E.G. Gill Sight Foundation
Rediscover the roots of our history.
The E.G. Gill Sight Foundation carries forward a legacy rooted in service, innovation, and the Lions’ enduring commitment to preserving sight. Founded in 1975, the Foundation honors the life and work of Elbyrne G. Gill, a pioneering Roanoke ophthalmologist and founder of the Gill Memorial Hospital (originally located Downtown Roanoke) whose medical leadership and humanitarian spirit helped shape vision care in Virginia and beyond.
Dr. Gill was deeply connected to the mission of the Lions Club of Virginia, through which he provided eye surgeries at no cost for individuals who could not afford care, even during the Great Depression.
His belief that access to vision care was a shared responsibility led him to help establish Virginia’s first eye bank through the Lions, advancing sight conservation statewide.
Today, that Lions-centered vision continues through the Foundation’s primary support of the Roanoke Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center. The Foundation provides critical financial and facility support, enabling thousands of donated eyeglasses to be restored and redistributed to individuals in need locally and around the world.
Beyond the Recycling Center, the E.G. Gill Sight Foundation supports school vision screenings and assistance programs that ensure children and adults receive the corrective eyewear they need to learn, work, and live with dignity.
A gift to the E.G. Gill Sight Foundation is more than a donation. It is a continuation of a Lions-led tradition of service, compassion, and belief in the power of sight to transform lives.
Together, we honor the past and extend the gift of sight to those who need it most.
Donations
If you wish to make a donation to support our work, please contact us.
Make Checks Payable to:
E.G. Gill Sight Foundation
Address: 501 Elm Ave SW, Roanoke VA 24016