HISTORY OF LIONS MOVEMENT

In response to social problems created by World War I and rapid industrialization, a Chicago businessman named Melvin Jones invites business clubs from around the USA to a meeting where the Association of Lions Clubs is formed. More than a century later, Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world, with more than 1.4 million members in 48,000 clubs acting on the same simple idea – when Lions come together for the good of humanity, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

Just three years after founding, Lions International becomes international when the Border Cities Lions Club in Windsor, Canada is established. At the time, Lions were active in 23 U.S. states with a total of 6,400 members. Mexico followed in 1927. In the 1950s and 1960s, international growth accelerated, with new clubs in Europe, Asia and Africa. 

Helen Keller addresses Lions at the International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. She famously challenges Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” This begins a century-long mission—impacting hundreds of millions of lives through vision-related work.

Lions and other representatives from 46 nations meet to help establish the NGO section of the United Nations (UN), underscoring Lions International’s commitment to a “certain and lasting peace for the world.” Today, Lions continue to work with the UN at the annual Lions Day with the United Nations.

The Leo Program is developed to provide the youth of the world with an opportunity for personal development through volunteering. Today, there are more than 180,000 Leos and 7,200 Leo clubs in over than 140 countries worldwide.

Lions Clubs International Foundation is created, with the mission “to support the efforts of Lions clubs and partners in serving communities locally and globally, giving hope and impacting lives through humanitarian service projects and grants.” Today, our foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants

Lions reach a historic milestone by welcoming our millionth member, Barney Gill from Virginia, USA. Today, we have more than 1.4 million members worldwide.

LCIF awards its first Major Catastrophe Grant of US$50,000 for earthquake relief in Mexico. Today, we continue to step up in times of crisis by offering grants to support our disaster relief efforts.

Lions launch a campaign to help restore sight and prevent blindness on a global scale. Lions have raised more than US$ 351 million for this initiative that targets the major causes of blindness. More than 488 million people have been impacted over the last 30 years.

The 100th year of serving local communities and the globe is celebrated at the Lions Clubs International Centennial Convention in Chicago, Illinois, USA—the same city where the association began.

LCIF exceeds its goal for Campaign 100: LCIF Empowering Service. A total of US$ 325 million was raised during the campaign, which is the organization’s most ambitious fundraising initiative to date.

LCIF and Lions Quest become a founding member of The Choose Kindness Project, a coalition of the leading nonprofit organizations in the United States championing bullying prevention, intentional inclusion and youth mental wellness.

To be the global leader in community and humanitarian service.

To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs

We Serve

TO SHOW my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service. 

TO SEEK success and to demand all fair remuneration or profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts on my part.

TO REMEMBER that in building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another’s; to be loyal to my clients or customers and true to myself.

WHENEVER a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position of action towards others, to resolve such doubt against myself.

TO HOLD friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.

ALWAYS bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state and my community, and to give them my unswerving loyalty in word, act and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor and means.

TO AID others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.

TO BE CAREFUL with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.