Photo: “The Official Pancake Trailer Crew”  Pancakes are just one way the Fraser River Valley Lions Club makes money to support our community.     Photo by Jerry Nissen

The Fraser River Valley Lions Club recently announced the donation of more than $51,000 through their charitable giving arm, the Lions Club Foundation of Fraser Valley, Inc. to a range of deserving local organizations. 

Unlike many non-profits, Lions Club raises the money it donates through the work of its members rather than relying on the generosity of local businesses and residents. Lions Club members raise money from their work managing and maintaining the local Forest Service campgrounds as gate judges at ski races, volunteering at the Winter Park Chamber’s events, from local merchants who advertise in their annual Brochure and more. Lions sell Christmas trees at their lot at Murdoch’s, run the annual Festival of Trees event, the 9Health Fair in Fraser, Lions Golf Tournament and of course they sell pancakes from their famous yellow trailer at many summer events.  Community support of all these projects enable the Lions Club to give back so generously to the community. 

The Fraser River Valley Lions Club also is one of Grand County’s largest providers of scholarships to local students from all over the county, with a current budget of $39,200 for 2020.

The organizations Lions Club chooses to support are chosen by the Lions Foundation Board from requests submitted by numerous local non-profits each spring. In addition to these gifts, the Lions Club also helps fund numerous Colorado Lions organizations including Kidsight for screening vision of young children, the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank and Lions Camp for kids. 

This year’s list of local Lions Club funding recipients included the following, by category:

Arts & Culture

Grand Concerts

Grand County Blues Society

Peaks ‘n Pines Quilt Guild

Rocky Mountain Repertory Theater

Education

Eternal Hills Preschool

Grand Play Days Preschool

Little Sprouts Learning Center

Families & Children

Advocates

Habitat for Humanity

Horizons Special Services

Mountain Family Center

Northwest Colorado Health (Hospice and Home Health)

Northwest Colorado Rocky Mountain CASA

Shining Stars

Miscellaneous

American Legion Post 88

Grand County Historical Association

Grand County Pet Pals

Grand County Search & Rescue

Historic Fraser 

KFFR Radio

Sports and Recreation

Bits & Spurs

Flying Heels Arena Association

Winter Park Horseman’s Association

To learn more about the Fraser River Valley Lions Club or to find out about becoming a member, visit their website at fraservalleylions.org.