Lions Clubs International

Over a Century of Service

In July of 2017, the Lions Clubs International celebrated 100 years of service to the world at their convention in Chicago.  Over 30,000 Lions from around the globe descended on Chicago to learn and be inspired for another 100 years.

LCI Mission Statement

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

Lions throughout the world are dedicated to helping those less fortunate in their communities and around the world.  Cutting across all national, racial and cultural boundaries, activities have included: 

  • Sight conservation and work with the visually impaired
  • Citizenship, educational, health and social services
  • Youth programs including drug education and prevention, community outreach and volunteer programs
  • Diabetes detection and research
  • Work for international cooperation and understanding, including international youth camps, youth exchange programs and Lions International Peace Poster Contest

History of Lions International

In 1917, Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. Jones' group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed.

After contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the "Association of Lions Clubs," and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objectives and a code of ethics were approved. And the rest is history.

In 1920, the "Association of Lions Clubs" became "International" with the formation of the Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Lions Club.  The countries of China, Mexico, and Cuba joined the forces by 1927, Central and South America in 1935.  Lions reached Europe in 1948 as clubs were chartered in Sweden, Switzerland, and France.  In 1954, the first club in Japan was chartered.

Helen Keller was born physically normal in 1880 in a small town in Alabama.  Helen lost her sight and hearing at the age of 19 months to an illness now believed to have been scarlet fever.  Five years later, on the advice of Alexander Graham Bell, her parents applied to the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston for a teacher.  From that school, they hired Anne Sullivan who trained Helen to communicate with the world around her.  She spoke at the Lions International Convention at Cedar Point, Ohio, on June 30, 1925.  Although unable to see her audience or hear their applause, she appealed to the Lions . . .

You who have your sight and hearing.

You who are strong and brave and kind.

Will you not help me hasten the day

When there shall be no preventable blindness?

No deaf blind children untaught.

No blind man or woman unaided.

I appeal to you, Lions.

You who have your sight and hearing.

You who are strong and brave and kind.

Will you not constitute yourselves,

Knights of the blind in this crusade against darkness?

Since that speech, Lions accepted her challenge and have contributed more time and energy to fight blindness than any other organization, foundation or government.

But Lions did not stop there.  They have continued on to also address youth issues, humanitarian projects, disaster relief, diabetes and pediatric cancer.  The Lions continue to serve wherever there is a need.