Flatlands President John Cucarese presents $40,000 check to GBCares President John Douglas

May 29, 2013  - The Flatlands Lions Club and Lions Clubs International (LCI) presented a $40,000 disaster relief grant to support the Gerritsen Beach Cares Long Term Recovery effort to help rebuild the Gerritsen Beach community in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.   Flatlands Lions President John Cucarese presented the grant, which provides basic building supplies for structural home repairs, to Gerritsen Beach Cares (GBCares) President John Douglas.    

The Flatlands Lions were on the ground days after the storm, providing assistance to the beleaguered community with emergency food, clothing and manpower.    However, it became clear that the destruction of the storm, which damaged a large portion of the homes in this waterfront area, impacting thousands of residents, required a greater commitment, to help in the rebuilding process.   The Lions began a partnership with Gerritsen Beach Cares (GBcares), a community environmental charity, which rapidly redefined its mission, and pulled together community, political and volunteer agency support to provide area residents with critical information, problem resolution and support services.

As GBcares expanded its reach to provide needs assessments for residents and to make partnerships with volunteers groups to jump start the rebuilding process, the Flatlands Club recognized that the organization was creating a working model for city-wide recovery, and began to investigate options to get the Lions Clubs International, the parent organization, to support this effort with a grant.   The need assessment was a pivotal feature in this decision, since it ensured that the recipients of supplies would be those with the most pressing need, especially the elderly, infirm and financially at risk.

Working with the District-20K1 Alert Team Coordinator Charles McBride, and with the support of past International  President  Al Brandel, past International Director Doulas X. Alexander and Past District Governor Robert Libin,  the Flatlands Club’s application was move ahead and approved

The grant has already provided dividends for the community, helping, among others, an elderly couple to replace the joists and structural supports in their home.   GBcares, forming a coalition with Tunnels to Towers, Heart 911 and NY Cares, has implemented  a unique multi-agency repair process that helps resident go from gutting and cleaning, to mold remediation and rebuilding – all with volunteer efforts, donations and manpower.

 The Lions realize that, far from winding down, the true recovery effort is just beginning, and ask everyone to continue to support this invaluable effort and other like it until the job is done.

Gerritsen Beach Long Term Recovery Project is pleased to announce the generous support of the Flatlands Lions Club and Lions Club International who have granted the organization $40,000 to assist in the rebuilding of Gerritsen Beach.  They will be presenting a check to Gerritsen Beach Cares (GBCares) at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, May 29^th 2013, at the GB Cares headquarters located at 2676 Gerritsen Ave.

Immediately after Hurricane Sandy, The Flatlands Lions mobilized, providing manpower as well as food and clothing and emergency supplies to provide support to Gerritsen Beach, the Rockaways and other hard hit areas.  However, it soon became apparent more would be needed to combat the extensive devastation of the storm.  The Flatlands Club, with support of the MD 20-K1 Lions Alert Team, applied and received a $40,000 grant from the Lions Clubs International to support the relief efforts in Gerritsen Beach, which were being coordinated by GBCares, who had rapidly developed a cooperative program that joined community, civic and relief groups together to provide long term relief to the area.   The grant will provide much needed building supplies to help support this volunteer-based multi-agency rebuilding project.   The Flatlands Lions believe that the GBCares program provides a model for future city-wide recovery efforts and will continue their support for this invaluable work that helps our neighbors in their time of need.

The Flatlands Lions Club, a member of the MD-20 K1 Brooklyn Queens Lions and Lions Clubs International, have been serving the community for over 50 years, supporting vision, and health programs and providing assistance to those in need.  In recent years The Flatlands Lions have signature activities that support Ovarian Cancer research (T.E.A.L. Walk), young burn victims (The Arthur C. Luf Children’s Burn Camp) and also sponsor a youth club, the Flatlands Leos, which develops and nurtures community service and civic responsibility values in middle school children. 

For more information about the Flatlands Lions and their community programs:  

www.toogalot.com/flatlandsny     

Place : Belmont Park -Time : 12:00 pm

$55.00 Per Person

Contact:

Lion Larry Esposito

larryespo@verizon.net

917-681-3441

__________________________

All profits go to support Lions Charities

April 14, 2013 –   T.E.A.L. had its first Annual Spring Brunch Fundraiser at the elegant El Caribe Club in Brooklyn.  T.E.A.L., which stands for “Tell Every Amazing Lady” about Ovarian Cancer, the Louisa M. McGregor Ovarian Cancer Foundation, has taken its fight against Ovarian Cancer beyond the annual September T.E.A.L. Walk, into a full time, year-round effort.  Founded by Flatlands Lion Louisa M. McGregor, an Ovarian Cancer survivor, and her sister Lion Pamela Esposito-Amery,  the current executive director, T.E.A.L has taken the lead in promoting awareness, early detection, and has raised over $300,000 for research since 2009.    

