Sharpened eyesight heightens every aspect of our lives for the better. Reading, driving, and taking in the majesty of nature are all enhanced when our eyes are at their best. There are over 52 counties (one-third of our state) in Georgia without access to vision services, impacting thousands of children and adults. This is where the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation comes in.
Founded in 1949 by Tom Bingham, who was blinded in a hunting accident, the initiative was always intended to be a statewide effort to enhance access to much-needed eye care. His membership with the Atlanta Lions Club led him to recruit two other clubs, Albany and Moultrie, to invest in starting the foundation.
With $1,000 each and the intention to serve, Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation began. Their first service provided eye surgery to correct congenital cataracts for a four-year-old boy named Max.
This organization stands out for its ability to cover all surgical costs, which include anesthesiology, ophthalmology, and the surgical center. With a stellar reputation, costs are negotiated down to approximately 10% of the full price, and the remaining balance serves as an in-kind donation, which helps to keep these vital services available.
Beth Ehrhardt joined as Executive Director in September 2022. A social worker by background, Beth simply states, “My heart is in service.” Offerings include a Chamblee clinic and an on-site finishing lab, remote eye exams through tele-optometry, traditional mobile clinics, including school screenings (with Lions volunteers), and exams and eyeglasses. “Many kids need glasses to be able to learn to read,” Beth explains. She makes it a consistent practice to experience every facet of their provided programs, and the pre-testing at the schools tugs at her heartstrings the most, where she sees a student struggling simply because their eyesight is poor. Knowing they'll be able to give that child glasses and dramatically change their life is what drives her every day.
It takes a village to serve a village, and the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation forges partnerships across the state to provide high-quality programs. Amongst the dedicated staff, David Martin, a licensed optician, matches lenses to frames in the finishing lab and ensures each pair of glasses is ready for the patient. He also delivers the glasses to students in schools to address any issues. Nanon Morrison, chief development officer, utilizes her leadership to fundraise with phenomenal impact by focusing on the organization’s values. Jamal Green, director of the Mobile School Clinic, inspires the team to excel in working with students.
“We couldn’t do it without everybody chipping in and doing their part. That’s the key to this organization,” Beth explains. The team also includes a grant writer, a masterful marketing team, the Lions Liaison and Volunteer Manager, and the foundation’s board. There are currently four spots open on the board for non-Lions, and anyone interested is encouraged to reach out to Beth directly.
One of their services is the on-site glasses recycling center that's one of the largest in the United States, recycling over 100,000 pairs of glasses annually, many of which travel across the world on mission trips. Glasses are pre-sorted, washed, and sorted again into two categories: single vision and bifocals. It's volunteer-led, and volunteers are trained on lensometers to read prescriptions, then each pair is placed in a labeled bag, and ready to be given away.
They welcome new volunteers. If you’re able to contribute financially, there’s a donate button on their website, and you can specify which area you’d like your funds to go. 80 cents of every dollar given goes directly to patient services, with the remaining 20 cents maintaining administrative costs. People have even donated used cars to the foundation!
With a serious lack of vision care providers across our state, the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation is changing lives with every pair of glasses given and each eye surgery performed. “I believe in providing services,” Beth says, “So we’re constantly working on increasing partnerships.” From a YMCA partnership focused on services for school-aged children over the summer to federally-qualified health centers, every relationship extends its reach. They’ve seen people who haven’t had an eye exam in years (or ever), and getting their eyes tested is about more than just sight. It can reveal diabetes, for example, and offers an opportunity for education on preventative measures to help preserve one’s vision.
Seeing our world with clear vision, near and far, is tantamount to a fully experienced life. Contribute to the cause or apply for services on lionslighthouse.org
“We couldn’t do it without everybody chipping in and doing their part.”
“My heart is in service.”