As the Lions look ahead to the next President, Morgan McCabe, and the start of a new charitable year, we take time to look back and review the activities of 2015 – 2016.
Dr Yamada, International Lions President, asked all clubs at the beginning of the year to focus on a number of areas in our local communiites, especially to reach out to children and young people as part of the year’s theme ‘Dignity, Harmony & Humanity’.
Under Paula Keegan (the first female president of Newbridge Kildare Lions Club) a number of events in keeping with commitment to that theme, were delivered with pride!
Paula kicked off the year with organising Lion volunteers to help out at the ‘Sensational Kids’event held at the Japanese Gardens, which proved very successful. So successful that the Lions have agreed to make the Sensational Kids events a part of their annual activities. This September, the event will be held at Palmerstown House – more details will follow nearer the time so watch this space! A huge shout out and Thank You to all Lions who helped make it such a success and will no doubt do the same this year.
Kildare Newbridge Lions linked in with the youth community with a Health Walk on the Curragh. The Lions raised almost €8,000 from this event alone. Our thanks to all who helped out and contributed.
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. For example, it can mean unpleasant text messages or emails or cruel posts and / or embarrassing pictures on social networking sites. Young people need help to develop strategies to prevent cyber-bullying and have the confidence to report it should it still happen. The Lions took part in helping with this important work.
The Lions updated the Positive Mental Health poster which was launched at the Newbridge JuneFest 2016 at the Garda station. For more information on the schools’ Positive Mental Health Programme click the link below:
Positive Mental Health
This year the Lions were supported by Dunnes Stores, Tesco and Supervalu in collecting food and money. We gave out €12,000 over Christmas in hampers and vouchers for people in need in the local area. A very big Thank You to all involved!
The toy appeal was a great success, as were the fundraising Quiz Night and Christmas Concert.
We had a lovely tree planting ceremony at the River Liffey in Newbridge as part of an environmental project. Three beautiful oak trees were planted, attended by charter members Donal Shannon and John McLoughlin.
The Lions also contributed to the Nepal Disaster fund, got the Lions Club signage up at the entrances to Newbridge, is looking forward to the Handover Dinner and fourtieth year celebration and hosting the National Convention of Lions in 2017, at the Keadeen Hotel.
The Lions enjoyed linking up and supporting the Athy Hospice and elderly at the Curragh / Dubai races.
So how much did we give to the local community this year?
€27,051!! Every cent of it went to the people, families and schools who needed it most. The Lions are a non-profit organisation and ALL Lions are volunteers who give their time and energy for nothing more than the satisfaction of giving a helping hand where it’s needed.
A big Thank You to President Paula Keegan, Morgan McCabe (Secretary) and Jenny Habenicht (Treasurer) for their dedication, drive and delivery over the past year.
