastava spoke about how the facility completes the circle of care his hospital provides.
The opening ceremony itself demonstrated the continuing commitment to the cause. Additional pledges totaling Rs. 15 lakhs were announced, ensuring the facility’s operations would be well-supported.
For families facing the unthinkable, the Krishnavanti Ramprakash Nagpal Smriti Lions Vishranti Grah offers something invaluable: a place where hope has an address.
In Maharashtra’s rural districts, there was little or no access to eye care until 19 years ago when the establishment of the Udaygiri Lions Charitable Eye Hospital brought about a quiet revolution. A SighFirst Project of Udgir Lions Club, District 3234-H2, the hospital has, since its inception, restored sight to over 1.8 million people through cataract surgeries alone.
Here are some more remarkable numbers: the hospital has conducted 15 lakh eye screening camps, reaching 5,100 locations across both rural and urban areas. Today, 151 villages in the region can proudly say they are avoidable blindness-free, with 10 vision centres bringing eyecare directly to people’s doorsteps. More than 20,000 children have been screened across various schools, with 1,500 students receiving free spectacles and 150 children undergoing squint surgeries.
When eyecare reaches a doorstep, entire villages see a brighter future.
The hospital now serves seven revenue districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka: Latur, Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Bidar, Osmanabad, and Beed—covering over 3,000 villages. More than 70% of its services reach the poor and underserved, with 30% offered completely free.
Spread across four buildings, with three operating theaters and a 49-bed capacity, the hospital runs on the commitment of its 10 ophthalmologists and over 100 staff members—working quietly, yet tirelessly, to restore sight. The hospital also provides specialized care for complex conditions including glaucoma, diabetic retina issues, corneal problems, and refractive errors.
What sets it apart is its focus on education and empowerment. Through the Aruna Abhey Oswal Resource Centre for the Blind, 40 visually impaired students receive free education, accommodation, meals, and training in English, computers, Braille, and vocational skills that help them live with independence and dignity.
LCIF’s role in this success story spans multiple grants over two decades. Starting with a Rs. 5 lakh training grant in 2004, LCIF provided equipment funding in 2005 (Rs. 33 lakhs), facility upgrades in 2007 (Rs. 70 lakhs), and a major expansion grant in 2016 (Rs. 2.93 crores). Each grant didn’t just add equipment—it multiplied the hospital’s capacity to serve.
The hospital’s impact has now extended beyond Udgir. Inspired by its success, Lions Eye Hospitals have opened in Nanded, Parbhani, Khamgaon, Partur, and Latur—transforming one club’s vision into a regional network of sight-saving facilities.
For Udgir Lions Club, LCIF’s support helped turn what once seemed an impossible dream into a service that now reaches millions.