Since 1954 the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation has operated as a 501(c)(3) with the mission to prevent and cure blindness by supporting eye research, providing vision screenings and operating an eye bank. In it’s 60 years of service, KLEF has:
- Donated over $3 million to endowments to support eye research
- Provided over 81,000 adults in Kentucky free vision screenings (since 2002)
- Provided over 72,000 children in Kentucky free vision screenings (since 2004)
- Recovered corneal tissue from over 8,600 donors for research, education or transplant
In 1954, KLEF also started the tradition of announcing the best male high school basketball player in the state, known as the prestigious Mr. Kentucky Basketball. In 1976, KLEF named the first Miss Kentucky Basketball.