December 14, 2009/-

In September, the Lions of District A3 approved a year-long fundraising project for Together We Can. Because it is a District wide project, the funds raised by the 48 clubs in the district can then be matched by a grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation. The hope is to raise a quarter of a million dollars for the redevelopment of Kingston’s university hospitals.

"We bring together people of different backgrounds, so that we can work together. And by doing that we are serving our community, we serve the world and yes together we can," said District Governor Bill Lewis.

Mary Ann Smith is the fundraising coordinator as well as one of the District’s senior leaders and a Region Chair for the clubs closest to Kingston. Together with her husband Vic, a past District Governor, they will be contacting or visiting all the clubs to ask for donations to the project. “The hospitals care for residents from all across Southeastern Ontario and people know that first hand,” she said.

Together We Can chair Ian Wilson said the campaign is grateful to all the local Lions Clubs for their continued support. “People have been so welcoming and encouraging, and everyone has had a personal story to tell as to why they want to support our hospitals’ redevelopment. I have no doubt that the Lions of District A3 will succeed in this endeavor, and support our hospitals as they always have in the past.”

Kingston Club President Naydene Shanks and Zone Chair Josef Amann already have one fundraising project completed in support of the campaign – a well attended Elvis tribute event in October that was coordinated by super volunteer Lion George Fournier.

Lions from across District A3. Front Row: Bob June; President Nancy Butler; Zone Chair Josef Amann; Past District Governor, Vic Smith; Region Chair Mary Ann Smith; President Jack Hamilton; Mike Shabinsky; Carl Foley; President Naydene Shanks.

Back row: Ernie Coumont; Doug Hawley, Mary Grace Amann; Ken Butler; Art Foley, Eric Stevens; District Governor Bill Lewis; Campaign Chair, Ian Wilson; Pieter Kooiman; Bill Matier; Wayne Weber, James Yanyk; Hugh Shanks; Don Jones.

Far Back:Mathew Hamilton and Bruce Flood.