Lions Sign Historic Agreement with United Nations
by Deb Clough

The Annual Lions Day with the United Nations typically celebrates the mutual goals and partnerships of the two groups. This year Lions Day marked the beginning of a historic higher level of cooperation between Lions and the United Nations.

President Mahendra Amarasuriya signed a joint letter of cooperation with the U.N. agency working toward the U.N. Millennial Goals. These goals include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by 2015, achieving universal primary education by that year and six other goals related to child mortality, maternal health, gender equality, AIDS, the environment and development.

The United Nations is developing partnerships between governments, industries and non-governmental organizations such as the Lions to achieve these goals.
Another first at the 30th Lions Day with the U.N. in March was prompted by Past International President Joseph L. Wroblewski.

“I’d like to ask if any Lion in this room was inducted by an international president?” Wroblewski asked the 710 Lions and Leos in attendance at U.N. headquarters in New York.
No one raised a hand.

With that, Amarasuriya inducted Prasad Kariyawasam, the Sri Lankan ambassador to the United Nations.

A message from Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon read by Kiyotaka Akasaka, Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information, was another program highlight. Then the Midwest Young Artists Voices Rising choir presented three songs about peace. Afterward, Amarasuriya unveiled the winning poster in the 20th Annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest.

Lions also attended a special luncheon with U.N. ambassadors in the U.N.’s private dining rooms. “Lions, your partnership with the U.N. is unique,” U.N. Foundation Senior Advisor Sorensen said. “We believe we can do more together than alone.”  

The program ended with a $13,383 donation from LCIF to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Lions or Leo clubs that donated $500 to LCIF for UNICEF received the Lions-UNICEF School-in-a-Box Banner Patch Award. Lions and Leos in attendance walked onto the U.N. stage and presented an additional $4,100 to a UNICEF representative.

View the Lions Day with the U.N. PowerPoint