About the foundation
MISSION STATEMENT
California Lions Foundation (CLF) is a California, non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation with the sole purpose of providing designated and matching grants to California Lions Clubs and California Lions Districts. Designated funds and matching grants are provided to enable California Lions Clubs to provide even greater service to their local communities.
BENEFIT STATEMENT
How California Lions Foundation (CLF) Benefits California Clubs and Districts
The California Lions Foundation (CLF) matching grants are available in smaller dollar amounts, $500-$7,500, for projects that do not qualify for support from other foundations or to complement grants already available from other foundations (e.g. LCIF). CLF provides matching grants with a very streamlined review and approval process
CLF is able to aid in disasters that are not “natural disasters”. In 2014, a fire destroyed the food delivery trucks at the Monterey County Foodbank. The fire was determined to be arson, not a natural disaster and as a result, the local Lions were not able to get assistance from LCIF.
CLF offers special recognition for Club and Individual/Corporate donations. Lions may become a a Kay Fukushima Fellow for a minimum donation of $1,000 or a Reginald Harris Fellow for a minimum donation of $2,500.
100% of All Donations Received Serve Californians Through California Lions clubs.
CLF ensures that 100% of donations are put to work to provide service to California communities. CLF can also partner with local Lions Clubs that do not have a 501( c )(3) designation. CLF is able to accept donations from individuals, businesses or corporations that are meant for use by a Lions Club that does not have a 501( c )(3) designation. Any designated donation such as this requires prior approval by CLF.
CLF accepts donations of stocks/bonds of publicly traded companies. This provides a means for the donation of appreciated stocks and bonds whereby the donor receives a tax deduction for the full value of the donated item without having to pay any capital gains tax on the appreciated value.
CLF will accept donations of cars, boats and recreational vehicles.
CLF will accept donations through Planned Giving such as charitable remainder trust, charitable lead trust, real estate, and beneficiary designation from retirement plans and life insurance. Any proposed real estate donation must be reviewed by CLF prior to acceptance.
FUNDING STATEMENT
Funding for the California Lions Foundation is provided by donations from corporate sponsors, individuals, Lions Clubs and local Lions. CLF provides a valuable vehicle for Lions clubs to approach California corporations and individuals actively seeking partnerships with service groups as part of their “Social Mission” and our “Social Conscious” campaigns. A great example is our Lions Eyes Across California Project. Individuals and corporations can be assured that 100% of their donations serve Californians through California Lions.
About our fellowships
The California Lions Foundation offers two fellowships for donations of $1000 or $2500. The fellowships are named after Kay K. Fukushima and Reginald Harris honoring their contributions to Lions Clubs and their community they served. A CLF fellowship is a great way to recognize a member in your club for their contributions to your community while supporting the California Lions Foundation’s mission of providing grants to local California Lions Clubs as they serve their community. Please go to our donation page for more information on the fellowships and donation levels we offer.
Kay Fukushima Biography
Kay K. Fukushima
Past International President
A native of Sacramento, California, USA, Kay K. Fukushima was elected to serve as president of The International Association of Lions Clubs at the association's 85th International Convention in Osaka, Japan, July 8-12, 2002.
Upon graduation from high school, Past President Fukushima enrolled at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) studying electronics but was eventually drafted into the US Army. His assignments led him to Redstone battery, a booster rocket for manned space flights at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. As a result, he soon found himself at Cape Canaveral, Florida, observing pioneering sub-orbital flights. Following his discharge, he enrolled at the University of California in Sacramento, where he changed his major to marketing, graduated in 1965 and entered the insurance profession. He eventually started an insurance agency and grew his business into 16 successful branch offices.
In 1965, Past President Kay was introduced to a member of the Sacramento (Senator) Lions Club, he became a member and over time went on to transform the Club into a leading volunteer organization in the community. He introduced and implemented many new ideas and projects, including financial support of the Sacramento Zoo; rebuilding of the Fairytale Town Japanese Tea Garden; benefit movie fundraisers; raft trips for the blind; language and cultural book projects; sponsorship of youth basketball; student speaker contests; recycling and nursing care programs; and a construction project to build a special crosswalk for the visually impaired in downtown Sacramento. His influence and service were worldwide.
