Lions World Vision Institute, 1410 N. 21st Street, Tampa, FL (2026)

03/16/2026

⭐Lions World Vision Institute's Mission Moment⭐

Alex was a devoted father. He bought scooters for his girls and a bigger one for himself so he could ride alongside them. On his last birthday, he asked his mother Cherrie to buy his daughter a new scooter—because her joy was his. Even as his health declined, he used those rides to stay part of the fun.

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 11, Alex faced many health battles but never let them define him. He played soccer, pole vaulted, mentored youth at church, and put his daughters and faith first.

When kidney failure brought him back home to Cherrie and his stepfather, David, their time together was full of movies, cuddles, and connection. Together, Cherrie and David gave Alex as much comfort, care, and love as they possibly could. Cherrie’s most treasured memory came just before Alex passed at age 39: a Sunday roast dinner, filled with laughter and family.

In her grief, Cherrie received the call: Alex’s corneas would help two people see. Nearly blind himself due to detached retinas, Alex would give the gift of sight. A registered donor since 16, he understood the power of donation—something that had touched their own family before.

Today, Cherrie finds strength in Alex’s legacy. Through the church projects he once loved, she’s carrying his purpose forward—with love, faith, and the joy of giving.

🌐To learn more about Lions World Vision Institute's Donor Services program, please visit: https://lwvi.org/donor-families-and-recipients/understanding-donation

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03/14/2026

👁️ JSOS 2026 Recap! 👁️

The team at Lions World Vision Institute is grateful for the incredible collaboration that made the LWVI wet labs at the Japanese Society of Ophthalmic Surgery (JSOS 2026) such a success!

A special thank you to Dr. Josh Zaffos for his leadership, guidance, and dedication to advancing surgeon education, and to Dr. Takahiko Hayashi and Dr. Takashi Kojima for sharing their surgical expertise and continued support in training the next generation of corneal surgeons. 👏👏👏

Together, we trained 50 surgeons in advanced corneal transplant techniques including TransplantREADY® DSAEK, Endo-in DMEK, and DALK—helping expand access to sight-restoring procedures around the world.

At Lions World Vision Institute, we are proud to support surgeons with industry-leading expertise, resources, and innovations that streamline cornea transplant procedures and improve patient outcomes. It was exciting to see such strong engagement around our TransplantREADY® and OptiGraft® portfolio of services.

LWVI looks forward to continuing this important work and strengthening global collaboration in corneal transplantation.

So the World Can See…

🌐For LWVI's upcoming surgeon trainings and programs, please visit: https://lwvi.org/events-training/

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03/13/2026

✨ Youth Vision Program - Weekly Recap! ✨

The Lions World Vision Institute team was on-site this week at Richey Elementary School in Pasco County and Turkey Creek Middle School in Hillsborough County to offer students free vision screening and eyeglasses through our Youth Vision Program!

🙌This week, a total of 53 students received vision screenings and 31 students received FREE eyeglasses through this program.

👓Our program offers a range of services including free vision screenings, eye examinations, and glasses for children and adolescents 5-17 years of age.

🌐For more information on LWVI's Youth Vision Program, please visit https://lwvi.org/vision-health

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LWVI's Youth Vision Program is among Florida’s most comprehensive and currently serves Hillsborough County Public Schools, Pasco County Schools, and Pinellas County Schools. We ensure early detection of vision issues in children, providing everything from initial screening, to glasses dispensation, and referrals for further care. 🎨🧠✏️

03/12/2026

🤗Thank You LifeQuest and Mayo Clinic!🤗

Lions World Vision Institute celebrated Donor Day earlier this month with the team at LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services at Mayo Clinic in Florida. This was a meaningful reminder of the impact of collaboration in saving and healing lives through donation.

The teams at the LWVI and LifeQuest connected with the Mayo healthcare team to recognize Donor Day and provide education on the importance of organ, tissue, and eye donation! Opportunities like this help reinforce the critical role healthcare professionals play in honoring donors and supporting the gift of life.

We are grateful for the continued partnership with LifeQuest and the dedicated Mayo clinicians who make donation possible every day.

