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SHALMALI PATIL WINS DeANZA LION’S STUDENT SPEAKER CONTEST

Shalmali Patil, a freshman at Cupertino High School, was awarded first place in the DeAnza Lion’s Club 2014 Student Speaker Contest held on February 11th, 2014. It was the 77th Lions Student speaker contest.

Ms. Patil was one of 4 high school students from the Fremont Union High School district who took part in the event held at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos. The topic was “Community Service – What Does It Mean & Why Does It Matter.”

The other finalists were Jimmy Zhi from Lynbrook High School, Erik Yang from Homestead High School and Justin Fu from Homestead High School.

By winning Shalmali Patil will continue to the Zone level competition, which is scheduled for March 4th, 2014. It will also be held at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos. The winner at each level will advance to the Region, District, Area, and then Final Contest. The Grand Winner will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship.

”Our club is cheering for Shalmali as she moves up in the competition; we think she is a GREAT speaker and has excellent potential,” said event Co-Chair Lion Walt.

We thank the Jesuit Retreat Center, the contestants and their families, the judges as well as all lions and their partners who volunteered at the event. It was a great turnout with close to 30 people.

Contributed by Lion Walt

18th Crab Feed by DeAnza Lions & Sunnyvale Sunrise Rotary Club – A Solid Fundraiser

In good tradition, the DeAnza Lions and the Sunnyvale Rotarians put together the 18th annual Crab Feed on January 25th, 2014. Six hundred tickets for 2 seatings were available for sale, only a few dozen remained unsold. Once again we were able to rent the Community Hall of St. Williams Parish in Los Altos – surely the regulars already knew the drill: where to park, where to check in, where to get drinks, etc.

As in previous years, the hall was soon filled with happy noise and cheerful music, presented by the famous Thrown-Together-Jazz-Band, while a substantial group of LEOs, Interact Students, and other high-schoolers lined up to wait the tables.

The scrumptious fare included staples like family-style salad, bowls of crispy crunchy garlic bread, spaghetti with tomato sauce and of course an endless supply of crab, prepared and cooked by volunteers of the FishMarket.

Lion Steve and his wife Ellen once again had worked full time jobs for weeks before, during and after the holidays to secure prizes for the raffle and the silent auction – the latter included a Disneyland outing with 4 hopper tickets and a 2 night stay in the Anaheim Marriott Hotel.

Thanks to our young helpers, tons of raffle tickets were sold, and all prizes were handed over to the happy winners. The sale of keys to the ominous lockbox went really well, too – from the proceeds, $ 1, 000 were donated to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan which struck parts of the Philippines in the first week of November 2013.

This year’s takings overall might be slightly lower than last year’s record profits due to the increased price of the crab, but the preliminary results show that all efforts in putting the event together paid off.

A roaring Thank You to all of our guests, sponsors and contributors!

We also want to thank all of our volunteers, Rotarians, LEOs, members of other youth clubs like Interact, the Fish Market, the Band, Lions and their family members for working to make this fundraising event a huge success.

2013 Food Drive Helps 160 Families At Thanksgiving

As every year for the past several years, the DeAnza Lions Club committed to help local low-income families to have a festive Thanksgiving dinner, by organizing a food drive over the last weekend before the holidays and providing each family with 2 boxes of traditional Thanksgiving dinner ingredients.

Last weekend, many DeAnza Lions and their family members as well as LEOs from Cupertino, Monta Vista and DeAnza College teamed up on Saturday and Sunday to collect food and cash at 2 LUCKY store locations, while another team delivered the food collections to the Odd Fellows Lodge in Cupertino where yet another group started to sort food donations into pre-labelled and color-coded boxes.

Final packing started at 6:00am on Monday and 320 boxes were loaded by a dozen or so lions onto delivery trucks, while approx. 30 boxes with surplus food were already being delivered to Sunnyvale Community Services. By 9:00am a trek of 5 cars moved into the direction of the Support Network for Women while the big refrigerated truck with an even bigger amount of boxes went to Hughes Elementary.

Recipients this year also included families connected to Trace Elementary school, “Even Start Family Learning Center”, Domestic Violence Department, Young Parent Program FUHS and the Horizon Program.

