Each year, Saving Sight is honored to recognize Lions who go above and beyond in their dedication to service and to our shared mission: We change lives by saving sight.
The 2026 Lion Ambassador of the Year nominees represent the very best of Lionism—individuals whose compassion, leadership, and commitment are making a meaningful difference in communities across Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois. Through vision screenings, outreach, and direct service, these nominees are helping ensure more individuals have access to the gift of sight.
We are proud to recognize this year’s outstanding nominees:
PDG Bob Crump – Seymour Lions Club Nominated by District Governor Paula Rodgers
PDG Bob Crump has made a profound impact in his community through his dedication to children’s vision screening. Traveling from school to school—often in difficult conditions—he has personally screened hundreds of children, ensuring that no child is overlooked.
His passion for KidSight is evident in both his actions and his advocacy. PDG Bob not only identifies potential vision issues early but also follows up to ensure children receive the care they need. His unwavering commitment reflects a deep care for the well-being and future success of every child he serves.
LionJanice Bonnot – Jefferson City Host Lions Club Nominated by District Governor Rev. Bill Foglesong
Lion Janice Bonnot exemplifies what it means to live out the mission of saving sight. Through her leadership, the Jefferson City Host Lions Club has become one of the most active KidSight screening groups in the state.
In a single Lions year, her coordination helped facilitate screenings for nearly 5,000 children across schools, daycares, libraries, and community events—resulting in over 500 referrals for follow-up care. Beyond screenings, she has also led efforts to collect and distribute eyeglasses for mission work, extending her impact far beyond her local community.
LionDr. Teri Page – Poplar Bluff Lions Club Nominated by Council Chair Wendy Williams
For nearly two decades, Lion Dr. Teri Page has combined professional expertise with heartfelt service to improve access to vision care in southeast Missouri. As an optometrist and business owner, she plays a critical role in her club’s Low Vision Program, providing discounted exams and glasses to individuals who otherwise could not afford care.
Her contributions extend well beyond clinical care. From supporting major fundraising efforts like the club’s annual Chili Day to volunteering at large-scale eye mission events, Lion Teri’s generosity and hands-on involvement have helped bring life-changing services to hundreds in her community.
PDG Wayne and Lion Susan Cunningham – Chillicothe Lions Club Nominated by Vice Council Chair Rachel Harper
PDG Wayne and Lion Susan Cunningham have transformed vision screening outreach through their leadership of “Team Chillicothe.” Since 2020, they have helped conduct more than 22,000 vision screenings across hundreds of events, reaching children across multiple districts.
Their dedication is remarkable—not only in scale, but in spirit. Even in the face of personal health challenges, they have continued their work with resilience and determination. By identifying vision issues early and ensuring follow-up care, they are helping shape brighter futures for thousands of children.
Lion Lauralee Taylor – Cape Evening Lions Club Nominated by District Governor Louise Bibbs
Lion Lauralee Taylor has played a key role in expanding access to vision care through Eye Mission trips across her district. Her leadership and service have helped bring free eyeglasses to individuals who otherwise would not have access to care, restoring sight and independence.
In addition to her hands-on involvement, she serves on the board of the Missouri Lions State Sight Project, further advancing efforts to meet critical vision needs throughout the region.
PID Don Noland – Harvester Lions Club Nominated by District Governor Al Wansing
Lion Don Noland is a passionate advocate for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Through his involvement in local eye missions and his leadership roles within the Lions, he has been a strong and consistent supporter of organizations serving those with vision needs.
As a past director and district leader, as well as a champion for the Missouri School for the Blind, Lion Don’s enthusiasm and commitment continue to inspire others and strengthen the impact of service across his community.
Each of these nominees reflects the heart of what it means to serve. Their efforts—whether through screening children, providing clinical care, organizing outreach, or championing access—are changing lives every day. We are grateful for their dedication and proud to celebrate their contributions to Saving Sight’s mission.
