Aurora Noon Lions Club recently awarded grants totaling $1,500 to two worthy community groups.
At the Club’s June 15 meeting, Noon Lions president Susan Koepke presented ceremonial checks to Diabetes Club of Fox Valley and East Aurora High School’s Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps unit.
Koepke said, “The Aurora Noon Lions Club appreciates the East students and instructors that have helped us at our pancake-breakfast fundraisers.”
Commander Michael M. Kerley, U.S. Navy (Ret.), senior naval science instructor at East Aurora High School, accepted a $500 grant after updating the Lions on East’s NJROTC program.
Kerley said, “Our goal is that our cadets are best prepared now and for life. Our mission is to instill in our cadets values of citizenship, service, personal responsibility and accomplishment.”
According to Kerley, the 400-student regiment, approximately 10% of East’s enrollment, was founded in 1996. The unit is the largest in the Midwest among the largest nationwide. Instructors are five retired Navy professionals with more than 100 years of leadership experience.
Diabetes Club of Fox Valley president, Russ George, accepted a $1,000 award for the nonprofit that provides aid, awareness, education, and research support against diabetes.
—Al Benson