The DeAnza Lions want to express their gratitude to Lucky’s Grocery stores in Santa Clara and San Jose, to the community, the fellow lions with families and friends as well as the LEOs of Monta Vista High, Cupertino High as well as DeAnza College for making our Annual Thanksgiving food drive this past weekend a big success.

Special thanks go to Santa Clara Store manager Jeff Kennedy, Asst. Mgr. Liz Coelho, and Head Checker Valerie Ruis, as well as to El Paseo Store manager Chris Miner, Tony Gonzalez, and Jessica Pusich for allowing us to have our drive at their respective location and for going above and beyond the call of duty – without them the event would not have happened.

The DeAnza lions also thank the Odd Fellows for donating the use of their meeting hall.

A big Thank You again to the patrons of the Lucky Stores for opening their heart and wallets to help people in need.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2013 Halloween Bash A Roaring Success

The Cupertino DeAnza Lions had their Second Halloween Party Fundraiser (bash) on Saturday, October 19th, 2013. The event took place at the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center. About 70 adults and 50 kids had a great time with games, prizes, music and dancing. Food and drinks were of course served as well. We brought in a profit of $ 2,700.00 that will be used to provide eye exams and eye glasses for those who qualify for our “OneSight” program. It was a fun-filled family event. Thanks to all who helped, including the LEO crews. [contributed by Lion Mort]

“Habitat” For Little Ones

Habitat for Humanity is known for building simple, decent, and affordable houses for low-income families around the world. Lesser known is the fact that they are also building playhouses for good causes.

On February 9th, 2013, 8 Lions and family members came together at the Habitat for Humanity warehouse in Milpitas (the place we used to do garage sales) to help build, under the tutelage of our instructor Larry, play houses for kids. Larry distributed work for everybody – Lions Steve and Walt put 12 roof halves together, with the insides painted sky-blue by Ray, Ellen or Dagmar. Lions Eli and Ray were the biggest noise makers, cutting openings into windows and doors with electric saws. Lions Amy and Bernie started painting walls inside and out, first walls for a light green house, then those for one in purple or mauve – we could not agree on the correct name of the color. (You can see Bernie being a double-fisted painter). Almost everyone had a go at painting walls, doors, ceilings, gables, support “beams” and solar panels – yes, each playhouse will feature one solar panel thanks to PG&E. Amy and Bernie put in overtime to finish the markings on the panels.

Habitat volunteers constructed 184 of these play houses last year for a total revenue of $ 185,000 (often in auctions) which is enough to build a big house. Putting a play house together is also used as a great way for team building in the corporate world (http://www.habitatebsv.org/Get-Involved/Business-Groups)

We might not have been the fastest group, but for sure had a lot of fun and are very proud of our accomplishments.

Contributed by Lion Dagmar

Record Fundraiser – 17th Crab Feed by DeAnza Lions and Sunnyvale Sunrise Rotary Club

Once again the DeAnza Lions and the Sunnyvale Sunrise Rotary club had teamed up for the annual crab feed on January 26th, 2013. As always, two seatings were planned for 300 people each, and by golly, almost all tickets were sold, despite a slightly higher cost for each ticket this year.

For the fourth year in a row, the event took place at the Community Hall of St. Williams Parish in Los Altos. Our friends from the Fish Market restaurant arrived with fresh crab which was already cleaned so the usual scrubbing crew did not have to get up by 5:00am on Friday morning. 

Beer (Firehouse brewery), music (the Thrown Together Jazz Band), about $ 9,000 worth of gifts in kind (tirelessly solicited by Lion Steve and his wife Ellen) as well as hundreds of volunteer hours were donated to the event – all of it helps raising funds for the two clubs and its charities.

After serving a small salad, endless bowls with garlic bread, pasta and crab were served by eager high school students from various youth clubs, including LEO clubs from Monta Vista and Lynbrook High. While volunteers from the Fish Market helped cook the crab outside, a team of lions and Rotarians were busy in the kitchen, cooking, washing pots and serving bowls, and replenishing the latter with freshly baked garlic bread and pasta. Needless to say that lemon wedges, melted butter and lots of tomato sauce rounded out the dinner. 

Shouts of joy could be heard when a guest found that his or her raffle ticket matched the ticket number announced by the maître d’ or one of his little helpers – prizes and auction items worth $ 9,000 were raffled and auctioned off. At the end of the first round of diners, the band members lead a march through the densely populated hall, followed by many happy guests. 

