WESTFIELD LIONS FOUNDATION INC

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND The Westfield Lions Foundation was formed as a 501 (c) 3 public charity in 2023 to help raise funds to support the activities of the Westfield Lions Club and offer a tax incentive to our generous contributors.

Since their beginning in 1933, the Westfield Lions Club has served Westfield and Hamilton County through various projects, financial donations and community support activities.

The club was one of the first groups to sponsor a three-day county agricultural show, the forerunner of the Hamilton County 4-H Fair. Many Lions to this day still play various roles in the fair. They also sponsored the first fish fry ever held in the county and it is continued today as a fund raising project.

Generous contributions continue to be made to such Lions projects as Lions Club International Foundation, Lions Cancer Control Fund of Indiana, Indiana Lions Eye and Tissue Bank, Indiana Lions for Leader Dog, Indiana Lions Speech and hearing, Westfield Fire and Police departments and various Veterans, Women’s, homeless and Those in Need programs. Several members assist Lions’ projects at the Speedway and Indiana State Fair.

The Club assists local students with eye care, honors the top ten high school seniors scholastically and recognizes outstanding senior male and female athletes. The club, also, supports Hoosier Girls State, scouting programs, the Lester L. Tudor Scholarship, the Florence S. Benson Community Award and Scholarship, Trade & Vocational and Culinary Scholarships.

The Westfield Lions Clubhouse has been a community resource in Westfield since 1958 and has played a pivotal role in the Club’s activities The Clubhouse typically is in use over 150 times per year for 4-H meetings, club events and meetings, reunions, wedding receptions and other events. Several local churches started with services in the building. Most recently the clubhouse has been used as a polling location on election day.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The Westfield Lions Foundation is an independent, non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to supporting the charitable needs of the community. We will be seeking grants, sponsorships and donations from individuals and local businesses to support the Westfield Lions Club’s ongoing charitable activities.

Additionally, the Westfield Lions Foundation will assist in the renovation, maintenance and ongoing operation of the Westfield Lions Clubhouse as a Community Resource.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

• Service Projects
o Union Street Ecology Tour – volunteer time and materials to pick up trash
o Third Phase Homeless Shelter Day of Service – volunteer time and materials to help maintain facilities
o Indiana Diabetes Youth Camp Day of Service – donate time and materials to help maintain facilities
o Avenue of Flags – Donate time to install and remove U S Flags to assist local Kiwanis Club
o Roundabout Christmas Decorating Projects – volunteer time and materials to decorate for Christmas
o Vision Screening at Westfield Schools – free vision screening using vision machines owned and maintained by the Lions Club
o Operation KidSight Preschool Vision Screening - free vision screening using vision machines owned and maintained by the Lions Club
o Dictionary Project – purchase and distribute dictionaries to every third grade student
o Charter Scout Troops – help fund scouting operations through donations to the troops
o Used Eyeglasses Collection Boxes – collect and transport used eyeglasses to be refurbished and given to those in need
o Exodus Afghan Refugee Furniture and Hygiene Bags Donations – donations of time and resources to help refugees relocate and establish homes including time and household supplies

• Fundraising Events
o Fish Fry – proceeds given to various needs as listed below
o Poker Tournaments – proceeds given to various needs as listed below
o WLC Car Show – proceeds given to various needs as listed below
o Fruit Sales – proceeds given to various needs as listed below

• Donations – cash donations given as well at time
o Open Doors Food Pantry – time and cash donations
o Heart & Soul Free Clinic – time and cash donations
o Third Phase Homeless Shelter - – time and cash donations
o Westfield Youth Assistance Program - – time and cash donations
o Westfield Education Foundation – cash donations
o Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame – cash donations
o Indy Edge Beep Baseball (Blind baseball) - – cash donations
o Westfield H.S. Foodies Program - – cash donations
o Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF)- – cash donations
o Indiana Lions State Projects – time and cash donations
o Hoosier Veterans and Families Foundation (HVAF) – cash donations
o Robbie’s Hope Foundation – cash donations
o Prevail of Central Indiana – cash donations
o Westfield Middle School Class Trip Sponsorship (4 students) – cash donations
o Hoosier Girls State Sponsorship (2 WHS students) – cash donations
o Westfield Fire and Police Department Memorial Funds – cash donations
o Emily Strong Cancer Foundation – cash donations
o Hoosier Veterans Memorial – cash donations

• Scholarships
o Florence Benson Memorial Scholarship ($2000)
o Lester Tudor Memorial Scholarship ($2000)
o Don Russel Career Development Scholarship ($2000)
o Trade & Vocational School Scholarship ($2000)
o WHS Leo Club Scholarships

• Community Resource
o The Westfield Lions Clubhouse property is valued at $650,000. Lions club meetings are held bi-monthly and the Fish Fry and Pancake Breakfast are held at the Clubhouse. All others time the facility is available for public for various events such as:
o Bridal showers
o Baby showers
o Quinceaneras (coming of age celebrations for Latinas)
o Family reunions
o Funeral receptions/celebration of life
o Graduation parties
o wedding receptions

Frequency of paid rentals: typically 4-6 times per month
o Rental Rate: Depending on Time and Use but substantially below market rates
o Renters: At least 50% of our renters were minorities (primarily Hispanic)

We also provided the use of our clubhouse rent-free to non-profit organizations. These groups used our clubhouse, on average, approximately four to five times per month. The groups included:
o Cub Scouts (we are the sponsor for the local scout pack #107)
o Hamilton County 4-H Clubs
o Westfield Playhouse (rehearsals and try-outs)
o Versiti Blood Donation events
o Meet-the-Candidates events during election years
o CPR training classes
o Westfield H.S. club events/fundraisers
o Westfield Schools PTO meetings
The Westfield Lions Foundation will help to upgrade and maintain this community resource

Funds from the Westfield Lions Foundation will be used to make donations directly to many of the charitable operations listed above as well as distributed though the Westfield Lions Club.

All activities by members are strictly voluntary. There is no remuneration paid to any members of any sort. All funds are used for the direct use of the charities supported or used to maintain the facilities that allow for Lions activities to continue to service the community