Lions Club History

In 1917 Melvin Jones, a young Chicago Insurance man serving as secretary of the business Circle, a men’s luncheon group devoted to promoting the business interests of its members, noted growing apathy in the club’s membership. He asked, “What if these men, who are successful because of their drive, intelligence, and ambition, were to be put to work helping their communities?” The Lions Club was started.

Back in 1925 when Helen Keller challenged the Lions Club to become “Knights of the Blind”, she could not have possibly imagined the impact of Lions commitment to blindness prevention.

The Lions motto…WE SERVE helps the blind or hearing impaired…conducts drug or diabetes awareness campaigns…provides recreational opportunities for the handicapped…sponsors research into the prevention of blindness…provides children with sports equipment or just a place to play…we raise the funds to make it all possible. SERVICE ALWAYS COMES FIRST FOR A LION

LIONS are members of the world’s largest and most active service club organization.

LIONS are people who have decided to give something back to their communities, who are dedicated to finding people in need, and who meet those needs in an efficient but caring way.

LIONS are men and women who believe that by working with other dedicated Lions, they will accomplish far more for their communities than would be possible alone.

LIONS are committed to solving major, worldwide health and social problems, and realize that solutions are possible when every Lions Club does its share.

LIONS are people who cherish the friendship and fellowship of their own Club, but who also feel a close kinship with fellow Lions in more than 180 countries and areas throughout the world and are 1.4 million strong.

LIONS are patriotic, giving allegiance to their country, while recognizing that all peoples must one day learn to live in peace.

LIONS are dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical and moral standards in their Club and in their personal lives.

LIONS are working smarter and faster with greater commitment than ever before.

Over the years Lions have developed programs that help young people live up to their potential – programs that stimulate an awareness of what is going on in the world around them:

The Lions “Skills for Growing Program”
Lions International Youth Exchange
Lions International Peace Poster Contest
Lions International Youth Camps
Leo Clubs
Lions in-school program for teens