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Ardie Klemish, a member of the Adair Lions Club, was elected in June 2020 to the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) Board of Trustees for a one-year term. Klemish was chosen to represent the United States on this elite board.
LCIF is the largest charitable arm of the world's largest service club organization with 1.3 million members in 205 countries, recognized as the largest blindness prevention organization. Their mission is to suppor the efforts of Lions clubs and partners in serving locally and globally, giving hope and impacting lives through humanitarian service projects and grants.
Major service focus areas of LCIF are childhood cancer, diabetes, disaster relief, environment, hunger, vision and youth. In just fourth months in 2020 alone, LCIF had donated nearly $5 million for COVID-19 relief.
The LCIF board of trustees is comprised of five executive officers, 15 trustees and two appointees from around the world. The board is responsible for oversight and decision-making to take service to new levels, tackling global humanitarian projects. LCIF annually awards an average of $30 million in grants. Globally LCIF is in the top 4% of all non-profit charities, earning a four-star rating from the Charity Navigator for eight consecutive years. Every dollar donated to LCIF is used to help people in need. Nothing is used for administrative purposes.
Klemish served from 2017 to 2019 on the Lions Club International Board of Directors. She served as CEO for Lions Clubs of Iowa 2011-2012 and District 9SW District Governor 2010-2011. A Lion since 1999, Klemish has recieved numerous Lions honors including the Ambassador of Good Will, the highest award presented by Lions Club International. In addition, she and her husband, Past District Governor Ken Klemish, a Lion since 1986, have both received LCIF's highest award, the Melvin Jones Fellowship, in honor of the founder of Lions Club International. Ken currently serves as LCIF coordinator for Iowa's District 9SW.