Hong Kong, June 28, 2005 - On June 28, a Special Olympics - Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes screening was held in Hong Kong. The event provided vision screenings for almost 100 athletes from Special Olympics Hong Kong and would have been a relatively routine event with the exception that it was held in conjunction with the 88 th Lions Clubs International Convention. This screening marked the first time that a service project was implemented on the floor of the International Convention. It provided an opportunity for all 22,000 delegation attendees from around the world to see, first hand, how the Lions Clubs International Foundation was supporting the health of Special Olympics athletes. Twenty optometrists and 40 Lions Clubs volunteers volunteered their time to staff the screening. Over thirty pairs of corrective eyewear were given to athletes and all athletes received sunglasses courtesy of sponsors Essilor and Sàfilo Group.

The Lions Clubs International Foundation has committed to donating over $9 million to support the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Opening Eyes program. Since the program's inception in 1991, tens of thousands of Special Olympics athletes from around the world have undergone vision screenings and received, free of charge, corrective and protective eyewear.

The Opening Eyes vision screening in Hong Kong was officially opened with remarks by Lions Clubs International President Clement Kusiak. "We are proud of the work that this partnership has achieved, and we look forward to sharing more successes with Special Olympics athletes worldwide," noted Kusiak. Opening remarks were also given by Special Olympics Hong Kong President Mr. Davip Ip, Lions International Director Dr. Wing Kun Tam, Opening Eyes Founder Dr. Paul Berman, and Special Olympics East Asia President Dr. Dicken Yung.

Lions Club International President Clement Kusiak opens the Opening
Eyes vision screening.

"Looking at all of the people who have benefited from the work of Lions Clubs worldwide gives you countless reasons to be proud of your work as Lions Clubs members," said an enthusiastic Dicken Yung. "What a way to say, 'We Serve'!"

"This represents why Lions from around the world do more than talk," said Lion Juan "John" Ochoco from District 50's East Kaua'I Lions Clubs, "Demonstrating a service project on the floor of the Convention is a great idea. The project is truly a metaphor of how we. walk the walk!"

The Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program is presently operating in over 40 countries globally, and has screened over 100,000 Special Olympics athletes since its inception. Through the generosity of corporate sponsors, the Opening Eyes partnership program fabricates and distributes prescription glasses to athletes who have vision impairments.

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world, with a membership of 1.4 million worldwide. Lions Clubs International works to create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.