Lions Help Start Careers

For Kile Votaw and Jayvian Hawthorne, every bit of help they can get while going to school and working to build a professional career is appreciated. Both are enrolled at Coastal Alabama Community College’s Fairhope Academy; Kile is learning to become a welder, while Jayvian pursues a career in electrical instrumentation technology. When the Fairhope Lions Club asks CACC Fairhope Academy leaders to name two students based on ability, aptitude, desire and a need for some financial help, Kile and Jayvian wind up at the top of the list.
The Lions Club steps in and awards both with scholarships to help defray the cost of tuition. Kile and Jayvian each get checks for $1,000 placed in their student accounts at the College to help them reach their goals. At a Lions Club meeting last night, Mayor Sherry Sullivan presents Kile and Jayvian with certificates for their accomplishments, and praises CACC for its contributions to the community. Also attending are Scott Dees, an Associate Dean with CACC and instructors Joe Miranda and Chris Graham.

How does the Lions Club come up with money to help people like Kile and Jayvian? Think golf. Each year, on the first Sunday of October, the Club holds its annual golf tournament at Fairhope’s Quail Creek Golf club. Lions Club members tell me this is by far their most important fundraising event. Money raised goes to help a wide range of community projects and needs, including working with organizations like CACC, Prodisee Pantry and others. Vision screenings, alleviating hunger, childhood cancer and childhood diabetes and supporting veterans are among other projects and activities the Lions Club undertakes.

If you want to support what the Lions are doing to help people like Kile and Jayvian, the Club always welcomes visitors. Meetings take place starting at 5:30pm on the first Wednesday of each month at Clovis Cafe on Boothe Rd in Fairhope. You can learn more about the Club at its website:

https://www.fairhopelionsclub.com/