Mooney receives Helen Keller Award

Steve Mooney of Maple Lake recently received one of the highest honors bestowed on members by the Lions Club organization.

Mooney received the prestigious Helen Keller Award, which honors persons who care and respond to the needs of others.

Keller, who was blind, deaf, and mute, overcame her disabilities to become a national leader in causes for the disabled and an inspiration to millions around the world. In 1920 Keller proposed that the International Lions organization take sight health problems as a cause. At that time, Keller challenged the Lions to become “Knights of the Blind,” a challenge that has become a rallying cry for Lions’ projects around the world. Over the years that cause, through Lions’ efforts, has been a leader in eye research, curing sight problems and educating the world in sight diseases, including cataract, glaucoma, diabetic eye diseases, macular degeneration, and eye glass recycling for use by others all over the world. In Minnesota the Lions Eye Bank at the University of Minnesota is a national leader and part of the network of hospitals over the country that provides these services.

The Helen Keller Award is one of the Lions highest honors to recognize a member for leadership in community service. Mooney has a long history of service with the Maple Lake Lions, working on the annual Irish Stew for the St. Patrick’s Day Festival, providing for improvements and maintenance of the Maple Lake Public Beach, and this year, he was a co-chair of the First Annual Charity Golf Event this summer that provided $5,000 for Camp Friendship.

Also recognized by the Maple Lake Lions this year were Jim McCann, who received the Melvin Jones award, and Randy Mills, who was named as the Lion of the Year.