Photo: The Fraser Lions Club Foundation Board met Wednesday, August 15th, for their annual grant meeting, at the Fraser Library.  Photo by Jerry Nissen

The Fraser River Valley Lions Club, through its Lions Club Foundation of Fraser Valley, will award 2018-19 grants totaling an all time high of $52,040 to 34 local nonprofits and other groups working to better our communities.  The checks will be presented to the organizations at a luncheon on September 18th at Snow Mountain Ranch. The Lions Club’s annual call for grant applications generated a record number of applications. As usual, funding requests exceeded the funds available.  

Lions Club President, Roger Odneal, said, “Speaking for all of our hard-working Lions Club members, we are proud to give back this record amount of money. This grant program is the single largest way the Lions Club gives back to our community.”  The Fraser River Valley Lions Club raises funds all year long through various activities, including a golf tournament, management of the local campgrounds for the US Forest Service, Christmas tree sales, volunteering as Powder Partners at WP Resort, and serving pancake breakfasts from the familiar big yellow trailer.  All these funds go back to the community in 3 primary ways: through this annual grant program; in college scholarships to Middle Park High School graduates ($15,000); and through our vision care assistance programs for Grand County pre-school children, students, and adults ($10,000).

Lions Foundation President, Kent Wehmeyer, noted, “By contributing to the funding of our local non-profit organizations, the Lions Club helps them do what they do best.  Make our community a stronger, more compassionate, and vibrant place to live.”

The following organizations will receive grants from the Lions Club Foundation of Fraser Valley for their 2018-19 programs and projects:

  • Advocates for a Violence-Free Community
  • Bits N’ Spurs Gymkhana Club
  • CO Lions Camp
  • CO Lions Kidsight
  • Eternal Hills Christian Pre-school
  • Fraser Creative Learning Center
  • Fraser Valley Hockey Association
  • Fraser Elementary Kindergarten
  • Granby Play Days Preschool
  • Grand Beginnings
  • Grand County Concert Series
  • Grand County Council on Aging
  • Grand County Historical Association
  • Grand County Library District
  • Grand County Pet Pals
  • Grand County Rural Health Network
  • Grand County Search and Rescue
  • Grand County Wildfire Council
  • Grand Futures Prevention Coalition
  • Grand Kids Childcare (Wapiti)
  • Headwaters Trail Alliance
  • Historic Fraser (save the 4 BAR 4)
  • Little Sprouts Learning Center
  • Middle Park High School Band
  • Middle Park High School Post Prom Event
  • Mountain Family Center
  • Northwest Rocky Mountain CASA
  • Peaks ‘n Pines Quilt Guild
  • Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank
  • Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute Fdn.
  • Run for Independence
  • Shining Stars Foundation
  • Winter Park Horseman’s Assn.