Past President Fukushima held many positions within Lions, including club president, zone chairperson, deputy district governor, district governor in 1978-79, vice chairperson of MD 4 (California and Nevada, USA) and served as an international director on the association's board of directors from 1986-88. He was a member of the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum Planning Committee from 1988-91, honorary chairperson in 2002 and was the author of the forum operational manual. He also served as a District Governors-elect school group leader from 1994-99 and as a member of the original Leadership Institute Faculty from 1994-97, the first three years of the institute. Additionally, he served as general convention chairperson in 1988, Denver, Colorado. He also was an original member of the North American Membership Committee.
For his service to the association Past President Fukushima received numerous awards including life membership, the 100% Club President Award, the 100% District Governor Award, several Extension Awards, and Lion of the Year awards, Master Key Award, several International President Leadership Medals, and Presidential Certificates of Appreciation, 11 Presidential Medals and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor the association bestows upon its members. He was also a progressive Helen Keller Fellow and a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow.
Kay’s personal philosophy was to think outside of the box for new and innovative ideas; have the courage of one's convictions; have compassion and sensitivity and be true to your beliefs; never lose credibility or compromise integrity; be true to your friends; be humble; uplift people; lead by example; always ask questions; do the right thing; never stop learning and always strive for excellence. He was a great Lion leader.
California Lions Foundation created a Past President Kay K. Fukushima Fellowship to provide Lion leaders in California an opportunity to recognize fellow Lions for their outstanding service to their club and community.
Reginald Harris Biography
Lion Reginald (Reg) Clayton Harris
Early Pioneer of California Lions Clubs
Club Organizer, and District Secretary
In 1905, Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney organized Rotary Clubs, a new service club concept. Paul Harris’ brother, Reg Harris, a college professor, joined him to help develop new Rotary clubs throughout the Midwest. Reg Harris was very successful. Because of his success during the first dozen years of Rotary, Paul called Reg into his office and shared that he, Paul, was being criticized by his Rotary Board of Directors for building a Harris Dynasty. Fearing criticism, Paul suggested to Reg, “Why don’t you go over and talk to Melvin Jones (also in Chicago) who has just organized Lions clubs?” Legend says that Paul called Melvin Jones and highly recommended his brother. Reg followed Paul’s direction and interviewed with Melvin Jones. Reg was hired on the spot to start developing new Lions clubs.
Reg Harris was very successful at starting new Lions clubs in the Midwest for over a dozen years. In the early 1930’s, Melvin Jones, then Secretary General of Lions, asked Reg Harris to move to California and expand Lions clubs in this new bustling area of the country. Reg immediately moved his family from Chicago to Laguna Beach and started developing new Lions clubs. He had no office – just his hat and a satchel. He began traveling throughout California/Nevada and developed many new Lions clubs and grew membership. Reg had two tasks: one to represent Lions International in establishing new clubs in California/Nevada; the other to represent District 4 (California/Nevada) to Lions International. It was a monumental job, but because he was so dedicated, he did both jobs well.
Reg Harris helped build District 4 into one of the most prominent Districts of Lions International at the time. He is considered a founder of our present Lions Multiple District (MD4), and was a true leader. As he continued to develop more clubs and grow membership, he decided to spend 6 months of the year in Northern California and 6 months in Southern California, plus Nevada. Again, he had no office – no staff – he did it all alone.
After approximately 15 years traveling all over California/Nevada with no office, in 1944 Reg obtained approval to establish a District office in Santa Barbara, with the backing of Melvin Jones at Lions International. He hired a secretary and began to build a permanent office for Lions of District 4. He was proud of his accomplishments and honestly believed it was important to establish a permanent office for the Lion District. Again, during this time, Reg Harris established hundreds of Lions clubs throughout California/Nevada.
Reg was a man of vision, and continued to manage the Santa Barbara office until his retirement in 1954. While MD4 District Secretary he was instrumental in MD4 growth from 173 clubs and 9,000 members to 590 clubs and 28,500 members! In 1955, the Lions of California/Nevada approved the purchase and construction of a permanent office in Santa Barbara, the current location of our MD4 state Lion office. Reg Harris remained an active Lion until his death in 1958.
California Lions Foundation selected to name a prestigious Reginald Harris Fellowship in his name because his dedication to the growth of California Lionism in the early years of California Lionism.