The Beneficiaries

In 2020 the beneficiaries of the Car Rally proceeds were for people impacted by the bushfires and the Kokoda Track Foundation. In 2021 the major beneficiary was Respite Camps for kids with special needs and their families. The 2022 major beneficiaries were Diabetes awareness along with Respite Camps for kids. In 2023, the beneficiaries will again be Respite Camps for kids with very special needs and their families and also support for refugees displaced by the war in Ukraine. 

Ukraine Relief Grants
LCIF is awarding grants to Lions supporting Ukrainian refugees who have crossed their borders. Lions in Ukraine have also received LCIF grants to address the critical needs of people who remain in the country. Grant funding will enable Lions to cover a broad spectrum of refugee needs, including immediate survival needs, transitional needs for mid- or long-term settlement, and support for services to help refugees integrate into their new community. As of November 2022, 53 LCIF grants totalling US$2,754,811 have been awarded.

Respite Camps
Each year, the Lions Club of Park Orchards and other Lions Clubs, in partnership with Interchange Inner East & InterchangeOuter East, facilitate special needs family respite camps at the Licola Wilderness Camp in the Gippsland high country. 
Respite for families with special needs children is critical. The demands on parents are physically and mentally exhausting. Siblings can also be severely affected, being deprived of quality family time and the parental attentionthat would normally be shared more evenly. They often miss out on activities such as family holidays, having friends over to play, and dining out. The entire family needs respite, to provide breaks before they become exhausted, sick or overwhelmed. 
The family camps provide activities and new experiences for special needs children, siblings and parents – independently and together. The camps provide them with an opportunity to relax and have fun, but also to reconnect and share experiences with others in similar circumstances. 
At the camps some of the activities families have the opportunity to participate in are, archery, mini golf, abseiling, canoeing, flying fox, giant swing, basketball, cycling, hiking and indoor games/sports.