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Our History

Lions Clubs International began in 1917 when a Chicago businessman asked what if people put their talents to work improving their communities. Now over 100 years later, Lions Clubs International has over 1.3 million members in over 45,000 clubs worldwide. In the 1920s, Lions Clubs became international by establishing clubs in Canada and Mexico. In 1925, Helen Keller challenged Lions to aid the blind and visually impaired. Today Lions Clubs International extends their mission of service in local communities and all corners of the globe through programs focused on sight, health, youth, the elderly, the environment, and disaster relief.

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60 views

Our History

Lions Clubs International began in 1917 when a Chicago businessman asked what if people put their talents to work improving their communities. Now over 100 years later, Lions Clubs International has over 1.3 million members in over 45,000 clubs worldwide. In the 1920s, Lions Clubs became international by establishing clubs in Canada and Mexico. In 1925, Helen Keller challenged Lions to aid the blind and visually impaired. Today Lions Clubs International extends their mission of service in local communities and all corners of the globe through programs focused on sight, health, youth, the elderly, the environment, and disaster relief.

Uploaded by

Sarah Krawec
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Our History

1917: The Beginning Chicago business leader Melvin Jones asked a simple and world-changing
question – what if people put their talents to work improving their communities? Almost 100 years later, Lions
Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization, with more than 1.3 million members in more
than 45,000 clubs and countless stories of Lions acting on the same simple idea: let's improve our communities.

1920: Going International Just three years after our founding, Lions became international when
we established the first club in Canada. Mexico followed in 1927. In the 1950s and 1960s international growth
accelerated, with new clubs in Europe, Asia and Africa.

1925: Eradicating Blindness Helen Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention
in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA, and challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against
darkness." Since then, we have worked tirelessly to aid the blind and visually impaired.

1945: Uniting Nations The ideal of an international organization is exemplified by our enduring
relationship with the United Nations. We were one of the first nongovernmental organizations invited to assist
in the drafting of the United Nations Charter and have supported the work of the UN ever since.

1957: Organizing Youth Programs In the late 1950s, we created the Leo Program to provide
the youth of the world with an opportunity for personal development through volunteering. There are
approximately 144,000 Leos and 5,700 Leo clubs in more than 140 countries worldwide.

1968: Establishing Our Foundation Lions Clubs International Foundation assists Lions with
global and large-scale local humanitarian projects. Through our Foundation, Lions meet the needs of their local
and global communities.

1990: Launching SightFirst Through SightFirst, Lions are restoring sight and preventing blindness
on a global scale. Launched in 1990, Lions have raised more than $346 million for this initiative. SightFirst targets
the major causes of blindness: cataract, trachoma, river blindness, childhood blindness, diabetic retinopathy
and glaucoma.

Today: Extending Our Reach Lions Clubs International extends our mission of service every day
– in local communities, in all corners of the globe. The needs are great and our services broad, including sight,
health, youth, elderly, the environment and disaster relief. Our international network has grown to include more
than 200 countries and geographic areas.

300 W 22ND ST | OAK BROOK IL 60523-8842 USA | PHONE 630-571-5466 | FAX 630-571-8890 | www.lionsclubs.org

PR-800 EN 9/09

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