Youth and Education Programs

• Since 2018, the Forest Lions Club has been a proud supporter of Lynchburg's Beacon of Hope, helping bridge the gap for any graduating Lynchburg City Schools senior wishing to continue their education.  

• Peace Poster Contest: Sponsorship of the Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest at the Forest Middle School. Program promotes the concept of world peace in the minds of middle school students. The international winner receives $5,000 and a trip for 2 to the award ceremony at the United Nations in New York.

• Scholarships: Each year the Lions Club awards up to $9,500 scholarships to deserving seniors based on community service, leadership and academics.

• Bland Music Contest: Each year the FLC sponsors the local portion of the Lions of Virginia Bland Music Competition, a music contest, both imstrumental and vocal, for public and home schooled students grades 6 through 12. Students compete locally with winners moving on to zone, district and state for music scholarships of up to $2,500.

• Monetary support for the Forest Athletic Association

• Jefferson Forest High School Lacrosse, Tennis and Track & Field teams who also assist with the Christmas Tree sale in November and December.

• Sponsor the Jefferson Forest High School LEO Club, providing an opportunity for local students to participate in a variety of community service projects.  Pictured below are members of the 2019 LEO Club along with their faculty advisor and Forest Lions Club member, Theresa Price and FLC member and Club sponsor for the LEO program, John Brecker.

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  Local Community Support

• The Forest Lions Club priovides monetary support for several local charities who assist members of our community who need assistance, including Interfaith Outreach, Park View Community Mission and the Lynchburg Salvation Army. 

• Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign: The Forest Lions  serve as bell ringers in support of the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle fund raising campaign at the Forest Kroger.

• Road Clean-Up: The Lions in support of VDOT are responsible for the trash pick-up along Bateman Bridge Road between Route 811 and Enterprise Drive. The popularity of Poplar Forest as a tourist attraction for Lynchburg and Central Virginia makes this service to the community even more significant. 

• Forest Volunteer Fire Department: Forest lions Club donated $10,000 and raised an additional $40,000 for the construction of the new fire station on Thomas Jefferson Road.

 Community Health Projects

• Annual Back to School and Family Health Fair: Held at the end of each July to help families prepare for the start of a new school year, the Club brings together dozens of local organizations who volunteer to provide screenings and consultations on a range of topics.  All children receive age appropriate school supplies. 

• Sight Conservation: Provides a point of contact for those in need of funding for eye exams and eye glasses. Places eye glass collection boxes at community businesses; collects and turns in used glasses for recycling.  Collects thousands of glasses annually for recycling. 

• Diabetes Awareness: Support the efforts of the Lynchburg based Type 1 Diabetes Experience (T1DE) organization both monetarily and with manpower support of its Memorial Day 10K run.  Beginning in 2019, sponsor attendance for one camper to Camp Too Sweet.  

• White Cane Campaign: Conducts successful fund raising campaigns to “HELP THE LIONS HELP THE BLIND” in support of the Lions focus on sight conservation.

National and Global Humanitarian Support

• Canine Companions & Leader Dogs

• Lions of Virginia Foundation

• Old Dominion Eye Foundation

• Lions of Virginia James A, Bland Memorial Musical Scholarship Contest

• Lions Club International Foundation