Collaborative Partners
Through collaborations with not-for-profits, LCIF leverages its resources and accomplishes much more than it could on its own. Major collaborative partners are:

The Carter Center
LCIF has awarded the Carter Center more than US$38 million (and other non-profits $5.5 million) to prevent river blindness in Latin America and Africa. So far, 114 million treatments of Mectizan have been delivered. The eradication of the disease in Latin America is possible by 2010. LCIF also is partnering with the Carter Center to battle trachoma in three nations.

The Global Health and Education Foundation (GHEF)
In May 2008, GHEF gave LCIF the largest donation in its 40-year history. Through Operation Global Vision, GHEF's US$7.5 million gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar by LCIF to total US$15 million for cataract surgeries and access to eye care in developing countries. Operation Global Vision will provide the gift of sight to 270,000 people over five years.

Habitat for Humanity International
In 1999, LCIF began a partnership with Habitat and committed US$12 million to build homes for people with disabilities. A total of 1,000 homes have been built to date. The program is currently operating on an extension and will last until all of the funding is fully expended. Countries where Lions-Habitat home constructions have taken place: Canada, Korea, Poland, Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Philippines, Hungary, United States and Romania, to name a few.

Special Olympics
The Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes Program began in September 2000. Since that time, LCIF has given US$10.13 million to support this program. The grant funds 270 Opening Eyes screening events worldwide with volunteer support from several thousand Lions clubs. More than 100,000 athletes have been screened and eyeglasses have been provided to more than 44,000 athletes. 

Corporate Partners
LCIF is grateful for the generosity of its corporate partners. They share not just funds but a spirit of humanitarianism and a dedication to improve the lives of the needy. Thanks to these partners, LCIF has been able to expand programs, establish new initiatives and extend its service to others. Major corporate partners are:

Allergan
Allergan has been collaborating with LCIF for a number of years, with particular interest in glaucoma. Recently, they awarded US$75,000 to carry out 10 glaucoma screenings in high-risk populations in the United States to develop the All Eyes on the Family program with LCIF.

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
US$150,000 for the Lions' health education activities in Mali and Niger as part of the West African Water Initiative. The five-year grant helps Lions mobilize political will, increase the effectiveness of health education and enhance trachoma control activities.

Eli Lilly and Co.
Eli Lilly donated US$225,000 for the Lions Eye Health program to update program materials, support eye screenings and promote eye health public awareness initiatives.

Essilor of America
Essilor is assisting the Lions with equipment and training for the establishment of Lions lens finishing labs. Essilor will supply lenses and lab equipment at cost, assist in training Lions volunteers on how to make new glasses, help secure frame vendors, and find customers to purchase recycled materials from Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers. 

Johnson and Johnson Asia and Corporate
Johnson & Johnson has committed US$1.4 million to help fund Sight for Kids screenings in 10 Asian nations. More than 8 million children have been screened through the program. Sight for Kids involves eye health awareness, education and children's eye screening. The screenings are coordinated by local Lions, Johnson & Johnson staff and local medical personnel.

LensCrafters
US$334,550 of in-kind services to Lions to provide eyeglasses to those in need.

Merck & Co., Inc.
More than US$1 million of donated Mectizan to prevent river blindness in Latin America and Africa.

Rexton, Inc.
In-kind services and hearing aid contributions for the Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project

Women's Eye Health.org
In-kind services to develop eye health educational materials aimed at women, children and seniors

Government Partners

National Eye Institute
The National Eye Institute contributed $300,000 to collaborate and co-sponsor with LCIF a survey in 1991 and again in 2005 to benchmark the American public's knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards eye health and disease.

Organization of American States's Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD)
In April 2005, LCIF and CICAD signed a partnership agreement to collaborate for five years to promote Lions Quest pilot programs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. To date, funds have been invested in Belize, Colombia, Peru and Paraguay and tentative commitments have been reached to support new activity in the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and several island nations of the Caribbean. CICAD's financial support generally runs approximately US$100,000 per country to be disbursed over a three-year period. CICAD expects to invest about US$1.5 million in Lions Quest programs in the region between 2005 and 2010. 

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
US$100,000 for Lions-led vocational training programs in Brazil and Sri Lanka. US$50,000 for Lions Quest in South Africa and Malawi. US$150,000 for Lions-led youth vocational programs in South Africa (in cooperation with the International Youth Foundation).

U.S. State Department
US$575,680 allocated over five years to support Lions Quest pilot programs in the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Lebanon and Hungary. Lions Quest recently received a commitment for over $1 million as a subcontract with the State Department for work in Eastern Europe.