In the News
August 2023
Wheaton Lions Charities Golf Outing was a Great Success
On Wednesday, August 16 the Wheaton Lions Club held their annual Golf Outing. The outing was supported by over 116 golfers who participated in our biggest fundraiser of the year! The weather was perfect, and it was all smiles from the shotgun start to the 18th green!
See more photos and event details including the days winners and sponsors, on the Past Lions Activities page.
August 2023
Wheaton Lions Club Honored for Candy Day Collection
On Tuesday Bob Olender presented the Wheaton Lions Club with the State Trophy for the most money collected on Candy Day. Thank you Lion Charlie McKenna for organizing the volunteers and making it happen! Thank you to all those in the community who donated to the Wheaton Lions Club!
Wheaton Lions Club president Joel Riley (left), Charlie McKenna (with trophy) and Bob Olender.
July 2023
100th Anniversary of Service to the Community!
On Tuesday, June 11th State Senator Seth Lewis presented Lion Joel Riley, President Wheaton Lions and Lion Mayor Phil Suess, Vice President Wheaton Lions Club with the Proclamation Certificate of Recognition commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Wheaton Lions Club at the weekly club lunch meeting. Senator Lewis was the guest of Mayor Suess.
On behalf of all our members, Thank You, Senator Lewis!
Pictured left to right are Mayor Phil Suess, Senator Lewis and Joel Riley.
June 2023
Annual Lunch and Installation Presentation
On Tuesday, June 27th the Wheaton Lions installed the Officers, Directors, and Committee Chairs for July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 to all members in the Lions Den!
See the Leadership page for the new Officers, Board of Directors and Committee Directors.
June 2023
Lions Host the June 24th Concert at Memorial Park
Wheaton Lions Club members, family and friends gathered on the Lions Terrace and enjoyed the Friday evening concert with the community. The Lions Terrace was added to Memorial Park during its extensive renovation, which features monuments covering the history of American wars and local servicemen. The renovation included a state-of-the-art bandshell, refurbished turf and natural areas to attract visitors from all around.
The Wheaton Lions Club partnered with The City of Wheaton and the Wheaton Park District to make the creation of Lions Terrace possible. The Lions Terrace is a seating and gathering area which overlooks the bandshell.
June 2023
Charity Grant Recipients Presentation
The Wheaton Lions Club hosts three fundraising events each year: Candy Day, our Annual Charity Golf Outing and the Reindeer Run. Every dollar raised at these events goes toward grants and donations to local nonprofit organizations and scholarships.
Each spring, the Wheaton Lions Club Benevolence Committee accepts grant applications and awards non-profit organizations (preferably serving DuPage County) that provide programs and services to individuals or do research within our Six Pillars of Service in the community - Sight, Hearing, Diabetes, Hunger, Environment, and Pediatric Cancer.
At this year's grant award presentation, Lion John Vires, President of the Wheaton Lions Club announced the grantees to club members and stated what each grant would support while Lions Joel Riley, Vice President of Wheaton Lions Club; Elle Withall and Keith Carlson awarded the grant and scholarship checks.
Congratulations to all the nonprofit organizations and thank you for what you for the community with our support!
Below are photos of some of the grant recipients with Lions Joel Riley and Elle Withall.
Kay McKeen, SCARCE
Jen Bystry, Bridge Communities
Sarah Starke, Doodlebug Workshop
Karen Doyle, DuPage Health Coalition
Lion Keith Carlson (left) and scholarship recipients: Peter Lange, James O'Toole and Amaya McDonald
Grantees and grant funding description:
Carrie Seida, Marklund - Purchase of a Smartboard for inclusive learning in Bloomingdale Facility
Sarah Starke, Doodlebug Workshop - General assistance in operating workshop on S. Main Street in Wheaton
Floyd Kettering, Humanitarian Service Project - Support for Senior Citizen Project, which provides vital nutritional support and other services to low income seniors
Margie Wilhelmi, Play for All Foundation - Planting of Fragrance Garden at Sensory Garden Playground
Suzanne Skala, Casa DuPage - Help fund training and support of volunteer child advocates
Marta Garczarczyk, Eversight - Support for clinical operations providing cornea and eye tissue transplants
Karen Doyle, DuPage Health Coalition - Support for a diabetic eye clinic to held on September 23, 2023
Betsy Adamowski, Wheaton Public Library - Add to the library's collection of large print books for low-vision readers
Jen Bystry, Bridge Communities - Support for two nutrition workshops for clients this year
Sherri Billing, Ross K. MacNeill Foundation - Support for research to fight Pediatric Cancer
Kate Bousman, Child's Voice - Early Intervention Scholarships to allow children with learning disabilities who would otherwise not be able to attend
Katherine Tirabassi, Hadley School for the Blind - Purchase of "Braille for Everyday" workbooks for Hadley students
Sue Varcak, Cosley Zoo - Blanding Turtle Recovery Program
Randi Chambers, Northern Illinois Food Bank - Support to host mobile food pantry for Marian Park
Holly Demore, People's Resource Center - Funding for 100 carts filled with nutritious groceries and household supplies
Kay McKeen, SCARCE - Support for variety of items including books and small token for Pediatric Cancer patients at Central DuPage Hospital
Monica Joyce, Slam Dunk for Diabetes - Support for basketball camp in Wheaton for kids with diabetes
Kathryn Macabobby, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - Help fund Bags of Hope filled with useful resources for newly diagnosed T1 Diabetics and Caregivers
*Julie Sacks, Home Centered Health Care Institute - Help fund a second cohort of Illinois House Call Project
*Not present
2023 $2,000.00 College Scholarship recipients:
Peter Lange - Purdue university
Amaya McDonald -Northern Illinois university
James O’Toole - University of Wisconsin at Madison
Congratulations and thank you for your mission and your work!
