ACTIVITIES

Sight Projects

In 1925, Helen Keller challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness" and members have eagerly embraced the call ever since. The Foster City Lions Club is an active participant in a worldwide movement to provide resources and services to the blind and visually impaired.

• Eyeglass Recycling
• Sight Conservation
• Blind Veterans Association
• Blind Babies Foundation
• Canine Companions for Independence
• Guide Dogs of the Desert
• Guide Dogs Calendar Sales
• Guest Speakers Series

Fundraising Projects

The Foster City Lions Club conducts and participates in a variety of projects for the purpose of raising funds that benefit the local community.

• July 4th Celebration
• Summer Concerts Series
• Head of the Lagoon Regatta
• Annual Garage Sale
• Flu Clinic
• White Cane Bingo
• MLK Day of Service
• Pancake Breakfast
• Police & Fire Bingo Spaghetti
• Crab Feed
• Youth & Community Raffle Tickets

Community Activities

Throughout the year, the Foster City Lions Club plans numerous holiday-related events as well as participates in activities that touch many lives.

• Blood Drives — Bimonthly
• Flag Day
• Police & Fire Recognition Awards
• Family Overnighter Boothbay Park
• Student Speakers Contest
• Halloween Festival
• Rebuilding Together
• Cub Scout Pack #447 Sponsor
• Eyeglass & Hearing Aid Collection
• Foster City Little League Hit-a-thon
• AYSO Kick-a-thon
• Senior Lunch & Bingo
• Veterans Fishing Trip
• Veterans Luncheon
• Special Olympics
• Peace Poster Contest
• Fire Safety Poster Contest

Donation Recipients

The Foster City Lions Club donate funds directly to organizations that provide charitable services, boost athletic programs, maintain public safety and promote the arts.

• AYSO
• Blind Veterans Association
• Blind Babies Foundation
• Bowditch Middle School Drama Boosters
• Canine Companions for Independence
• Commission on Disabilities
• CORA (Battered Women Shelter)
• College Scholarships
• Ear of the Lion Foundation
• Fire Safety Poster Contest
• Foster City Boys Scouts
• Foster City Girl Scouts
• Foster City Chorus
• Foster City Elementary Schools
• Foster City Fire Department
• Foster City Library
• Foster City Police Department
• Foster City Village
• Grace House, Cambodia
• Guide Dogs of the Desert
• Hillsdale High School Drama Boosters
• Hillbarn Theatre
• Humane Society
• Lions Eye Foundation
• Lions Wilderness Camp for the Deaf in Roseville, CA
• Lucile Packard Children's Fund
• Mission Hospice
• Our Common Ground
• Samaritan House
• San Mateo-Foster City Education Foundation
• San Mateo High School Drama Boosters
• San Mateo High School Music Boosters
• Sight Conservation
• Special Olympics
• St. Anthony's Dining Room
• StarVista, San Mateo County
• Student Speaker Contest
• Tanforan Memorial
• USO
• Veterans Projects

Past Major Projects

Past major projects that have help shaped the landscape of Foster City include:

• Foster City's First Ball Field
• Sea Cloud Park Equipment Storage Building
• Community Signboards
• Edgewater Park Tree Planting
• Levee Benches and Beautification
• Leo Ryan Park Par Course and Stage
• Audubon School Playground Equipment
• Aububon School Lunch Court Umbrellas
• Recreation Center Landscaping
• Hillbarn Theatre Bar
• Hillbarn Theatre Fire Safety Upgrades
• Boat Park Improvements
• Destination Park Outdoor Fitness Equipment
• Shorebird Park Landscaping
• Shorebird Park Shade Structure

LEOS CLUB

The Leos Club of Hillsdale High School is a community service organization sponsored by the Foster City Lions Club.

The goals of the Leos Club are:

• To serve our school and community
• To train young leaders and volunteers
• To raise funds for local and national charities

HISTORY

By the time Foster City itself was incorporated in 1971, the Foster City Lions Club was already actively serving the community. Twenty-two charter members convened in 1967 for the club's first meeting. Some of the early projects included the Christmas tree lot and 4th of July fundraisers. In 1986, the club was further strengthened when it merged with the women's auxiliary membership. Through more than five decades of service, the Foster City Lions Club has left an indelible mark on the city, including the city's first baseball diamond, numerous blood drives and unwavering support for local schools, police and fire departments.

