About Lions Candy Day...
Candy Day is the premiere
fundraiser for the services & programs provided to the hearing & visually
impaired in Illinois. This event alone raises over 50% of the total operating
funds for the Lions of Illinois Foundation. Through these donations the
Lions are able to serve in excess of 18,000 men, women, & children each year.
History
Candy Day began in 1952 as the
result of past district Governor Marvin Tench who wanted to change the
attitude toward blind people. In that time the blind were often objects of
ridicule, portrayed as "pencil sellers" and with low regard. Lion Tench
and friends wanted the public to recognize them with all the rights to
dignity, education, and meaningful employment enjoyed by their fellow
Americans. As a result of Lion Tench's work, the Lions of Illinois
adopted a resolution to hold a statewide drive to raise funds for services and
awareness of the plight of the blind. Prior to 1952 the Lions were
dedicated to helping the visually impaired, but funding for projects and
services were only raised on either local or district levels. This move
to act as a united front statewide, would change the face of Lionism forever.
The Early Years
The first campaign actually did not use the famous candy roll which is so
familiar today, but a lapel pin of a white cane. The first year, $
11,000 were raised and 60% of the donations were granted to the Hadley School
for the Blind in Chicago, Illinois and Leader Dogs for the Blind, with local
clubs retaining the balance for community efforts. Despite the
generosity of the action, the City of Chicago was displeased because city
regulations only allowed for charities to hold five "tag days" within city
limits in one year. The Lions effort to use a white cane lapel pin was
rejected as it was deemed to be a tag.
The second campaign switched to providing Cracker Jacks, the popular snack as
the fund raising material. While the public enjoyed this change, the
media did not. They were hesitant to give publicity to a commercial
product, even in this worthy cause. In 1956 Lions replaced Cracker Jacks
with the now famous candy roll with clear Lions markings on the wrapper. It
was a success! The media began to increasingly advertise the event and public
donations rose dramatically.
Candy Day from the 1960's to
Today
In 1960 Candy Day raised $ 100,000; $ 597, 000 in 1970; and over $ 1,000,000 in
the 1990s. Today over 50% of the funds required to operate the 14
programs and services to the hearing & visually impaired directed by our Lions
of Illinois Foundation are funded through this single campaign.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Illinois Lions must
certainly be blushing. Currently more than 15 states and Australia also
conduct Candy Day fund raisers. Through the hard labor and dedication of
Lions in Illinois, the Lions of Illinois Foundation now serves not only the
visually impaired, but the hearing impaired, and provides Camp Lions - a summer
residential camp designed for children with sight and hearing
loss, and Camp Helen Keller for adults with vision and hearing loss. As
needs and expenses increase, the future of Candy Day becomes even more
important to the quality of services & programs we can conduct as we take on
the challenge presented to Lions by Helen Keller to be "Knights of the Blind
in the Crusade Against Blindness".
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