SightFirst Grant
Tulsa Downtown Lions Club partnership with NewView Oklahoma
Lions all over the world share a common commitment to empower individuals with vision loss. This is a strong bond, and it is also the bond that recently brought together Tulsa Downtown Lions Club and NewView Oklahoma into a special partnership. NewView Oklahoma is a nationally recognized organization providing comprehensive rehabilitation to blind and low-vision individuals, empowering each person to their highest level of independence. With low-vision clinics in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, NewView serves clients in all 77 counties of Oklahoma and beyond. NewView clients are from all ages and stages of life. The organization serves babies born blind, seniors with macular degeneration, veterans with traumatic brain injury, individuals of all ages who have had a stroke or have diabetic retinopathy, and a wide range of additional eye conditions. Since 2015, Tula Downtown Lions Club has donated to the non-profit mission of NewView, helping low-to-moderate income families receive services. This long term support not only helped hundreds of blind and low-vision individuals in the Tulsa region, but also gave Tulsa Lions a greater awareness of the NewView mission. Then in 2019, Tulsa Downtown Lions Club and NewView jointly received a grant from Lions Club International Foundation, which is helping both organizations further their mission of service. The grant has facilitated much needed equipment for NewView, and provided funds for Tulsa Downtown Lions Club to increase community awareness efforts and re-design the website. “This is a big win for Tulsa,” shared Tina Murtha, then Lions President. “So often, when national grants are awarded, they land in big cities. This is powerful testament to the quality of work happening in our region.” Grant activities span two years, and will increase organizational capacity for both partners, leading to long-term benefits for blind and low-vision Oklahomans and their families.