The 2026 Lion Ambassador of the Year will be announced at the Missouri Lions State Convention banquet on Saturday, April 25.
Jeremy was the kind of person who made everyone feel welcome the moment they met him.
He was friendly, warm, and a steady presence in the lives of those who knew him. With his big
red beard, sky blue eyes, and even bigger smile, he had a way of drawing people in. Whether it
was a conversation, a hug, or simply being there when someone needed him, Jeremy made an
impact that lasted far beyond the moment.
To his wife, he was everything.
The two met at work, and over time built a life filled with love, laughter, and the kind of
everyday moments that mean the most. Sitting on the porch, going for drives, trying new food,
camping, or standing at the front of a concert singing and dancing together, those are the
moments she misses most.
“He was my very best friend,” she said. “I miss just talking to him.”
She describes him as someone who never made her feel unloved.
“He was my biggest fan. I always knew he’d be there to catch me when I fell and cheer me on.
To be loved like that… that will always be the greatest gift of my life.”
That love extended to everyone around him.
Jeremy found joy in music, in bringing people together, and in caring for others. He loved
creating playlists, attending concerts and festivals, and hosting gatherings for friends and
family. No matter the setting, he made people feel at home.
Jeremy valued family, honesty, hard work, and integrity. He showed his care for others in the
way he lived each day, always ready to lend a hand, offer support, or bring people together. He
found joy in entertaining, feeding people, and spending time with friends and family.
Today, his legacy continues in the lives he helped shape.
“He raised our children into good, honest, caring people,” his wife said. “Our friends and family
continue to get together regularly to eat, to entertain, to keep doing what he thought was so
important: being together and living.”
Even in loss, that spirit of giving remains.
Although donation wasn’t something they had discussed in depth, Jeremy had always been
someone who gave to others. As his wife reflected on the decision, it felt like a natural
extension of who he was.
Every year, we have the privilege of celebrating the remarkable Lions and community partners whose service truly embodies our mission: “We change lives by saving sight.” In 2025, we honored Lion Leon Hove as our Lions Ambassador of the Year, a lifelong Lion whose dedication to vision programs, screening initiatives, and international missions inspired all of us. In honor of his service, a $1,000 donation was made in his name to the Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation supporting expanded vision care.
Now it’s your turn to help us recognize the next great Lion leader!
Nominations for the 2026 Lions Ambassador of the Year are opening soon. This recognition highlights a Lion or community member — someone whose volunteerism and impact have measurably furthered our mission across Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois over the last year. Nominees should exemplify service above self, live the spirit of the Lions, and inspire others through their work.
A selection committee made up of the Missouri Lions Council Chair, current District Governors, and Saving Sight board members will review nominations. The honoree will be celebrated at the Missouri Lions State Convention and will receive a $1,000 donation in their name to the 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization of their choice.
Who in your club or community has gone above and beyond this year? Keep your nominations ready and let’s continue celebrating Lions who truly make a difference!
For nearly 15 years, Jim has lived with chronic eye disease.
At 39 years old, during a training in Middle Tennessee, his vision suddenly changed. “All of a sudden, my vision got digitized, it was scary,” he recalled.
Within days, he learned his eye pressure was dangerously high. What followed was a long journey of uncontrolled glaucoma, multiple surgeries and mounting complications.
Over the years, Jim underwent 11 eye surgeries, including cataract procedures and the placement of three drainage devices in each eye. For Jim, doctor visits became routine, sometimes monthly, sometimes multiple times in a week often requiring a two-hour drive to see a specialist.
“It just became something I lived with,” Jim said. “Kind of like a thorn in my side for 15 years.”
Eventually, the strain on his eye led to corneal failure. At first, the symptoms were manageable. But over time, his vision grew cloudy and blurry. Light became painful. Driving at night was difficult. In the final month before transplant, the pain intensified and daily tasks became exhausting.
“I was barely seeing out of my left eye,” he said. “That last month was pretty horrible.”
