On Dec.19 families, friends and the public attended the ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the colorful new lion sculpture that is actually a drinking water fountain at Westpark Community Center at 450 West Harrison Street in West Ventura.
“We thank the Ventura Downtown Lions Club for donating $5,000 to make the lion fountain possible,” said Youth Programs Supervisor Mario Robinson. “This is another great project that helps us continually enhance and upgrade Westpark Community Center.”
“Westpark youth are very excited about drinking from the new water fountain because its spout is inside the lion’s open mouth,” said Westpark Coordinator Anita Diaz. “Its whimsical design will encourage kids to stay hydrated while enjoying outdoor play.”
Westpark’s mission is to provide a variety of safe, educational and affordable youth programs and services that develop self-esteem, leadership, character development, sportsmanship and health and physical fitness.
For 93 years the Ventura Downtown Lions Club has launched many successful fundraising projects including camperships for deaf children, DARE programs, student scholarships and Thanksgiving food baskets. It has also supported other organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Project Understanding, Habitat for Humanity, and, most recently, the new Pediatric Eye Center to be established at the Ventura County Medical Center.
The Lions’ donation of $41,675.28 will purchase a retinal imaging camera to screen babies for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) as well as other needed equipment for the Ventura County Medical Center. The Ventura Downtown Lions Club also founded The Cottage Home in 1969 – it’s the only foster home in the United States founded and supported by a local Lions Club.
“Each Lion member has special and unique talents and skills, that, when combined with the talent and skills of others, allows us to do more as a club than we could ever do as individuals,” said Lions President Randy Jewell, commenting about the club’s long record of success.
