Lions Gift of Sight helps restore sight through eye donation. Lions Gift of Sight is a full-service eye bank that obtains, medically evaluates, and distributes donor eyes for cornea transplants, research, and education. By distributing more than 1,000 corneas for transplant and 1,000 eyes for research every year, the eye bank helps ensure that as many people as possible receive the gift of sight. In Minnesota, Lions Clubs International members represent some of the state’s most dedicated volunteers. There are more than 20,000 Lions and Lioness members in Minnesota and more than 600 Lions clubs statewide. Through the work of the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, Lions Gift of Sight has been generously supported by the Lions of Minnesota since 1960. Lions and the University The Minnesota Lions first formed a partnership with the University of Minnesota’s Department of Ophthalmology in 1960 when they established the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank. The Lions Sight Program is supported by the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, Inc. The Vision Foundation funds the operating expenses of the Lions Gift of Sight, their first and largest project, and provides a board of directors that gives fiscal oversight to the eye bank. The Foundation partners with Lions of Minnesota, Lions Gift of Sight, and the University of Minnesota to increase public awareness about eye donation. In addition to their work with the eye bank, the non-profit foundation aids in funding research projects and equipment for University of Minnesota vision programs and fosters, advances, and promotes vision-related scientific, educational, or charitable aims and projects of other individuals or associations. The Foundation also facilitates used eyeglass recycling in Minnesota. For more information on the the Lions and the work of the Foundation, please visit the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation web site.