Guests included Stacey Sager of Channel 7′s ABC News, and speakers: Ovarian Cancer Survivor/Triathlete Jenn Sommerman, Ovarian Cancer Survivor Ivette Alicea, and Ivette’s daughter, Miss Staten Island, Amanda Alicea. The brunch was hosted by WPLJ 95.5′s Race Taylor, who delayed his vacation in order to attend, flying out to meet his family after the conclusion of the event.Flatlands Lions, Brooklyn Metropolis Lions and Park Slope Lions and District 20-K1 Lions all provided support for the event.  Flatlands Lions 2nd Vice President Larry Esposito, who is also a board member and treasurer of T.E.A.L. spoke in memory of his daughter Louisa, who passed from the disease in 2011, and whose guiding spirit lives on in the invaluable work T.E.A.L. continues to do.

At the event, T.E.A.L raised $16,000 to continue the fight and to help to “Tell Every Amazing Lady” about Ovarian Cancer.

Teal Brunch Photos

www.tealwalk.org

T.E.A.L. Brunch 2013

 El Caribe Country Club

Sunday, April 14, 2013       11:30 AM to 2:30 PM

$75 per person   –    Table (10)  $700   

TELL EVERY AMAZING LADY

Enjoy an afternoon with friends. SHOPPING, RAFFLES, FOOD, FUN!

Help raise money for T.E.A.L. so that we can continue to support Ovarian Cancer research and awareness programs.

To Benefit: Tell Every Amazing Lady About Ovarian Cancer Louisa M. McGregor Ovarian Cancer Foundation
Also known as: T.E.A.L.

Special guests include: Race Taylor from WPLJ
Ovarian Cancer Survivor and Triathlete Jenn Sommermann

We encourage you to wear the color teal to this event.
Valet Parking
Brunch includes over 20 food choices,
Unlimited mimosas, bloody marys, wine, beer, soda, tea, coffee

Sorry no tickets will be sold at the door or after April 1, 2013
Purchase your tickets today!

PURCHASE TICKETS

Contact: www.tealwalk.org info@tealwalk.org 917-310-4835
T.E.A.L. PO BOX 340947 BROOKLYN, NY 11234-0947

Leos helping at the St. Vincent DePaul Food

March 16 , 2013  – Flatlands Leos, Lions and parents joined the St. Vincent DePaul Society to help prepare lunches from the food pantry at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Brooklyn.  The Society meets on Saturday mornings to prepare lunches for distribution  to homeless residents in nearby Brownsville.   Leo Justin Broomfield, secretary of the Flatlands Leos, had been helping out at the church for some time and shared his community service with the club at  a recent meeting.  His fellow Leos though that it was a great idea, and voted to join him in this activity.

After preparing the lunches , the Leos joined Leila Joseph of the St. Vincent DePaul Society in helping transport the food to the St. John the Baptist Church in Brownsville and then helped to hand out the lunches to the area residents.  it was a great experience for the Leos, who got to see firsthand the people their community service helps and to better understand the value of their efforts.

Photo Gallery

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY FOOD PANTRY

DATE :  March 16, 2013 
TIME    9:00 a.m.

PLACE:

We are getting together to help the St. Vincent De Paul Society make and pack sandwiches. We will meet at the front door (a bright red door). 

Contact : Leo Justin Broomfield   justinbroomfield@gmail.com

Buckley’s Restaurant

Buckley’s Restaurant

2926 Avenue S

Brooklyn, NY 11229-2545

(718) 998-4222

Upcoming Dates

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Flatlands Leos on Stage at the Midwinter Conference

LEOS MID WINTER CONFERENCE

The Flatlands Leos  attended the District 20-K1 MidWinter Conference on February 17, 2013  at the St Francis de Sales School for the Deaf on Easter Parkway.   The Flatlands Club, joining 16 other Leos clubs, were serenaded by the Brooklyn Pacesetters steel drum band,  had presentations by District 20-K1 leaders, and performed for each other on stage in the auditorium.

For their presentation, the Flatlands Leos made posters depicting their service to the community and selected “Deidication” as their theme for the event.  In was an apt selection, as the club, which had lost members  as they moved to secondary school and college as was in danger of floundering in 2012.   With a concerted effort from the remaining Flatlands Leos members, and with help from the Lions club, the Distict Leos and with parental involvement, the club has become a thriving, active group.   The Leos picked this theme to recognize the importance of dedication to the health and well being of any club or organization.  Flatlands Leo Club President Christopher Francis singled out Leo Justin Broomfield, the clubs’ secretary, as the epitome of the dedication that all Leos should aspire to, and as one of the primary reasons the Flatlands Leos club has survived .

Leo Christopher, who is also the Vice President of the District 20-K1 Leos, was presented with the 2013 Distinguised Service Award  for his exemplary work in the community and for his efforts to help the Flatlands Club.

Photo Gallery

LEOS MID WINTER CONFERENCE

St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf

Donation: Lions- $10 & Leos – $5

(REGISTRATION BIGINS AT 10:00 AM

• Performances
• Presentations
• Many more

Registration deadline: February 12, 2013

    To Register Contact:

District Leo President Xavier Gonzales:
(917) 971-1525    – Email: xaviergonzales89@gmail.com

District Leo Vice President Christopher Francis:

(718) 253-4047   – Email: chrisfrancis319@gmail.com

District Leo Secretary Stephanie Alvarado:
(646) 288-4097  – Email: noris8752@yahoo.com

District Leo Treasurer Najimah McKenzie:
(516) 717 -9874   -  Email: n.mckenzie1393@gmail.com