ignites the spark!
How it all Started...
The Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing operates one of the leading eye banks in the nation. It also partners with Lions Clubs in Washington and Northern Idaho to help them accomplish sight and hearing missions in their own communities – one neighbor at a time...
1925 |
Ms. Keller travels to Lions International Convention to ask Lions to serve as “Knights of the Blind.” Lions say, “Yes!” |
1969 |
Regional Lions Clubs band together to establish the Northwest Lions Eye Bank. |
| 1979 |
Lions International President Ralph Lynam asks Lions to extend their special sight mission to also help those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Lions say, “Yes!” |
1979 |
At their district convention, Lions Clubs of Washington and Northern Idaho vote to found the Lions Hearing Conservation Foundation. |
| 1998 |
Northwest Lions say, “Yes!” to the opportunity to achieve dual missions with greater efficiency - merge sight and hearing conservations into one organization – the Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation of Washington and Northern Idaho. |
2001 |
To reflect the expanding reach of our humanitarian services and a merger with the Montana Eye Bank, we change our name to Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing. |
2004 |
The Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing launches AUDIENT™, a national nonprofit alliance bringing low-cost, high-quality hearing care to income-qualified individuals. |
| 2006 |
To better reflect its national and international role, the Board of Trustees of the Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing renames Northwest Lions Eye Bank as SightLife™. |