The George Hamilton Humanitarian Award is given to an area person who has demonstrated concern and commitment for the visually impaired. It is named after George Hamilton, a Reno Host Lion who served for 49 years as the Club's Secretary and was a long-time Reno optician before his death in 1993 at the age of 91. Winners of the award are:

• 1994 - The late Lois Baskerville was founder of the Sierra Nevada Braille Transcribers Society.
• 1995 - Mt. Rose Lion Dr. Tyson Kales, who donates dozens of free eye examinations for patients referred by the Lions Sight Conservation Committee.
• 1996 - Dan Sullivan, a legally-blind athlete, coaches visually impaired and blind skiers and other athletes.
• 1997 - Lion Linda Brown, the first Reno Host Lion to receive the award, participated in eye clinic trips to Tanzania and Mexico and sponsored visits by the LensCrafters Foundation Vision Van to Nevada and California. (photo)
• 1998 - Gladys Smart has served more than twenty-five years as Secretry of the Washoe County Lions Sight Conservation Committee.
• 1999 - Sparks Greenbrae Lion Dave Seals, now deceased, served as President of the Lions Eye Foundation of California/Nevada in 1995-1997.
• 2000 - Pat Bower has raised and trained puppies to serve as Guide Dogs for the Blind for more than twenty years.
• 2003 - Reno Host Lion Steve Laden, has served since 1995 as Chairman of the Reno Host Lions Club Vision Services Committee and is a Trustee of the Lions Eye Foundation of California/Nevada.
• 2004 - The Lions Auxiliary has tested the vision of all third-grade students in Washoe County chools for many years, detecting cases requiring corrective eyeglasses or treatment.
• 2005 - Reno Host Lions Dr. Andy Boren and Dr. Troy Humphreys have participated in eye clinics in Mexico and elsewhere where they have prescribed corrective eyeglasses and conducted retinal exams.