Lions Club to raise funds for City of Hope
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

SUPPORT CANCER RESEARCH- Diane Crittenden, left, the master of ceremonies at the upcoming Lions Club fundraiser for City of Hope on Sunday, admires Debbie Solomon's jewelry. The necklace was created by one of the event's many vendors.

A fundraiser to benefit the City of Hope will come to Moorpark this weekend, thanks to the hard work of local resident and Lions Club member Debbie Solomon, Lions Club International, Ventura County vendors and local business owners.

The City of Hope in Duarte, Calif. is a major contributor to the treatment, prevention and understanding of cancer, both locally and nationally, and many residents have turned to the hospital when fighting cancer, according to Moorpark resident Diane Crittenden, who is also helping to organize the event.

The Lions Club fundraiser will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Sun., Jan. 21 at American Hapkido, 5620 Kazuko Court in Moorpark. The public is invited to shop, visit with friends and sign up to win raffle prizes that include haircuts, massages, a European spa facial and gifts from local businesses.

Raffle tickets are $1 each, and each raffle prize will have its own entry box so participants can sign up for what they actually want to win instead of signing up for the whole pool of prizes.

Admission is free. All money from the sale of raffle tickets will go to City of Hope, and a percentage of vendors' sales will also go toward the fundraiser, according to organizers.

The nonprofit philanthropic Lions Club, founded in 1917, is an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 200 countries and geographic areas, according to the club's website at www.lionsclub.com. Best-known for working to end preventable blindness, Lions Club members participate in projects ranging from cleaning up local parks to providing supplies to victims of natural disasters.

The local club's name was recently changed from the Simi Valley Lions Club to the Simi Valley and Moorpark Lions Club because many members are from Moorpark, according to Solomon, club volunteer and coordinator of Sunday's fundraiser.

"Our main mission is eye care through the schools," said Douglas Gibson, the club's secretary.

The Lions also help people with hearing problems and other medical needs, he said.

The SimiMoorpark club recently installed a chair lift to help a local woman get around in her home.

The club has about 18 members, but would be happy with 50, said Gibson, who invited local residents to join.

"People who are interested in helping people in the community are invited to join," said the Simi Valley resident, who's been a Lions Club member for 18 years.