Former and current city leaders have been members of the Foster City Lions Club, including:

• Wayne McFadden, first mayor of Foster City
• Bill Walker, mayor
• Roger Chinn, mayor
• Tom Battaglia, mayor
• Paul Nelson, mayor
• Peter Gilbert, mayor
• Linda Koelling, mayor
• Ron Cox, mayor
• Art Kiesel, mayor
• Jon Froomin, city council member
• Patrick Sullivan, city council member
• Phyllis Moore, school board member
• Joe Pierucci, police chief

Past Presidents

• Gordon Penfold: 1967
• Chuck Archer: 1967-68
• Ken Elder: 1968-69
• Gary Lee: 1969-70
• Michael Mooney: 1970-71
• Wayne Bershaw: 1971-72
• Roger Chinn: 1972-73
• Mike Hewitt: 1973-74
• Carl Dittmar: 1974-75
• Tom Battaglia: 1975-76
• John Prothro: 1976-77
• Alan McIntosh: 1977-78
• Donald Aron: 1978-79
• Jim Stephens: 1979-80
• Dick Lawhead: 1980-81
• Paul Nelson: 1981-82
• Marty Strauss: 1982-83
• Jerry Boettcher: 1983-84
• Andy Parks: 1984-85
• Mal Stowell: 1985-86
• Lynn Dreeszen: 1986-87
• Harry Koustik: 1987-88
• Tim Collins: 1988-89
• Bob Martin: 1989-90
• Ray Rosenthal: 1990-91
• Dave Stevenson: 1991-92
• Morris Houck: 1992-93
• Richard Lee: 1993-94
• Herman Jew: 1994-95
• Kris Bakshi: 1995-96
• Woody Andrews: 1996-97
• Al Jacobsen: 1997-98
• Fred Sommer: 1998-99
• Fabiola Suwanto: 1999-2000
• Fred Kelley: 2000-01
• Sam Lerner: 2001-02
• Kurt Tollefson: 2002-03
• Mark Olivier: 2003-04
• Janis Kiesel: 2004-05
• Carolyn Cox: 2005-06
• Lucy Tan: 2006-07
• Jon Froomin: 2007-08
• Art Kiesel: 2008-09
• Phyllis Moore: 2009-10
• Eleanor Britter: 2010-11
• Ron Cox: 2011
• Mary True: 2011-12
• Martha Sandy: 2012-13
• John Miller: 2013-14
• Amor Traceski: 2014-15
• Ilan Rosenthal: 2015-16
• Shikha Hamilton: 2016-17
• Patrick Sullivan: 2017-18
• Pierre Morrison: 2018-19
• Jimmy Ness: 2019-20
• Charles Obgurn: 2020-21
• David Melchner: 2021-22

Past Lions of the Year

• Mike Mooney: 1967-68
• Wayne Bershaw: 1968-69
• Roger Chinn: 1969-70
• Ralph Lomele: 1970-71
• George Menzoian: 1971-72
• Jerry Calhoun: 1972-73
• Tom Battaglia: 1973-74
• Mike Hewett: 1974-75
• Lynn Conley: 1975-76
• Al Jacobsen: 1976-77
• Carl Dittmar: 1977-78
• Marty Strauss: 1978-79
• Dave Stevenson: 1979-80
• Franz Lorist: 1980-81
• Dick Lawhead: 1981-82
• Paul Nelson: 1982-83
• Mal Stowell: 1983-84
• John DeSanto: 1984-85
• Tim Collins: 1985-86
• Harry Koustik: 1986-87
• Ray Rosenthal: 1987-88
• Frank Schwarb: 1988-89
• Lynn Dreeszen: 1989-90
• Jim Stephens: 1990-91
• Eydie Kelson: 1991-92
• Ron Cox: 1992-93
• Ed Lum: 1993-94
• Barry LeBendig: 1994-95
• Ed Beck & Bob Larson: 1995-96
• Fred Sommer: 1996-97
• Woody Andrews: 1997-98
• Karen Abolt: 1998-99
• Fabiola Suwanto: 1999-2000
• Kurt Tollefson: 2000-01
• Janis Kiesel: 2001-02
• Kris Bakshi: 2002-03
• Carolyn Cox: 2003-04
• Lucy Tan & Jon Froomin: 2004-05
• Fred Kelley: 2005-06
• Art Kiesel: 2006-07
• Susan Merport & Mary True: 2007-08
• Barbara Bergero: 2008-09
• Stephen Moore: 2009-10
• Wendal Quan: 2010-11
• Rich Lee: 2011-12
• Jody Johnson: 2012-13
• Joan Smith: 2013-14
• Martha Sandy: 2014-15
• Doug Crom: 2015-16
• Ilan Rosenthal: 2016-17
• Chuck Ogburn & John Miller: 2017-18
• Jeanne Gallagher: 2018-19
• Jim Traceski: 2019-20
• Shikha Hamilton: 2020-21
• Wing Yu: 2021-22