Everyday Heroes
Perhaps no one epitomizes the spirit of our volunteer cornea transporters better than Lion Bob Needham. Bob has been a dedicated member of the Port Washington Lions Club since 1974. At almost 1000 trips and counting, Bob is the Lions Eye Bank’s most prolific volunteer courier. He has traveled throughout Long Island and beyond and makes himself available often at a moment’s notice. Bob is often seen traveling with his lovely wife and co-pilot Ruth Lee, as he delivers the precious Gift of Sight to its destination. It has sincerely been our privilege and honor to know Bob and work with him all of these years.
There is no greater sight to behold at 5:30 AM in the morning than Lion Herman Green’s smile as he accepts a package containing the Gift of Sight for his usual run into Manhattan. A member of the East New York Lions Club since 1999, Herman has been volunteering for the Lions Eye Bank since 2005 and has accumulated over 175 trips. Herman’s lighthearted demeanor and “can do” attitude attest to the magnitude of his volunteer spirit. Herman is a great ambassador of what Lionism is all about. Thank you Herman and keep smiling!
A Lioness since 1984, first with the Central Islip Lioness Club and currently with the Smithtown Lioness Club, Lioness Grace Bassett is one of those special individuals who has touched every part of our program. Whether it is transporting the Gift of Sight to those easternmost destinations on one of her 79 trips, delivering donor outcome posters to hospital units, or her work throughout the years as Secretary on the Lions Eye Bank’s Board of Directors, Grace loves to get involved and make a difference. Nothing exemplifies this more than her experience as a donor spouse. Sadly losing her husband, Leon, after 36 years of marriage, Grace made the decision to donate her husband’s corneas, a gesture that helped restore the sight of 2 individuals. Grace has often spoken about this experience at various Lions Eye Bank functions to promote awareness about the need for eye and tissue donation. For all you do, Grace, we send a heartfelt thank you.
No one embodies the tie between Lionism and the Lions Eye Bank better than Lion Elliot Krakauer. Since the inception of the Lions Eye Bank in 1986, Elliot has given himself to the Eye Bank in so many capacities and yet never expected anything in return. A member of the Plainview-Bethpage Lions Club since 1982, Elliot is the founder of the Lions volunteer courier program, which has saved the Eye Bank hundreds of thousands of dollars. To date, Elliot has himself made over 525 volunteer trips for the Lions Eye Bank. Elliot has also worked tirelessly to promote the Lions Eye Bank at community events and public health affairs. Elliot, along with his wife Marlene, has also been instrumental in coordinating a number of the journals for our Annual Lions Recognition Day. And last, but certainly not least, Elliot has served two stints as Chairman of the Board for the Lions Eye Bank for Long Island. Thank you Elliot for your tireless dedication to the cause and for the mark you have left on this great endeavor.