White Cane Days
"GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT"
Lions took up sight conservation as their major goal after a speech given by Helen Keller at the Lions International Convention held at Cedar Point, Ohio, in 1925. At that time, Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become "Knights of the Blind", a challenge that has become a rallying-cry for Lions projects around the world.
Lions dedication received its first big step when George Bohnam, then Peoria, Illinois, Lions President, devised the red-tipped WHITE CANE to help the blind become mobile and to tell all who saw it that the bearer did not see.
A second big step came when a small Lions Club in Monterey Park, California, needed more funds than could be raised in their membership. They invited others in their community to share in their Sight Fund. The theme would be White Cane Days. The receipt for a contribution would be a miniature White Cane. This project was so successful that neighboring Lions asked for the little symbol. Within three years it was chosen as a fund raising project to help all clubs in California-Nevada to finance big things in Sight Serving work.
Now millions of dollars are raised each year all over America to serve programs that suit local needs. All of the funds raised through this project must be spent on sight programs. The club typically holds its white cane days in the spring of each year at Stater Brother's locations in Yucaipa and Calimesa. Currently, the dates for 2014 are pending.
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