May 2023
Slam Dunk for Diabetes
The Wheaton Lions Club was Proud to Sponsor the 2023 Slam Dunk for Diabetes 3-Day Basketball Camp!
This year the Wheaton camp was held at Wiesbrook Elementary School in Wheaton from June 26th - June 28th. Lions John Dalby, Jim Jakubiec, Ron Birchall, RC Crompton and Tom Keiser (left to right) distributed t-shirts and basketballs to the forty-two kids ages 6 -14 who participated.
The Slam Dunk for Diabetes staff in charge of running the camp were Teresa Alesia, Executive Director Slam Dunk for Diabetes and Jody Gosain (right), Development Director.
Our sponsorship of this event supports our Pillar of Service in the community - Diabetes. The Wheaton Lions Club provides Six Pillars of Service in the community - Sight, Hearing, Diabetes, Hunger, Environment, and Pediatric Cancer.
About Slam Dunk for Diabetes
Since 2004, Slam Dunk for Diabetes Basketball camps have been a place where kids with Type 1 and Type 2 can play basketball, laugh and share stories. They also learn more about managing their health through food, insulin, exercise and best of all – hanging out with kids who are just like them. The basketball camps are free to eligible kids ages 6 through 18 with Type 1 and 2 diabetes.
Slam Dunk on everything that’s holding you back. Slam Dunk on fear. Slam Dunk on doubt. Kids ages 6 - 18 attend the half-day camps across Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Each day, they’re encouraged to build confidence, make new friends and learn some new skills on the court.
Self-management, confidence building, and education are the foundation of good decision-making on and off the basketball court. Slam Dunk kids’ experiences and support are sustained through:
- Multi-day camps
- One-day clinics
- Informative website
- Family education
- Research programs
For more information, visit slamdunkkids.org.
May 2023
George Lazanky Award for Outstanding Service
On April 15th at the Lions Club District 1J Convention, Wheaton Lion Bill Davis received the George Lazanky Award for outstanding service. In addition to being a club member since 1966, Bill has served as our Club President, Board Member and on so many committees over the past fifty-seven years!
Bill is also a co-founder of the Wheaton Leadership Prayer Breakfast, former Treasurer of the City of Wheaton, Council Member of the Three Fires Boy Scout Council, 1998 Person of the Year for the Wheaton Rotary Club, President of the Wheaton History Center, Board member of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, President of the Wheaton Chamber's Ambassador Club, Board member of the B.R Ryall YMCA and Board member of St. Michaels Church in Wheaton.
The George Lazansky Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to deserving Lions in District 1-J. It honors not only the recipient but its namesake, District 1-J’s first Governor who served in 1951-52.
Then, as now, District 1-J has led the State of Illinois in its service to those with vision and hearing loss, as well as Diabetes.
Congratulations to Lion Bill and Thank You for your decades of service in our community!
Pictured left to right are Lions Bruce Beck, Past International Director; Bill Davis; and Jim Kiser, District 1J Governor.
May 2023
Candy Day was SWEET!
Thank You to all who braved the rain to donate and to all the Wheaton Lions who volunteered for our Annual Candy Day Fundraiser! Candy Day is one of the Lions Clubs biggest and oldest fundraising events.
Lion John Vires, President Wheaton Lions, the Candy Day Committee, and so many club member volunteers greeted donors, gave out tootsie roll pops and accepted donations to help support the Lions programs for the Sight and Hearing Impaired.
April 2023
Lions Distributes Food to Marian Park Families
On Tuesday, April 11th, 13 Wheaton Lions members volunteered to assist with the Northern Illinois Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry food distribution at Marian Park.
