LOPF HISTORY
Founding
In the 1980’s the Lions Club addressed the challenge of providing future vision and hearing resources for local and community needs, as well as supporting organizations and projects statewide.
The fact is that several years ago the Internal Revenue Service determined that the donations to one's local Lions Club and Districts are not tax deductible. This reduces the amount of donations Lions Clubs get, leaving communities without the resources to provide aid.
The year 1992 saw the formation of the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation to help fund Lions Club projects, most particularly those relating to sensory impairment programs like hearing and vision aid within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Lions of Pennsylvania is a “501-C3” tax-exempt corporation. This permits individuals, corporations, and other philanthropic entities to deduct charitable contributions given to the Foundation.
Purpose
The Foundation was established as an organization that would seek financial support and provide resources to Lions Clubs in PA. This helps local Lions Clubs carry out the mission of providing services to improve quality of life and meet the needs of Pennsylvania residents. Some such services include vision and hearing aid and funds for PA residents in need of glasses, bifocals, and hearing aids and emergency services for local people in need of aid.
With our unique mission, the Foundation carries forward the credo of the International Association of Lions Clubs: WE SERVE
PDG Arthur “Art” Girio Board of Directors Excellence Award
For 43 years, Lion Arthur “Art” Girio was a faithful member of the Williamsport Lions Club and brought dedication, commitment, and fellowship to its members past and present. Lion Art Girio was a model member for all of us and was committed to the causes of Lionism. Lion Art was a Past District Governor of District14-G. He was a Pennsylvania Lion Fellow and a Melvin Jones Fellow.
In 1992 the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation was formed to help fund the Lions Club projects within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This helps the local Lions Clubs carry out the mission of providing services to improve quality of life and meet the needs of Pennsylvania residents. Lion Art was a founding member of the foundation having donated his own money, along with others, to help start the fund. In addition to being named a Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation Fellow he was a Five-Diamond Progressive Fellow and, and Past International Joseph Wroblewski Award recipient. He served as the Executive Director of the foundation for over twenty-five years.
We commit to PDG Art’s legacy and deeds that we all do in the name of Service to Humanity. He was a tireless worker continuously raising money for the work of Lions Clubs.
Award Process
To remember PDG Art’s commitment to the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation, the Board has created: The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation, PDG Arthur “Art” Girio, Board of Directors Excellence Award. This award will be determined and presented as follows:
Nomination/Voting Process – At the July Board of Directors meeting the Board Members present will nominate/vote candidates based on a secret ballet.
Selection Process – Candidate selection should consider the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation board members responsibilities and portrait of an idea board member as spelled out in the LOPF Handbook. PDG Art Girio’s service to the Foundation and to Lionism should be used as examples of the exemplary Service.
Awards Committee – Awards Committee will consist of the Board President, Vice President, Executive Director, and Awards Committee Chairperson as assigned by the Board of Directors.
Announcement of Results – At the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation dinner held in conjunction with the Second State Council Meeting in October/November, the award will be presented to the year’s recipient.
Award - The recipient of the award will receive a plaque at the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation dinner. A $500.00 donation will be made from the Lions of PA Foundation to Camp Victory in the recipient’s name.
Art's History
PDG Art was a founding Director of Camp Victory, a camp for special needs children in Millville, PA. With the help of a Lions Clubs International Foundation Grant, Camp Victory was formed to provide terminally ill children a place to go and be a kid again, if only for a short while. Lion Art was the District Governor the year the came was formed. To honor the recipient of this recognition, along with the legacy of Art Girio both to the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation and to Camp Victory, the $500.00 donation will be made to the Camp.
Features of members required for nomination
To help in the decision making of what Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation Board Member to recognize, the following can be considered as they are already parts of the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation definition of a board member from the foundation’s handbook.
A Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation Board Member’s responsibilities embrace the following:
1. To develop and maintain an awareness of the Foundation’s importance to the quality of life throughout the state.
2. To communicate this understanding to other people and institutions in the community and state.
3. To attend meetings, activities, and to make visits to the clubs with reasonable regularity.
4. With the help of the Officers and other Board members, learn all you can about the Foundation and how it works so that you are knowledgeable.
5. To volunteer or be available for committee assignments and other activities for the good of the Foundation.
6. To help the financial position of the Foundation through personal contributions, seeking contributions through the Pennsylvania Fellows program, contributing memberships, and other promotions.
Portrait of an Ideal Board Member*
An effective Board will solve all—yes, all—the problems of building and maintaining The Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation: financial, administratively, and be active in planning for its future, and whatever else there is. The effective Board is successful only because of the individual members doing their job. Thus, find good Board Members and you will have a successful organization.
What does the Ideal Board Member look like?
The Ideal Board Member is…
A Leader: Followers need not apply, accept only leaders! Financial, political, social, educational.
A Worker: Find someone with the old fashion work ethic; one who wants and needs to work in order to be fulfilled.
A Giver: Of time, care, concern, and money. Let’s face it, it is expensive to be a volunteer. You are properly expected to set the standard for the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation for contributions to the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation.
A Goer: How can you really tell someone (the community) of the wondrous experience of the last Board & Committee Meeting?
A Persuader: It’s really not advice the organization is after. They need someone to persuade friends, business, government, and the community to help support the Lions of Pennsylvania Foundation so that grants may be awarded.
Committed: It cannot and will not happen unless one truly expects results.
Tenacious: Suppose the first two prospects turn you down?
Dependable: All is for naught unless you can depend on the task being completed.
Enthusiastic: An absolute must! And if they don’t have it, (no matter what other virtues they possess) keep looking!
Knowledgeable: Not necessarily a PhD, but intelligent and gifted with common sense.
This *idea was taken from Ralph Black, Vice President for In Field Consulting American Symphony Orchestra League.