After a short break, in which the tables were prepared for the second set of guests, the volunteers enjoyed a slice or two of Pizza, before another crowd of almost 300 people showed up.

This year’s takings in the lockbox amounted to $ 1420.00, earmarked for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, while overall funds raised amounted to $ 24,000. A roaring Thank You to all of our guests and contributors!

We also want to thank all of our sponsors, volunteers, Rotarians, Leos, members of other youth clubs like Interact, the Fish Market, the Band, Lions and their family members for orchestrating another successful fundraising event.

Contributed by Lion Dagmar

Successful Food Drive Will Put Thanksgiving Dinner on for 150 Families

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The DeAnza Lions had another successful food drive in spite of having to change the collections to two new grocery stores. After initial concerns we not only achieved our goal of directly providing food to 120 needy families, but we could include 30 additional families from our wait list.

Many of our other donations go to charities where we are one of many contributors, but at Thanksgiving, the DeAnza Lions club is the only provider to these local families. 

For two days, teams of Lions and LEOs collected food and cash at 2 Lucky’s store locations, while another team delivered the food collection to the Odd Fellows Lodge in Cupertino where yet another group started to sort food donations into 2 boxes per family. Final packing started at 6:00am on Monday morning, with all deliveries completed by 2:00pm. Recipients this year included families connected to Trace Elementary school, “Even Start Family Learning Center”, Hughes Elementary school, Domestic Violence Department, Young Parent Program FUHS and the Horizon Program. Excess food in the amount of approx. $ 1,500.00 went to Sunnyvale Community Services.

The DeAnza Lions want to express their gratitude to Lucky’s Grocery stores in Santa Clara and San Jose, to the community, the fellow lions with families and friends as well as the LEOs of Monta Vista and Lynbrook High Schools for making our Annual Thanksgiving food drive this past weekend a big success. Special thanks go to Santa Clara Store manager Jeff Kennedy, Asst. Mgr. Liz Coelho, and Head Checker Valerie Ruis, as well as to El Paseo Store manager Chris Miner, Tony Gonzalez, and Jessica Pusich for allowing us to have our drive at their respective location and for going above and beyond the call of duty – without them the event would not have happened.
Sean (spelling?) from the MV LEO club did a full shift from 9am to 5pm on both days, Saturday & Sunday – hats off, and many thanks and appreciation for this outstanding contribution. The DeAnza lions also thank the Odd Fellows for donating the use of their meeting hall.

A big Thank You again to the patrons of the Lucky Stores for opening their heart and wallets to help people in need. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Contributed by Lion Ray Lancon

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Supporting Project Linus – With 60 Hand-Made Blankets

On November 8th, 2012, 35 blanketeers, amongst them Lions, spouses and friends of Lions, as well as 16 LEOs from Monta Vista and Lynbrook High schools gathered at the Odd Fellow Hall in Cupertino for a Linus Project Blanketeering evening. In less than 2 hours, almost 60 blankets were completed. They will be delivered to local children in need, as well as victims of hurricane “Sandy”. Please read Lion Leslye’s fun report (attached). For more information about Project LINUS, please visit their website (www.projectlinus.org).

Contributed by Lion Leslye Noone

LionsLogo                            Linus

  

 

Hello there Fellow Lions,

               In case you haven’t heard, we held a Blanketeering Party for Project Linus last Thursday, November 8th!

               I am thrilled to report that we had 35 people in attendance. It was totally unexpected; I was hoping for 18! You all took my gentle nagging to heart and I was amazed and touched by your willingness to give up an evening at home to come and join us.

               Our evening began when Odd Fellow and Lion Don Lang met John and me at the Lodge promptly at 6:30. I was thrilled to walk in to a meeting hall already set up for us and ready for use.  Lions and Leos began arriving very soon after 6:30. As they entered, everyone was invited to choose a fleece from the 57 pieces we had waiting for them. (We had 5 already completed before we began-one purchased by the Lions and already made as a sample, 2 purchased by the Lions and already made by the Ratners and 2 more purchased and made by the Ratners. Thanks, Ellen and Steve.) The Coordinator of San Jose’s Chapter of Project Linus, Sharon, began her power point presentation about Project Linus just a bit after 7:00 during which she told us that most blankets made at the Blanketeering Parties are given to local children in need but that at least some of our blankets would be sent back to children who are victims of Hurricane Sandy.  She then gave us directions about making blankets and how to proceed. And we did!

