Gary Watkins, first vice president of the Eden Prairie Lions Club, left, and Steve Lipschultz, the club’s president, right, present a $10,000 ceremonial check to Eden Prairie Local News Publisher Steve Schewe, center, during the club’s meeting on Monday, March 3. Photo courtesy of Gary Stevens/Eden Prairie Lions Club
The Eden Prairie Lions Club has donated $10,000 to Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN), recognizing the nonprofit newsroom’s role in keeping the community informed.
Eden Prairie Local News Publisher Steve Schewe speaks at the Eden Prairie Lions Club meeting on Monday, March 3, before the club presented a $10,000 donation to support the nonprofit newsroom’s mission of keeping the community informed. Photo courtesy of Gary Stevens/Eden Prairie Lions Club
The ceremonial check was presented to EPLN Publisher Steve Schewe at the club’s meeting on Monday, March 3. The donation was recommended by the Lions’ Major Gifts Committee, which cited EPLN as a vital resource for the city and an important outlet for covering Lions Club events and fundraisers.
While the Lions typically fund equipment purchases, committee members agreed to make an unrestricted grant in support of the newsroom’s operations. EPLN, a nonprofit publication, has recently been fundraising to expand its reporting capacity, including hiring its first full-time reporter.
Schewe said the Lions’ contribution would help sustain the newsroom’s mission. EPLN plans to purchase a camera and a laptop to support local reporting efforts.
“In addition to the generous gift from the Lions, we have also received funding from the Lionesses,” Schewe said. “We will continue to seek opportunities to report on and to support the success of other Eden Prairie nonprofits and service organizations in the coming year.”
The Eden Prairie Lions Club, known for community events like Schooner Days and its upcoming Pancake Breakfast on April 27, views the donation as part of its commitment to supporting local institutions. With more than 100 members, the club serves the community through volunteer efforts, fundraising, and initiatives focused on vision, hearing, diabetes, and other causes. It also participates in programs like Lions KidSight USA, which provides vision screenings for children.