🌐To learn more, please visit: https://lwvi.org/what-we-do/

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03/12/2026

🌸 Vision in Bloom is just one month away! 🌸

Spring is in the air and this beloved tea party, hosted by Lions World Vision Institute & Working Women Of Tampa Bay, is back for its 3rd annual celebration!

Join us for an elegant afternoon of tea, connection, and community in support of LWVI Foundation’s sight-restoring programs.

💐 Wear your finest dress
👒 Bring your favorite hat
🥂 Enjoy tea, mimosas, & sweet treats
✨ Tickets are on sale now — and they always sell out!

We are excited to welcome our Presenting Sponsor, Tampa Bay Total Wellness LLC, whose support helps make this special event possible! Located in South Tampa, Tampa Bay Total Wellness specializes in personalized wellness, hormone therapy, aesthetics, and integrative treatments designed to help people look and feel their best at every stage of life.

🎟️Secure your tickets today: lwvi.org/event/vision-in-bloom

Together, we’re bringing this beautiful event to life while supporting our mission!

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03/11/2026

💐National Funeral Director & Mortician Recognition Day💐

Today, on National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day, the team at Lions World Vision Institute would like to take a moment to honor the compassion, professionalism, and dedication of funeral directors and morticians who guide families through the most challenging moments of life, particularly during the loss of a loved one.

Funeral Directors often work closely with the LWVI team to facilitate the Gift of Sight and Life-Enhancing Tissues.

🌐For resources on bereavement and support while navigating grief, please visit: https://lwvi.org/donor-families-and-recipients/navigating-grief/

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03/10/2026

🌸 LWVI Women of Vision Founding Member Spotlight 🌸

Last month, Lions World Vision Institute proudly launched Women of Vision, our new giving circle dedicated to advancing pediatric eye care and expanding access through the Vision Health Center.

We’re honored to recognize Joanne Sullivan as a Founding Member behind this powerful initiative! 👏👏👏

When asked about her connection to this extraordinary movement, Joanne said, "Becoming a founding member of Women of Vision was a response to a compelling desire to be a part of something that focuses on helping to make sure children retain the gift of sight. I am honored to join other women in our community who recognize the need to support the efforts of Lions World Vision Institute."

Joanne's generosity & support will fuel our Vision Health Programs for generations to come, ensuring children and families receive critical screenings, eye exams, and life-changing vision care.

Thank you to Joanne for your leadership and being a part of our mission! ❤️

🌐For more information on how you can support LWVI's mission, please visit https://lwvi.org/support-our-mission

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03/09/2026

⭐Lions World Vision Institute's Mission Moment⭐

Needlepoint in the hands of Loni Smith—known by her pen name, Jo Ippolito Christensen—became a global movement. Her groundbreaking 1976 book, The Needlepoint Book, redefined how people approached needlepoint as both craft and art. Now 50 years later, it’s still in print and remains the gold standard in the field.

But behind the success of her work is a lesser-known story—one of fading vision, perseverance, and the life-changing gift of corneal transplants.

At age 28, Loni was diagnosed with keratoconus, a progressive disease that thins and distorts the cornea. Over the years, her vision declined, and stitching became impossible. Her eyes were often in pain, and daily life was a challenge. Between 1979 and 2005, she underwent multiple corneal surgeries. At the time, transplants were still evolving. There were no eye banks and no national tissue-sharing systems. Patients like Loni had to wait, often with little notice, and travel far to receive the gift of sight.

Her surgeries restored more than vision. They gave her back independence, confidence, and the ability to create again. One moment stands out: after a transplant, she walked outside and saw individual leaves on a tree for the first time in years. Until then, she’d only seen a blur of green.

With her vision restored, Loni updated The Needlepoint Book, introducing modern materials, global contributions, and design principles that influenced teachers, artists, and stitchers worldwide. Her work continues to inspire new generations.

