OAK BROOK, IL (USA) Sept. 8, 2006 — Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has released a series of public service announcements (PSAs) featuring former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The PSAs promote ongoing public support of Lions’ SightFirst program through Campaign SightFirst II (CSFII).

CSFII is the Lions’ effort to raise at least US$150 million to continue and expand the work of SightFirst, Lions’ worldwide program to combat preventable blindness around the world. Currently, blindness afflicts more than 37 million people globally, and without the continuation of Lions work, this number could double in the next 15 years. President Carter’s PSAs will be distributed to 400 public-affairs directors and to cable and independent stations in the top 20 markets across the United States.

President Carter’s endorsement of CSFII is far from his first work with Lions Clubs International. Decades before his presidency, he joined Lions Clubs International and remains an active Lions club member. The former president and 2002 Nobel Peace Prize Winner continues his humanitarian efforts through his ongoing leadership at The Carter Center, in addition to endorsing Lions’ ongoing blindness prevention efforts through CSFII.

“As a Lion for 53 years and a Past District Governor, I have witnessed our humanitarian contributions to local communities and the world,” said President Carter in the PSAs. “Campaign SightFirst II will ease the suffering and improve the lives of our fellow human beings by preventing blindness that devastates families and entire communities.”

Since 1990, Lions have prevented vision loss and restored sight to 27 million people and improved eye care for more than 100 million people around the world. The SightFirst program controls and eliminates the leading causes of blindness and creates sustainable eye-health systems and training programs that will serve communities for years to come. On average, US$6 saves one person from blindness through Lions’ SightFirst program.

According to Campaign SightFirst II Vice Chairperson J. Frank Moore III, President Carter’s PSAs bring a new level of awareness to the need for Lions’ SightFirst program. “President Carter’s confidence in Lions and Campaign SightFirst II will have a tremendous impact on our efforts, and ultimately, the lives of the millions of people Lions will help.”

To order a copy of the President Carter PSAs (free of charge), please e-mail the CSFII office. Media outlets and Lions can also download the PSAs.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.3 million members in nearly 45,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographic areas. In addition to its efforts toward conquering blindness, the organization has made a strong commitment to community service and helping youth throughout the world. To learn more about Campaign SightFirst II and the SightFirst program, visit www.Lions-CSFII.org.

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