LCI Historical Highlights

• 1917: The beginning

  

  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.

• 1920: Lions go international

  

  Just three years after founding, the Association of Lions Clubs 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.

• 1925: Becoming “Knights of the Blind”

  

  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.

• 1926: Admiral Byrd Carries the Lions Flag to the Poles

  Polar explorer and member of the Washington D.C. Lions Club, Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Jr. flies over the North Pole and carries the Lions flag with him. He flies over the South Pole later that same year.

• 1930: The White Cane Innovation

  Lion George Bonham paints a cane white with a wide red band to aid the visually impaired after witnessing a blind man having trouble crossing the street.

• 1931: Expanding South and Hosting a Global Convention

  Lions establish a club in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. The first international convention outside the U.S. is held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

• 1933: Showcasing Lions at the Chicago World’s Fair

  Visitors to the Chicago World’s Fair learn about Lions Clubs at the Fair’s Social Science Division.

• 1935: Amelia Earhart’s Record Flight and Talking Books

  Amelia Earhart, honorary member of the New York City Lions Club, completes a record-breaking nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Mexico during the Lions Clubs International Convention in Mexico City. Local Lions donate a Talking Book machine to the Milwaukee Public Library, allowing the blind to hear books.

• 1939: Guiding Eyes and the Birth of Little League

  Members of the Detroit Uptown Lions Club turn an old Michigan farmhouse into a school to train dog guides for the visually impaired, helping to popularize dog guides worldwide. To provide an organized baseball program for children, Lion Carl Edwin Stotz of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, appeals for support from Lions Clubs, YMCAs and other community partners. On June 6, 1939, the very first Little League baseball game is played at Park Point in Williamsport.

• 1944: Founding the First Eye Bank

  The world’s first eye bank is created in New York City. Today, most eye banks are Lions-sponsored.

• 1945: Uniting Nations

  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 annual Lions Day with the United Nations events.

• 1946: First Lions Blind Camp at Casper Mountain

  The Lions Blind Camp on Casper Mountain in Wyoming hosts its first group of blind children.

• 1947: 30 Years Strong and UN Consultant Status

  In October, Lions celebrate the 30th anniversary at the Waldorf Astoria, New York City. Membership reaches 324,690 in 19 nations, making it the world’s largest service club organization. Lions are given consultant status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council.

• 1948: European Debut and Kalaupapa’s Historic Club

  Europe’s first Lions club forms in Stockholm, Sweden; Geneva, Switzerland follows days later. A Lions club is formed in Kalaupapa, Molokai, Hawaii—its charter members all have Hansen’s disease.

• 1952: Bridging Nations: First Lions Club in Japan

  Filipino Lions encourage and help charter the first Japanese Lions club.

• 1954: Adopting the Motto: We Serve

  After an international contest, the official motto “We Serve” is chosen.

• 1956: Inspiring Youth and the 59ers at the South Pole

  The Detroit Lions Club gives 6-year-old Stevie Wonder a drum set for Christmas. The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is built; soon after, 16 scientists and military personnel charter the 59ers Lions Club there.

• 1957: Leos are introduced

  The Leo Program is developed to provide the youth of the world with an opportunity for personal development through volunteering. Today, there are 200,000 Leos worldwide.

• 1965: Honoring Melvin Jones with a Memorial

  Lions build the Melvin Jones Lions International Memorial in Fort Thomas, Arizona.

• 1968: Establishing Lions Clubs International Foundation

  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.” To date, our foundation has awarded more than $1.2 billion in grants.

• 1971: Moving to Oak Brook Headquarters

  LCI moves to its current headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois.

• 1972: LCIF’s First Relief Grant

  LCIF issues its first grant: US$5,000 to assist flood victims in South Dakota.

• 1973: Celebrating 1 million members

  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.

• 1977: Lion Jimmy Carter Elected U.S. President

  Lion Jimmy Carter becomes President of the United States.

• 1985: Disaster relief support expands

  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.

• 1986: Mother Teresa Receives Lions Humanitarian Award

  Mother Teresa accepts the Lions Humanitarian Award.

• 1987: Opening the Doors to Women Members

  Lions invite women to become members—today the fastest-growing segment.

• 1990: Launching SightFirst

  Lions launch a campaign to help restore sight and prevent blindness on a global scale. More than 488 million people have been impacted over the last 30 years.

• 1995: Joining Forces with The Carter Center

  LCIF partners with The Carter Center to combat river blindness in Africa and Latin America.

• 1999: First Woman International Director Elected

  Nilofer Bakhtiar (Pakistan) is elected the first female international director.

• 2001: Partnering with Special Olympics: Opening Eyes

  LCIF and Special Olympics partner on Opening Eyes to screen athletes’ vision.

• 2002: Chartering Lions Clubs in China

  Lions charter two clubs in China, the nation’s first voluntary membership group since the 1950s.

• 2003: 50 Million River Blindness Treatments

  Through SightFirst, Lions and The Carter Center record their 50 millionth river blindness treatment.

• 2004: Mobilizing for the South Asia Tsunami

  Lions mobilize more than US$15 million for South Asia tsunami relief.

• 2007: LCIF Ranked Top NGO Partner

  The Financial Times ranks LCIF the best NGO worldwide to partner with.

• 2010: Scaling Measles Relief with Gates Foundation

  The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation contributes US$5M to One Shot: One Life; Lions raise over US$10M for measles efforts in the next two years.

• 2011: Mobilizing for the South Asia Tsunami

  LCIF awards its 10,000th grant—totaling US$708M awarded. Lions help administer the 148 millionth dose of Mectizan for river blindness. After Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, Lions mobilize over US$21M.

• 2013: Joining Forces with The Carter Center

  LCIF partners with GAVI to protect millions from measles and rubella—US$30M from LCIF matched by US$30M from the UK Government and the Gates Foundation. Colombia eliminates river blindness with Lions and The Carter Center.

• 2014: Launching the Centennial Service Challenge

  Lions launch the Centennial Service Challenge to serve 100 million people worldwide.

• 2017: Lions turn 100

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

• 2022: Campaign 100 goal exceeded

  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.

• 2023: Partnering for Kindness

  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.

We are just getting started

As we continue to move further into our second century of service, our commitment to taking action and making a positive impact on the world is stronger than ever. The over 1.4 million people who are Lions already know the power of putting kindness in action. But for those who are not, we encourage you to reach out to one of our 49,000 clubs and see how you too can get involved in one of the greatest forces for good the world has ever known.