Who We Are
Lions Club International began in 1917 as a dream of Melvin Jones, an insurance man from Chicago who believed that local business clubs should expand their horizons from professional interests to the betterment of their communities and the entire world. He contacted similar groups in the US, and on June 7th, 1917, Chicago was the host to an organizational meeting where the “Association of Lions Clubs” was formed.
From that humble beginning, Lions Club grew into the global network of members we know today. One of our 5 main service focuses, a commitment to serving the blind and visually impaired, began after Helen Keller challenged our members to become her “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness” during the 1925 conventions in Cedar Point Ohio.
The time and talent of our dedicated members has allowed us to accomplish so many tasks that seem otherwise impossible- from that challenge from Helen Keller has grown a club that has provided vision screenings for over 24 million children. From our continued commitment to restoring sight and preventing blindness, our motto “We Serve” exemplifies the dedication to helping those in need felt by Lions worldwide.
We serve to reduce the prevalence of diabetes and improve quality of life for those diagnosed. Click here to learn more.
We serve to ensure all community members have access to nutritious foods. Click here to learn more.
We serve to help those affected by childhood cancer survive and thrive. Click here to learn more.
We serve to prevent avoidable blindness and improve quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired. Click here to learn more.
We serve to sustainably protect and restore our environment to improve the well-being of all communities. Click here to learn more.