 Since 1917, Lions clubs have offered people the opportunity to give something back to their communities. We,
as members of the newest Lions club in Georgia, offer the same opportunity for our community, the Kennesaw-Acworth region.
We take great pride in our community and we embrace the idea of building a brighter future. Our primary mission is, and has
always been, bringing sight to the world's blind. We accomplish this on a regional level by participating in community events
and fund raisers. This allows us to provide additional support for our Lighthouse Project. We also provide support to the
Georgia Camp for the Blind - a place where the blind or seeing-impaired can learn to live independantly. As we grow, we will
also continue to participate in fund raising events to help the ever increasing needs of our regional community. Though we
will continue to add programs as new needs arise, our mission will never waiver:
"We Serve"
Other
NEWS:
Some information
about our Lions organization: · Founded in 2004 ·
Chartered a LEO club at Kennesaw Mountain High School
in 2004 · Partnered with Cobb County schools Social Workers to create a Sight and Hearing Conservation
program · Helped over 70 people obtain glasses last year alone; most of them school children · Contributed
over 15k into the community in the last two years ·
Past Event Partners have included True Vision Eye Care,
TLC Laser Eye Center of Kennesaw, Montecalvo’s Italian Restaurant, Big Shanty Barber Shop, SouthEast Guide Dogs and
the City of Kennesaw
 A
Labor of Love Family with Two Terminally Ill Sons Needs Transporation Assistance On Saturday, October 17, 2009, the Kennesaw-Acworth
Lions Club will be hosting their Annual Fall Car Show at the Depot in downtown Kennesaw. This
is just one of many events we are hosting in our efforts to raise funds for a single mother who has two children with Duchene’s
Muscular Dystrophy, the terminal form of the disease.
This family is in need of a handicapped
van that will allow the transport of the boys in their electronic wheelchairs to and from doctor’s appointments.
To date, due to their small two-door compact car, this family has never been to a ballgame or any other simple outing
together. Most victims of this disease have a limited life expectancy of not more than the mid-twenties,
and they are currently ages 13 and 16. The mother, Michelle Patterson, works for the Cobb County School
District and attends college at night. They desperately need appropriate transportation, and the Lion’s
Club has agreed to help raise the approximate $40,000 needed for the vehicle and the handicapped conversion. $5,000
has been raised to date, a commitment from the Fragile Kids Foundation to be applied toward the conversion which will cost
nearly $23,000. Both boys are in motorized wheelchairs and when they have to be transported to the doctor or elsewhere,
their mother has to lift them into their chairs, take them outside to the two-door car, lift them back out again and then
place them into the car. Only one child at a time can be transported as her car will only hold a portable
wheelchair. Then, upon arrival to their destination, the process has to be repeated. Both
boys are over 6 feet tall (even at 13 and 16) and weigh 145 and 165 pounds. Obviously, this is a backbreaking
endeavor for the mother. We cannot imagine doing this every day of our lives to get to and from school
or to other appointments. A mother’s love has strange powers. Michelle is one of the most positive people I know. She never complains,
always has a sense of humor and teaches me more about what is important in life than I’ve ever learned in my 40+ years.
She works full time, cares for her four children, and goes to school at night working on her goal of a degree in childhood
education. She knows firsthand that we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff in life, and one of my favorite
“Michelle-isms” is “It just isn’t that deep,” no matter what the situation. I
know in my heart that her ultimate desire is to be able to take her entire family, at the same time, to a ballgame or to six
flags, or anywhere that would be a fun day for her children. I don’t think that is too much to ask.
Rebecca Whicker
Co-worker Please consider helping us help this deserving
Kennesaw family by supporting our event or donating to the cause here. All donations and
sponsorships are tax deductible (Tax ID# 56-2597867).
Open Car
Show Downtown Kennesaw Historic Depot 2838 Cherokee Street,
Kennesaw, GA. Saturday, October 17, 2009 10-2
Music, Food & Entertainment - Door Prizes - 50/50 Raffle - All Makes, Models & Years Welcome
- $20.00 per entry --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Make all checks payable to: Kennesaw-Acworth
Lions Club Mail Form to: Kennesaw-Acworth
Lions Club, PO Box 748 Acworth, GA. 30101 Attention Jim Quigley NAME: _______________________________________ Phone:
_________________ Email: __________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________ Make:________________________ Model:____________________ Year:____ Proceeds to benefit the Kennesaw-Acworth Lions Club |