Volunteers unloaded the food truck, displayed and distributed the food to the residents to take home.
Marian Park, located in Wheaton, Illinois, offers apartments for income eligible families and persons ages 62 years and older.
Food was provided to over 60 family units, primarily seniors. Volunteering at the event were Lions Vickie Austin, Raul Delgado, Ron Diener, John Huff, Jim Jakubiec, Jeff Kincaid, Chris Neigel, Dave Olson, Sharon Sifnotis, John Sheahin, Conrad Stoll, Phil Seuss and Ruth Carlson.
Food Distribution Events are part of the Lions program to help end hunger in our community and support the Pillar of Service - Hunger.
January/February 2023
Vision Screening
The Wheaton Lions Club conducted free vision screenings at the Wheaton Public Library (Children's Dept.) on Monday, January 30th; Tuesday, January 31st; and Wednesday, February 1st!
The “Lions for Saving Sight” is a community service program that provides a simple non-invasive and cost-free preliminary vision screening test performed on young children. It is as simple as taking a picture. Lions Ron Birchall and Jim Jakubiec will be conducting the vision screenings.
The equipment used to take the picture checks for things such as: Farsightedness, Nearsightedness, Lazy Eye and other eye related symptoms. The screenings are free of charge. About one out of 10 children tested are referred to the family’s optometrist for a complete diagnosis.
Lions Ron Birchall (left) and Jim Jakubiec conducted the vision screenings.
December 2022
Reindeer Run
The Wheaton Lions Club held its 11th annual Reindeer Run on Saturday, December 3 with 938 in-person runners while 26 runners continue running in the virtual run.
<Visit the Reindeer Run page for more information, run results and many more photos>
November 2022
Wheaton Lions Hunger Food Drive
The Final Count! A whopping 7,437 lbs. of food and $1,259 in cash donations!
The 2022 Wheaton Lions Club Community Hunger Drive for People's Resource Center was a great success thanks to our community partners Wheaton, Carol Stream, Warrenville, and Winfield! A special shout out to all the Businesses that hosted Food Donation Drop boxes!
In Wheaton
121 Apartments
Square Apartments
CUSD School District #200
All schools in Wheaton, Warrenville, Carol Stream contributed 4,526 lbs. of food!
Jewel Foods
Pete's Market
ReNew Center Wheaton
Wheaton Lions Den
Wheaton College - Anderson Commons
Wheaton Park District (4 locations)
Community Center
Mary Lubko Center
Cosley Zoo
Arrowhead Restaurant
Wheaton Sport Center
Wheaton Public Library
In Carol Stream
Windsor Park Manor
Old Second Bank
Old Second Bank
In Lombard
Old Second Bank
This project was part of the Wheaton Lions “Focus on Hunger” which also supports one of the Lions primary “Pillars of Service” for the community.
Thank you to all who donated their time and treasure to help end hunger in our communities!
Thank you also to the Wheaton Lions 2022 Hunger Drive Committee for your hard work and dedication to our mission!
October 2022
Lions Donate Glasses, Hearing Aids and Cell Phone
Lion Rod Irey delivered 5,500 glasses, 81 hearing aids and 34 cell phones to the Lions of Illinois Foundation in Sycamore, IL.
When a notable amount of glasses and hearing aids are collected they are delivered to the Lions of Illinois Foundation. They in turn send the eyeglasses to Lions International for shipment overseas to be given to needy families.
October 2022
Wheaton Lions Hunger Food Drive
The Wheaton Lions Club Hunger Drive with community partners Carol Stream, Warrenville, and Winfield ran from September 20th through October 4th. This project is part of the Wheaton Lions “Focus on Hunger” which also supports one of the Lions primary “Pillars of Service” for the community.
Thank you to all the businesses that hosted our Donation Drop off boxes and to all have donated to help end hunger in our communities!
July 2022
July 4th Parade and Fields of Honor Celebrations
The Wheaton Lions Club celebrated Independence Day in the July 4th Parade!
Lion Sarah Starke and Pam Dalby steered the Wheaton Lions Club car in the Independence Day parade surrounded by club members Lions John Dalby, Bruno Tabis, Chris Neigel, Raul Delgago, Jim Jakubiec and volunteer, Morgan Bainbridge displaying signs for the Lions Club Six Pillars of Service in the community - Sight, Hearing, Diabetes, Hunger, Environment, and Pediatric Cancer.
The Wheaton Lions also sponsored the 2022 Wheaton Field of Honor at Seven Gables Park in Wheaton!
September 19- October 3
Community Hunger
Food Drive
Wheaton Community
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October 26, 2023
Centennial Celebration Dinner
Arrowhead Golf Club
Wheaton, IL
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