LIONS SERVICES INC

Empowering people who are blind to achieve personal and economic independence by providing them vocational rehabilitation and employment opportunities and providing eyecare to those in need. In 1935, the Charlotte Central Lions Club founded the Charlotte Workshop for the Blind to employ WWI veterans to re-cane chairs. In 1975, the company was incorporated as a nonprofit textile manufacturer to provide vocational rehabilitation for people who are blind and became known as Lions Services, Inc. The Agency has evolved into a manufacturer of products for the Department of Defense under the Congressional Javits-Wagner- O'Day Act. Lions Services is a respected affiliate of National Industries for the Blind and has received the Javits-Wagner- O'Day Program award from the Defense Logistics Agency for consistently producing excellent quality products. The Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind administers the JWOD program and in 2006, changed the program name to AbilityOne program. The program now includes people with severe disabilities and allows services to be provided to Federal customers. Two national, independent, nonprofit agencies operate under JWOD; National Industries for the Blind and National Industries for the Severely handicapped. The primary goal of the AbilityOne program is to employ and create training opportunities for people who are blind or severely handicapped. The means of accomplishing this goal is to encourage Government agencies to purchase selected products and services from NIB and NISH affiliates. As a result, employees under AbilityOne are able to lead a more productive and independent life. Lions Services is working to diversify its portfolio and expand business opportunities in the community.