When his physician recommended a cornea transplant, Jim agreed knowing it would likely not be his last due to the complexity of his case. Still, he was ready for relief and the hope of clear sight again.
Three days before surgery, he received the call that a donor cornea had been identified.
The moment carried deep meaning, not only because Jim was about to receive the gift of sight, but because of the work he does every day.
Jim with family
Jim serves as a Family Care Coordinator with Tennessee Donor Services, where he walks alongside families at the time of their loved one’s death, offering the rare and powerful opportunity for organ and tissue donation.
He understands the sacred balance of what he calls “dual advocacy” — caring fully for grieving families while also representing the unseen recipients whose lives hang in the balance.
“In those moments, I’m walking tenderly with a family through profound loss, while holding deep awareness of the recipients whose lives may be forever changed by that moment.”
When he learned a donor had been found for him, his first response was not only gratitude, it was compassion.
“I texted my family and colleagues and said, ‘Please keep the family of my donor in your thoughts. They’re walking through one of the hardest weeks of their lives.”
Cornea transplant surgery is performed while the patient is awake. During the procedure, Jim experienced an unexpected and emotional realization.
“There was this point in surgery,” he shared, pausing, “where I became aware that another person is now part of me.”
That awareness has stayed with him.
Jim after surgery
After surgery, he learned his donor was a 50-year-old woman from Kansas. Though he does not know her story, he thinks often of her family. Having walked with nearly a hundred families in donation conversations, he understands the weight of that decision.
“Pain doesn’t have to be wasted,” Jim said. “Donation becomes one of those ways meaning is found in the most horrific moments.”
Today, just a few months post-transplant, Jim is no longer living with the constant pain that once defined his days.
“I haven’t been in eye pain since the transplant, where I’d had it for years,” he said. “While my vision’s not 100% yet, but it’s not cloudy anymore. It’s life changing.”
His personal experience has deepened the way he approaches families in his professional role.
“Having needed a transplant myself has deepened the way I hold that balance,” he said. “In those moments, I’m mindful that I’m also carrying the voices of people whose lives may be changed by a donor’s gift.”
Jim hopes his story reminds others that donation is deeply human rooted in compassion, legacy and connection between strangers whose lives become forever intertwined.
“It’s absolutely life-changing,” he said. “Because of the selfless act of another person, either someone who registered or a family who said yes, I can work. I can see clearly. I’m not in pain. That matters.” For Jim, donation is no longer only the work he does. It is the gift he carries every single day.
Organ and tissue donation plays a vital role in saving and healing lives. One generous decision can restore sight, improve quality of life, and offer second chances to individuals and families who may have been waiting for hope. Behind every transplant or tissue donation is a story of connection, one person’s choice becoming another person’s opportunity to live, heal, or see the world again.
Despite its life-changing impact, donation is often surrounded by misinformation. Myths and misunderstandings can create unnecessary fear or hesitation, preventing people from learning the facts about how donation works and why it matters. Correcting this misinformation is essential. When people have clear, accurate information, they are better equipped to make informed decisions rooted in compassion rather than uncertainty.
One of the most important, and often overlooked, steps in donation is talking with loved ones about your decision. Registering as an organ and tissue donor is powerful, but sharing that choice ensures your wishes are understood and honored. These conversations provide clarity during emotional moments and offer families reassurance, knowing they are carrying out a decision made with intention and care.
This year’s National Donor Day theme uses trees as a symbol of life and connection. Like trees in a forest, donation creates a network of connection between donors, recipients, and their families. Each gift becomes part of something larger, a living legacy that continues to grow, offering hope, healing, and life long after the original decision is made. This February 14, take a moment to learn the facts, dispel myths, and talk with your loved ones, helping ensure your legacy continues to grow.
Each year, Saving Sight is honored to recognize Lions who go above and beyond in their dedication to service and to our shared mission: We change lives by saving sight.
