Linda Yoder, Executive Director of the Marshall County Community Foundation gave a presentation about the Foundation at the May meeting of the Plymouth Lions Club. One of the most important aspects about the community foundation is that you control how you give and you control what you give to. You can find your passion in the over 366 funds your family, friends and neighbors have created over the past 25 years. Since 1991, donors to the Marshall County Community Foundation have built the community’s assets currently valued at more than $34.7 million dollars and have returned over $14 million to Marshall County communities including $3.6 million in grants to nonprofits from the community funds. On October 12, 2017 thirteen Marshall County nonprofits received a total of $112,736 in competitive grants from the Community Fund. The growth of unrestricted funds now enables MCCF to award more than $200,000 in Community Fund grants on an annual basis.
In other business the Plymouth Lions Club discussed the successful White Cane fundraiser and thanked all who participated. These funds will go toward a new Refractor for out Kidsight Program. Our Kidsight Program has helped 406 children so far this year. It is events like this that provide the necessary funds for the club to give scholarships. Two $500 scholarships were awarded to high school seniors this month and the Lions Club also provides a portion of the Kizer Award for outstanding male and female athlete. A total of 294 Dictionaries have been presented to area third graders. You will see the excitement from this half of the third grade class at St Michaels.
The annual picnic will be held at Christos Banquet Center on June 18th. A new slate of officers were voted on and approved and will be sworn in to serve for the upcoming year and our scholarship winners from the high school will be asked to enjoy the evening with Lions Club members.
There is a leader in every Lion. A lion leader has two hands one to serve the community and one to serve Lion members. It doesn’t matter what your title is. It doesn’t matter if you’ve ever seen yourself as a leader. Leadership is not about inspiring followers, but about inspiring more leaders….a Lion serves. If you or anyone you know would like to join the Plymouth Lions Club, please contact any Lions Club member.
Submitted by Susan Eggleston
