Daniel J. Quirk Receives
Francis McCauley Community Service Awarded
Annual Fundraiser Supports Sight-Related Causes

The Lions Club of Quincy held its annual fundraiser, ‘The Evening for Sight,’ Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Quincy’s Tirrell Room. 

Despite an April Nor’easter that blew over New England that morning, Michael Bellotti, Norfolk County Treasurer, and Master of Ceremonies, welcomed about 130 Lions Club members and guests, including Quincy’s Mayor, Thomas Koch, and State Senators John F. Keenan and Walter Timilty, as well as many local city councilors and public servants.

Attendees enjoyed an evening filled with live music and fun activities, including a ‘wine-pull’ contest, raffles, and silent auction filled with trips, baskets and gift certificates to local restaurants and venues.

Due to the generosity of sponsors and guests, the club was able to raise approximately $35,000 to support local charities as well as the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Foundation, and the Lions Club International Foundation, assisting visually-challenged people locally and worldwide.

Quirk Auto was the lead ‘Visionary” sponsor of the Evening for Sight Event this year. Eastern Bank and Hamel Lydon Chapel were also major sponsors:

Progressive: Quirk Cars

Prism: Eastern Bank

Trifocal: Hamel-Lydon Chapel

Bifocal:
Colonial Federal Savings Bank
Committee to Elect Michael Bellotti
Granite Print
Meineke

Magnifier:
Bank of Canton
Committee to Elect Ian Cain
Committee to Elect Michael Morrisey Committee to Elect Tackey Chan
Committee to Elect Thomas Koch
Karen Giovanniello Granite Lock
Interfaith Social Services
Stephen Lynch for Congress
Steven R. Mansfield, CPA, PC
Edmund O'Leary
Quincy Credit Union
Quincy Memorials, Inc.
George Montilio
Rotary Club of Quincy
John Smith & Kris Richardson-Smith
Ward 4 Neighborhood Association
Josephine Vidal
Thomas Zukauskas

Raffle & In-Kind Donations:
A Sense of Balance   
Alba Restaurant
Alpha Chemical of Stoughton
Bayside Resort Blithegold Museum Arboretum
Boston by Foot
Boston Crawling’s Pub Crawl
Christine Cedrone
Christine’s Day Spa
Christine’s Hair Styling
Common Market
Danny Bellotti
David Spillane
Dependable Cleaners 
Diane & Finbar O’Connor/JF Roofing
Don Uvanitte
Donna Slater
Donna Smith
Erin Crowley Art Studio, Stoughton
Family Fun Basket
Fitness Unlimited
Foxwoods
Gayle Bellotti
Ginger Betty
Granite Links
Group Therapy Band
Hancock Tavern
Hart’s Jewelers
Interfaith Social Services
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Jackie Hassan
Janet Tracey
Jen Amate – Dennis & Assoc.
Jen Menelly
Karen Giovanniello
Lola Tom                         
Lucille Cassis
Marriott Quincy
Michael Bellotti
Michelle Lydon
North Shore Music Theatre 
Phil Tracey                     
Planet Fitness               
Plymouth Bay Winery
President’s Golf
Purfection
Quincy Sun
Ryan’s Family Entertainment
Sam Adams
ScrubaDub
Sturbridge Village
Swan Boats, Boston
The Chantey
The Fours
The Fruit Basket
Total Wine
TreeTop Adventures
Uncle Sam Rounseville/Jean Kenney
Victory Point
Water Club
Wegmans
Wicked Good Yarns
YMCA

Long-time board member and past president Don Uvanittee, introduced the Francis X. McCauley award, presented annually to a resident, activist or businessperson in Quincy who has demonstrated a commitment to being of service to others and the community consistent with the Lions Club motto, “We Serve.” The McCauley award is named in honor of the late Frank McCauley, former four-term Quincy Mayor, and long-time member and president of the Lions Club of Quincy.  

The Quincy Lions Club board of directors determined in early 2024 that Daniel J. Quirk, because of his tremendous generosity and contributions to Quincy and the South Shore community - often behind the scenes - is most deserving of this award.  

“We are so grateful to have the opportunity to honor Daniel J. Quirk for his commitment to Greater Quincy and the South Shore,” said Lucille Cassis, Co-President President of the Club, along with Serenity Belo, for the 2023-24 Lionistic year.  “Mr. Quirk is a humble guy and someone who really cares about our region and the people and causes that we also care about as a club.”

Some of the major efforts supported by this fundraiser include a partnership with Quincy Public Schools for the “Kidsight” vision screening program, which has screened more than 4,000 students to date, catching many hidden eye problems and saving a child’s sight on several occasions.

In fact, the Lions Club of Quincy will host a special, FREE vision screening for children and adults on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Kennedy Center, Council on Aging, 400 East Squantum Street, Quincy, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  A licensed Ophthalmologist, joined by experienced Lions Club volunteers, will be available in the Lions EyeMobile to perform a simple eye exam with no drops administered. Many hidden eye problems have been detected at screenings and referrals to follow up vision health services are encouraged.

Feel free to bring any old prescription or reader glasses to donate.

The Lions Club of Quincy is a 501(c)(3) registered charity (Tax Exempt Number: 04-336189491), and is part of a world-wide, non-political service organization with significant impact on local and global causes, involving the visually-impaired and educational advancement. For more information, contact the club at Quincylionsclub@gmail.com. Mail correspondence to P.O. Box 27 Wollaston, MA., 02170.