SunBird Lions Club – July 2025

Basha High School Student Receives SunBird Lions Club Scholarship

Arlene Block

SunBird Lions Club was so honored to select Basha High School senior Kaplainsa Higgins to receive the scholarship from the organization. Kaplainsa’s future looks very bright as she furthers her education.

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Melvin Jones Progressive Award

Arlene Block

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SunBird Lions Club Year-End Donations

Arlene Block

SunBird Lions Club President Chuck Heitbrink presented a check from SunBird Lions Club to SunBird General Manager Layne Varney to help with the SunBird community. Other Lions were also present to thank Layne and his staff for the outstanding job.

Other organizations that were also helped were Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children, Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Basha High School Scholarship, C Kirby Smithe Youth Camp, Camp Tatiyee, Canine Companions, Childhood Cancer Network, Foundation for Blind Children, gift cards to Sylvia Encinas Elementary School, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, Kids Need to Read, Lions Club International Childhood Cancer, Leader Dog for the Blind, Eyeball Express, LCIF Lions Vision and Hearing Foundation, Melvin Jones Memorial, Soldier’s Best Friend Arizona, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Sun Sounds of Arizona, SunBird Garden Club, Pickle4Purple, food and supplies for AZCEND Food Pantry, and pet supplies for the Arizona Humane Society.

We are proud to say that SunBird Lions Club donated $38,697. Without your help by supporting our many fundraisers, this would not have been possible.

Thank you for helping those in need.

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Lion Joan Garmeson Receives Melvin Jones Award

Arlene Block

Lion Joan Garmeson has been a dedicated Lion for many years. She has been an asset to everything that has to do with making each poster, table arrangement, raffle, SunBird Lions Convention, and fundraisers a success. Congratulations to a great, hardworking Lion.