               Lion Carl was the first to complete a blanket and received a special Project Linus Blanketeering pin (that I hope he will wear to the next PM meeting, hint, hint) but there were several blankets completed not long after his. Lion–in-law Nancy worked quietly in her corner and completed 3 before she left. We had eleven Leos from Monta Vista High and five from Lynbrook High; they spread out, chatted and laughed as they completed one blanket after the other. At about 8 o’clock, Sharon gathered all of our Blanketeers together for pictures with their blankets and I hope to submit some that we took for display on our Lions website before Christmas.

               Then, believe it or not, all of a sudden, we were done at about 9:10! It only took about an hour and forty-five minutes for our Clubs to make almost 60 blankets. I was shocked and amazed and, I must admit, completely tickled down to my toes and back up again!! The blankets were bagged and placed in Sharon’s minivan, the meeting hall was cleaned and tidied up, and the Leos were safely picked-up to be delivered home before 9:30—a  terrific ending to a very warm and cozy evening.

               Special thanks to Lion Don for helping us get the Odd Fellows Lodge for our use. And more thanks to Lions Dagi and Amy for supplying the munchies. And more thanks to Lion Hubby John for smiling through my bossiness. Biggest and best thanks go to Sharon and all of the participants, now officially called Blanketeers, who came out on the 8th for a good cause and for a warm evening of fun and community.

~~~~Respectfully submitted by Lion Leslye Noone

 

Monta Vista LEOs Receive “Lions Young Leaders in Service Awards”

Two students, members of the Monta Vista High School LEO Club, received the prestigious Lions Young Leaders in Service Award, presented by the Cupertino De Anza Lions Club and Lions Clubs International during a ceremony held at their school on November 16th, 2012.

Designed to encourage youth to serve in their community, the awards are presented to young people who complete 50 and 100 hours of community service in a 12-month period.

The local Lions Young Leaders in Service Award recipients are:

Gold Seal Award for 100 Hours of Service
Kevin Coe

Silver Seal Award for 50 Hours of Service
Lilian Ngeow

Each recipient received a letter and framed certificate from Lions Club International, presented by Lion Kent Vincent.  “Lions believe it is important for young people to experience the rewards of helping their community” Lion Kent said. “Young people who volunteer become adults who serve, and service is the primary focus of Lions clubs”.

Monta Vista LEOs club is one of two LEO clubs affiliated with our De Anza Lions Club.

20120 111612 Lions Gold_SilverSealAwardRecipientsContributed by Lion Kent

Halloween Sock Hop nets over $ 1,000 for OneSight

The first annual fundraiser “Sock Hop” was introduced by Lions Dan & Yvonne Fimby on Oct 13th, 2012. Disguised as an early Halloween Party, the event took place at the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center, featuring a “Best Costume” contest, raffle, a fortune teller, trick-and-treat bags for kids as well as dance music “50’s style” with DJ Miguel Avalos. The story of the “Sock Hop” originated from the Fimby’s being owners of a classic car and remembering the “50’s” and the Dick Clark Show. With many club members from this time of bobby socks and 57 “Chevy’s”, it was a fun event with music from movies like “Grease”, and many rock-and-roll tunes.

The party mood was enhanced with very affordable hot dogs, hamburgers and, of course, “root beer floats”. The net proceeds of over $ 1,000 will go to the “One Sight Program”, something Lion Yvonne is very proud of. She said she wanted to do more to help meet all the budget costs associated with this great program for children and create awareness about how the Lions are improving the quality of people’s lives. About 60 adults and 20-25 kids, most in costumes and decorated in period outfits, attended and were part of enriching a child’s life with a small donation. In turn, they experienced an evening of laughing, dancing, good eats and lots of quality family time.Lion Yvonne definitely hopes to do it again next year, so be sure to gather you friends for a fun night of “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Great Balls of Fire”.

Thanks to “Debbie Lyn’s Costumes” for sponsoring the event.

Contributed by Lion Yvonne Fimby