The Orange Lions Club will provide a limited number of mini-grants to eligible community organizations and/or individuals for the 15th year in 2019.
The program is intended to provide funds to worthy causes and activities in the town of Orange that might not otherwise be funded, according to Orange Lions Club President Pat Romano.
“While our Lions Club continues to provide funds to Lions blindness prevention programs, aid for the blind and eye research, which are long-time Lions Club priorities, we feel strongly that it is important to allocate funds to local projects as well,” Romano said.
She emphasized that this funding is on top of a college scholarship which the Orange Lions Club will be awarding to Amity High School graduates, as it has for over 50 years.
Mike Muttitt and Nick Musante of Orange have been appointed to chair the community mini-grants program this year.
Blank applications for the community mini-grants program are now available at the High Plains Community Center at 525 Orange Center Rd. in the Community Services Department, at the Peoples United Bank branch at 653 Orange Center Rd., at the Case Memorial Library at 176 Tyler City Rd. and from any Orange Lion.
Muttit said the Orange Lions feel that it is crucial to continue to use some of our fund-raising resources for local community-based projects and activities. “We have an outstanding review committee which will enable us to make fair and appropriate decisions regarding all mini-grant allocations,” he said.
Completed applications are due to be submitted to the Orange Lions no later than Thursday, Jan. 31. All Orange nonprofit clubs and related nonprofit organizations, individual Orange residents and Orange government entities are eligible to apply. The recipients of Orange Lions mini-grants will be announced in late February after the selection committee completes its review of all timely applications.
In addition, the Orange Lions continue to provide such community activities as the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Easter Egg Hunt, Seniors’ Pizza Party, and other service activities. The Orange Lions also collect used eyeglasses for restoration and distribution to needy people all over the world. Drop boxes for used eyeglasses are located at the Case Memorial Library and the High Plains Community Center lobby. The Orange Lions now conduct eye screenings for preschoolers and kindergarteners, as well and most elementary students in Orange using sophisticated equipment to identify potential sight issues in the children’s early years.