Lions Gift of Sight

08/26/2026

Happy from the dogs of Lions Gift of Sight!🐶🐾

08/24/2026

Come say hi at the Lions Gift of Sight booth at the UMN’s Crossroads building (on the corner of Underwood & Dan Patch Ave) on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Learn about the impact of registering as an eye, organ and tissue donor and our research restoring vision.

08/21/2026

Our Research Tissue Coordinator Panhia Yang isn't just an expert in research, she's also the creator behind some of Lions Gift of Sight's unique artwork. From our lens cloths and dish towels to conference banners and staff ID badge covers, her designs are woven into what we do.

For Panhia, sharing her art has created its own kind of growth. "The true journey was being okay with other people seeing my art," she said. "I want to look at my own designs and be proud knowing I gave it my all." That openness has turned into something our team gets to enjoy every day. Thank you, Panhia!

08/16/2026

August is National Eye Exam Month, a good reminder that it's easy to put off an exam, but regular checkups do more than update your prescription. They can catch conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease before you ever notice a symptom.

Here are a few reasons it's worth putting on your calendar this month.

08/06/2026

Welcome to the new Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation board members! We kicked off the new year with training and a meeting for the board. Seven new Lions have joined us: Diann Bellmont, Jim Boroughs, Riley Carlson, John Mortenson, Twyla Race, Christy Trutnau and Zach Wosmek

Read the full story: https://lionsgiftofsight.umn.edu/news-events/lgs-news

08/03/2026

We were honored to host the Lions International Youth Tour last week, bringing teens from four continents and 19 countries to learn about eye banking and the life-changing work Lions do around the globe.

The day kicked off with an Eye Banking 101 crash course and a corneal recovery demonstration, then small groups rotated through our lab to see evaluation, processing and research up close.

It's amazing to see young Lions from so many different backgrounds united by a shared mission: restoring sight and changing lives. Thank you for visiting, and welcome to LGS! 👁️💙💛

07/30/2026

Great things happen when Lions clubs come together. Thank you to the Red Wing Lions Club for hosting our Patty Stockdale and helping share the impact of eye donation across Minnesota and beyond!

The Red Wing Lions Club had a very special speaker at our July 27th General meeting. We hosted Lion Patty Stockdale, the Program Manager of Education and Outreach for the Lions Gift of Sight program for 5M. Patty shared how what began over 50 years ago as the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank has become, thanks to Lions support over the years, instrumental in eye donation to give the Gift of Sight to those in need… not only in Minnesota, but around our Midwest area and beyond. Patty also shared a bit of her personal journey to becoming part of the Lions Gift of Sight: her mother donated her eyes when she passed, and Patty became aware of the gift her moth had given to others, as a result Patty is an advocate for eye donation and she also became a Lion! The need is great for eye donations; we learned a notice in your Health Care Directive or checking the ‘yes’ box on a driver’s license for donation will be a starting point to help others. Family members are always reached out to when a passing happens and the donor has given permission for the donation. In addition, the donor’s families are sometimes contacted to let them know how many people will be able to see their families because of the gift of donation. Thank you, Patty, for your dedication to the Lions Gift of Sight and for speaking to our members! Pictured are Lion Todd Otteson, Lion Patty Stockdale, and Lion President Jake Dahl.

07/29/2026

Eye Injury Prevention Month may be wrapping up, but protecting your vision is a year-round habit, especially with summer UV exposure in full swing.

"Your eyes are irreplaceable, and a moment of prevention can preserve a lifetime of vision, says Silvia Orengo-Nania, MD, Chair of the UMN Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Neurosciences. "I encourage everyone to make eye safety a daily habit. When doing work indoors, wearing safety glasses can protect one of your most precious gifts, your sight."

Quick ways to protect your eyes this summer:
🛠️Wear safety goggles for hands-on tasks and projects 🧢 A wide-brim hat can block UV rays from reaching your eyes. 🕶️ The right sunglasses block UV before it reaches your eyes. 🕐 UV peaks 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., gear up during that window. ☁️ Cloudy skies still let up to 80% of UV through. 👁️ Regular eye exams catch UV damage early.

Protect your vision today.

07/23/2026

Last night, the Minneapolis Ambassadors Lions club met to reflect on an incredible year while looking ahead to what's next! They welcomed new members, installed officers and recognized Dr. Areaux, Jr., UMN Associate Professor & Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus, with a Helen Keller Award for his outstanding work restoring sight.

This club includes nearly 100 University of Minnesota staff and community members serving through activities that include vision screening, gardening cleanup, blood and clothing drives, a bake sale and more.

Recognizing outstanding Lions for their dedication and impact, the evening highlighted the power of coming together to serve our community. To Iearn more or join the club, visit e-clubhouse.org/sites/minneapolis_ambassadors! 💙🦁

07/13/2026

Maybe you've noticed that Minnesota is in the middle of a heat wave right now?🥵 This is a good time to remind you that if you're feeling dizzy, nauseous, or just plain "off," That's your body telling you it's had enough! 🌞

Dr. James Miner, an ER doctor with Hennepin Healthcare, shared some great reminders with MPR News about staying safe this summer. His advice is simple: if you're feeling those warning signs, get to shade or air conditioning right away and start drinking more fluids.

A few easy steps can go a long way toward keeping your summer fun (and ER-visit-free)! 😊
👉 Check out the full story here:

Summer comes with special times and, unfortunately, special accidents. Dr. Jim Miner, chair of emergency medicine at the University of Minnesota, shares how you can stay out of the emergency room this summer.