The Albany Host Lions Club and the Troy Lions Club were both founded in 1925. The two clubs joined forces in July, 2006 to become the Albany & Troy Lions Club, which currently has 46 members – men and women who volunteer their time to perform a variety of community service activities. The group is one of approximately 45,000 clubs in Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club orga
nization. Worldwide, Lions are dedicated to aiding the blind and visually impaired through programs such as SightFirst, which works to eliminate preventable and reversible blindness. Locally, the Albany & Troy Lions participate in the Lions Recycle for Sight used eyeglass recycling program. Since July 2012, the Albany & Troy Lions collected 20,800 pairs of used eyeglasses and 173 used hearing aids. The Lions have also assisted hundred of area residents to obtain eye care and have worked each year with the Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany (“NABA”) at local preschools and elementary schools to conduct KidSight vision screenings. The Albany & Troy Lions sponsor blood drives throughout the Capital District and regularly volunteer at the Regional Food Bank in Latham. In 2013, we participated in the NEWS10 Coats for Kids campaign, and picked up 512 coats at various dry-cleaners for delivery to distribution points. Our Club presents David B. Klingaman Citizenship Awards (small stipends) to one graduating senior from each of 14 area high schools every year. This past year, the Albany & Troy Lions also donated to NABA, Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office for educational material on child safety, the Lions Clubs International Fund for Hurricane Relife, Tech Valley High School's plant-a-tree program, Lions Camp Badger, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership program, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month (except July and August) at the Red Front Restaurant, 71 Division Street in Troy, NY at 6:00 pm. Note: The Albany & Troy Lions Charitable Fund, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consult your attorney or accountant.