🌐To learn more about Lions World Vision Institute's Donor Services program, please visit: https://lwvi.org/donor-families-and-recipients/understanding-donation/

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03/06/2026

✨ Youth Vision Program - Weekly Recap! ✨

The Lion's World Vision Institute team was on-site this week at Gulf Middle School in Pasco County and Buchanan Middle School Middle School in Hillsborough County to offer students free vision screening and eyeglasses through our Youth Vision Program! 🎨🧠✏️

This week, a total of 37 students received vision screenings, and 34 students received FREE eyeglasses through this program. 🙌🙌🙌

LWVI's Youth Vision Program is among Florida’s most comprehensive and currently serves Hillsborough County Public Schools, Pasco County Schools, and Pinellas County Schools. We ensure early detection of vision issues in children, providing everything from initial screening, to glasses dispensation, and referrals for further care.

Our program offers a range of services including free vision screenings, eye examinations, and glasses for children 5-17 years of age. Operated by experienced professionals, we utilize the Rebion BLINQ screener and Welch Allyn SPOT autorefractor – the gold standards in pediatric vision screening technology — ensuring that your child receives the best care possible. 👓

🌐For more information on LWVI's Youth Vision Program, please visit https://lwvi.org/vision-health

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03/06/2026

📣BIG News from LWVI!📣

Join Lions World Vision Institute's West Team at the Washington Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (WAEPS) 2026 Annual Meeting on March 6 and be among the first to hear our exciting announcement.

We’re expanding our West Coast impact with the launch of our state-of-the-art Seattle laboratory, which currently supports donor ocular tissue evaluation and research. Later this year, full corneal processing capabilities will be added to further enhance the quality, reliability, and service we provide to surgeons and their patients worldwide. Our impact starts locally and extends globally.

Visit us at Booth # 407 to explore our comprehensive corneal transplant services, including:
• TransplantREADY® Endo-In DMEK
• TransplantREADY® DSAEK
• OptiGraft® CAIRS Keratoplasty

So the World Can See…

👉Learn more about our full range of services:
Our Cornea Transplant Services | Lions World Vision Institute https://lwvi.org/our-transplant-services

📅Schedule a meeting during WAEPS with one of our team members: contact@lwvi.org

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03/05/2026

👓 Free Community Vision Clinic! 👓

Lions World Vision Institute’s Mobile Vision Clinic will be on site at the She is Football Market and Festival at Raymond James Stadium from 10am-3pm on Saturday, March 7 providing vision screenings, eye exams and free glasses! 🏈🏈🏈

⭐Appointments are first come first served, with times assigned upon visiting the check in table. The Mobile Vision Clinic is free and open to all!

The She is Football Market & Festival is a free, family-friendly celebration packed with small business vendors from across Tampa Bay, food trucks, Dragons on the Green Mah Jongg social play, music, kids’ combine activities and art tent, a cheer clinic, and more.

Hosted at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers AdventHealth Training Center, the day also spotlights top girls flag football talent from Tampa Bay and beyond with the She is Football Flag Invitational.

🚗Please note: Free parking is available in the GEICO Lot 14 located off of Himes Ave.

For more information, visit https://lwvi.org/event/she-is-football-vision-clinic/

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03/04/2026

🌸 LWVI Women of Vision Founding Member Spotlight 🌸

This February, Lions World Vision Institute proudly launched Women of Vision, our new giving circle dedicated to advancing pediatric eye care and expanding access through the Vision Health Center.

We’re honored to partner with Rita Lowman as the first Founding Member to help us launch this initiative! Her generosity & support will fuel our Vision Health Programs for generations to come, ensuring children and families receive critical screenings, eye exams, and life-changing vision care.

When asked about her connection to this extraordinary movement, Rita explained "I began wearing glasses in the 4th grade and realized at an early age, clear vision plays a big part in learning and all aspects of life. Additional information about LWVI and meeting Jason Woody a few years ago made a strong impression on me and the work that had made a difference to so many is part of my WHY. The other part of my WHY was major in my life. My Dad was the President of our local Lion’s Club and I would join him in collecting glasses. His work made a lasting impression on his daughter. We are always stronger together."

Thank you to Rita for your leadership and being a part of our mission!

🌐For more information on how you can support our mission, please visit https://lwvi.org/support-our-mission

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