The Virginia Lions Hearing Aid Bank (HAB) Foundation is a Virginia chartered non-profit, tax exempt foundation organized under the provisions of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Its purpose and mission are to:

• Educate the public and Lions on the use of hearing aids.

• Collect used hearing aids through the Lions and Lioness clubs of District 24-A and other established capabilities.

• Distribute used hearing aids to cooperating hearing aid centers to be reconditioned and used as an affordable alternative for persons with financial needs.

• Encourage all District 24-A Lions and Lioness clubs to provide assistance to hearing impaired persons who need financial help to obtain hearing aids.

• Working with District 24-A Lions and Lioness clubs, coordinate referrals of hearing impaired persons who need our help to cooperating hearing aid centers.

• Raise funds to assure that needy hearing impaired persons requiring a hearing aid are served.

• Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) made a substantial grant to develop and bring to market an affordable hearing aid.  The HAB Foundation was one of the first organizations to take advantage of the new affordable hearing aids as a part of our program in Northern Virginia

• Where appropriate, we will use a new Lions affordable hearing aid for needy individuals, instead of using a reconditioned hearing aid.  Reconditioned hearing aids will continue to be used where they are appropriate.

• The Lions affordable hearing aid is a state-of-the-art, digitally programmable behind-the-ear hearing aid. 

• District 24-A Lions and Lioness clubs collect and recycle used hearing aids in conjunction with their ongoing efforts to collect and recycle used eyeglasses.

• Used hearing aids can be sent to the HAB Foundation Committee Chair (see address below),  or to the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center, 212 N. West Street, Falls Church, VA 22046-2422. Donations will be acknowledged upon request for tax or other purposes.

• Used behind-the-ear style hearing aids are reconditioned and issued to hearing impaired persons referred  to one of our cooperating hearing aid centers.

• Used in-the-ear style hearing aids that cannot be reconditioned are used to obtain credit towards repairs made on the behind-the-ear style hearing aids.

• Requests for financial assistance may come directly to the HAB Foundation Chair after they have been processed by a social worker for the Department of Human Services of the county or city in which the individual making the request resides.   The HAB Foundation Chair contacts the individual making the request, normally with a letter, and authorizes them to contact the appropriate hearing center to make an appointment.

• Some Lions and Lioness clubs have a direct working relationship with social workers in the Department of Human Services in their area and have the resources to provide the requested assistance. In these cases, the clubs work directly with the organization providing the hearing aid(s).

• In each case, the local Lions Club is involved in providing service to the individual making the request.  Some clubs donate all of the funds required, and other clubs make a donation to the HAB Foundation as they are able.  Many Lions Clubs in District 24-A support the work of the HAB Foundation, despite having few if any needy individuals in their immediate service area.

• When a club is approached by an individual requesting financial assistance the club should refer the person to the office in the Department of Human Services that handles hearing aid requests for the Lions clubs in its area. If the office does not have a Lions Club Hearing Aid Request Form, the HAB Foundation Chair will provide a copy.

• The hearing aids provided by HAB Foundation are through one of our cooperating hearing aid centers, which include

  • For the inner suburbs, Arlington ENT Associates assists our work.  They are located at 1635 North George Mason Drive, Suite 250, Arlington,  VA  22205, telephone 703-524-1212.

  • For central and western Fairfax County, Professional Hearing Aid Service helps us.  They are located at 1800 Town Center Drive, #315, Reston, VA  20190, telephone 703-478-9898.

  • In Prince William County, Hearing Health Care Center of Manassas works with our referrals.  They are located at 8650 Sudley Road, Suite 209, Manassas, VA 20110, telephone 703-369-0300.

  • For Stafford County and Fredericksburg, The Hearing Aid Place assists us.  They are located at 2601 Princess Anne Street (#100), Fredericksburg, VA 22401, telephone 540-371-2333.

  • In the Northern Neck or Middle Peninsula area, Audiology Offices, LLC provides assistance to Lions.  They are located at 45 North Main Street in Kilmarnock, VA 22482, telephone number 804-435-0758.  

• The University of Virginia, Division of Audiology, Charlottesville, VA, provides hearing assistance for indigent individuals. A nominal fee is charged for Lions and Lioness club sponsored individuals, which covers the cost of a new behind-the-ear style hearing aid, warranty, the ear mold, and follow-up fitting. The service is supported by the Virginia Lions Hearing Foundation and Research Center, Incorporated, Box 800477, University of Virginia Health Services Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, at telephone numbers 434-296-LION (5466) or 800-251-3627, Extension 4-9805.

• The Blue Ridge Hearing Center, 602 South King Street, Leesburg, VA 20175, telephone number 703-777-5050, is another option for Lions and Lioness clubs; particularly those clubs in Loudoun County where the Center operates under a County grant for its residents.

• The sponsoring Lions or Lioness club(s) or the HAB Foundation, as appropriate, will pay the cost involved. Costs typically include an audiological evaluation, fittings for ear mold(s), and reconditioned behind-the-ear style hearing aid(s). The price does not include the cost of any required follow-up visits.

Send contributions for the HAB Foundation directly to the District 24-A HAB Foundation Committee Chair (address below). Checks should be made payable to the "Virginia Lions Hearing Aid Bank" or "HAB Foundation".

The foundation has been organized under the provisions of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, it may receive and accept money and/or property as a tax-exempt donation. For further information, contact

Lion Mike McLaughlin
District 24-A HAB Foundation Committee Chair
11260 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 300
Reston, VA  20190
703.471.6150 (work)
703.280.0403 (home)
mmclaughlin@annandalelions.org