Louisiana Lions Eye Bank fundraiser hopes to double last year’s amount raised

This year’s Horrid Hollywood Eye Ball will be Oct. 18 benefitting the Louisiana Lions Eye Bank.

“It’s going to be the costume party you don’t want to miss,” said Tony Simpson, technical director and business development coordinator for the eye bank. “The decor is going to be an abandoned and haunted Oscar after party. We are asking everyone to dress as their favorite movie star – dead or alive.”

This is the second year of the fundraiser, and Simpson said the nonprofit raised more $3,000 during last year’s event. This year, he’s hoping to at least double that.

“We want to grow that number. The amounts raised seemed to be low, and I feel that it was due to lack of knowledge about our organization and what we do for the community,” he said.

The Louisiana Lions Eye Bank was created in 1981 and provides corneal tissue to surgeons for transplantation. Last year the organization was able to provide over 230 people with vision, according to Simpson.

“Last year, we had a golf tournament and the Eye Ball, which were our first individual fundraisers for the eye bank,” Simpson said. “We want the Eye Ball to be our primary fundraiser each year and continue to raise money for what we do for our community.”

In the past, the Lions Clubs of District 8L facilitated fundraising and financial donations for Shreveport-Bossier City’s Eye Bank. It was only until a few years ago that the Lions Clubs allowed Shreveport’s own club to begin marketing and fundraising solely for their organization.

“The Louisiana Lions Eye Bank is one of the best-kept secrets in our community,” Simpson said. “Our operations are costly and what we get in return for our services is not enough to support our day to day operations, so that’s why we depend on grants, fundraisers and donations.”

Robin Williams, marketing director for Holiday Lanes in Bossier City, a sponsor of the event, said she and her company both know the importance of supporting organizations like this in the community.

“We have a more personal reason. The Coleman family, which owns Holiday Lanes, has a reason to support in particular the efforts of the Louisiana Lions Eye Bank,” Williams said. “One of the Coleman brothers has been blind since childhood, and there is real understanding of how blindness effects the lives of individuals and families. Holiday Lanes understands clearly the value

of sight and how important it is be healthy, support research and progress.

“Seeing is a miracle and the Louisiana Lions Eye Bank is creating miracles with their efforts to match donors and patients waiting for transplants. The Louisiana Lions Eye Bank is making great progress and making it happen for people.”

The local eye bank services 33 parishes and in some cases sends corneas to doctors around the world. Corneas are stored in a temperature-controlled refrigerator and are extracted within the first 12 hours after a donor dies.

According to the National Eye Institute, worldwide corneal infectious diseases have affected the vision of more than 250 million people and have blinded more than six million of them.

“A lot of people don’t know about this, but we’re here to educate them,” Simpson said.

WanT TO GO?

What: Eye Ball

When: 7 p.m. The Supper Club, 610 Commerce St., Shreveport.

Admission: $45

Info: thesecondeyeball.bpt.me.

Ready To Go?

Here’s a look at a few things taking place during the Louisiana Lions Eye Bank Eye Ball fundraising event:

• Live music by Bridges Row and DJ Ryan

• Food catered by Terri Matthews with Gumbeaux Productions

• Cash bar by Thrifty Liquor

• Costume contest for individuals and groups with cash prizes, judged by KSLA News 12’s Domonique Benn

• Games throughout the evening to win prizes donated from local businesses

• A “Duck Dynasty” giveaway featuring a signed “Duck Commander” hat and duck call signed by Willie, Jase, Phil and Si, plus Jase and Phil’s book and Season 3 of “Duck Dynasty” on DVD