HISTORY
IT ALL BEGAN IN 1917 ...
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, objects and a code of ethics were
approved.
Within three years, Lions became an international organization.
Since then, we’ve earned high marks for both integrity and
transparency. We’re a well-run organization with a steady
vision, a clear mission, and a long – and proud – history.
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 1.35 million members in more than 46,000 clubs and
countless stories of Lions acting on the same simple idea: let’s
improve our communities.
A BRIEF TIMELINE
As we approach our 103rd anniversary in 2020, it’s a moment to look
back on our long and proud tradition of service and the numerous
achievements of our association and Lions around the world.
1917: Melvin
Jones and fellow Chicago
businessmen found Lions Clubs to improve the
community. The first convention takes place at the Adolphus
Hotel in Dallas, TX.
1920:
Lions Clubs become international by
chartering a club in Windsor, Canada.
1925:
During the international convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, Helen
Keller charges Lions with becoming “knights of the blind in the
crusade against darkness.”
1926:
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:
Lion George Bonham paints a cane white with a wide red band to
aid the visually impaired after he witnesses a blind man having
trouble crossing the street.
1931:
Lions head south and establish a club in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
The first international convention outside of the U.S. is held
in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
1933:
Visitors to the Chicago World’s Fair learn about Lions clubs at
the fair’s Social Science Division.
1935:
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:
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:
The world’s first eye bank is created in New York City. Today,
most eye banks are Lions-sponsored.
1945:
Lions assist in drafting the United Nations Charter, starting a
lasting bond with the U.N.
1946:
The Lions Blind Camp on Casper Mountain in Wyoming hosts its
first group of blind children.
1947:
In October, Lions celebrate the 30th anniversary of the
association at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. It
had become the world’s largest service club organization at the
time with 324,690 members in 19 nations. Lions are given
consultant status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council.
1948:
Only three years after World War II, Europe sees its first Lions
club in Stockholm, Sweden. Geneva, Switzerland, follows suit
just days later. A Lions club is formed in Kalaupapa on the
island of Molokai, Hawaii. Kalaupapa is a leper colony and the
charter members all have Hansen’s disease (leprosy).
1952:
Filipino Lions reach out to Japan and encourage the chartering
of the first Japanese Lions club.
1954:
After an international contest among Lions, an official motto is
chosen: “We Serve.” The motto was submitted by Lion D. A.
Stevenson of Font Hill, Ontario, Canada.
1956:
The Detroit Lions Club gives 6-year-old Stevie Wonder a
Christmas gift – a drum set. The Amundsen-Scott South Pole
Station is built. Soon after, 16 scientists and military
personnel charter the 59ers Lions Club there.
1957:
Lions launch youth programs, including the very successful Leo
Clubs.
1965:
Lions build the Melvin Jones Lions International Memorial in
Fort Thomas, Arizona.
1968:
The Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is established.
Since its founding, LCIF has given more than US$826 million in
grants to support the humanitarian work of Lions.
1971:
LCI moves to its fourth and final location in Oak Brook, IL,
after decades in downtown Chicago.
1972:
LCIF sends out its first grant – US$5,000 to assist victims of
flooding in South Dakota.
1973:
In February, the association welcomes its one millionth member.
1977:
Lion Jimmy Carter, a peanut farmer from Georgia, becomes
president of the United States of America.
1985:
LCIF awards its first Major Catastrophe Grant of US$50,000 for
earthquake relief in Mexico.
1986:
Mother Teresa accepts the Lions Humanitarian Award.
1987:
The association amends its bylaws and invites women to become
members. Women are now the fastest growing segment of new
members.
1990:
Sight First is launched, eventually raising more than $415
million dollars to help eradicate major causes of blindness.
French Lion Michael Baury helps build an electric traction car
and races it at a Grand Prix event.
1995:
LCIF partners with The Carter Center, led by former US president
and Lion Jimmy Carter, to combat river blindness in Africa and
Latin America.
1999:
Nilofer Bakhtiar of Pakistan is elected as the first female
international director of the association.
2001:
LCIF and Special Olympics partner on Opening Eyes, an initiative
to screen the vision of Special Olympics athletes.
2002:
Lions charter two clubs in China, the nation’s first voluntary
membership group since the 1950s.
2003:
Through SightFirst, Lions and The Carter Center record their 50
millionth river blindness treatment.
2004:
Lions mobilize more than US$15 million for South Asia tsunami
relief following the disaster.
2007:
The Financial
Times ranks LCIF as best
worldwide, non-governmental organization with which to to
partner.
2010:
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation contributes US$5 million to
the One-Shot: One Life campaign, and Lions raise more than US$10
million to support measles efforts over the next two years.
2011:
LCIF awards its 10,000th grant – bringing the total amount
awarded to US$708 million. Lions help administer 148 millionth
dose of Mectizan to treat river blindness. Following the Japan
earthquake and tsunami, Lions mobilize over US$21 million for
relief efforts.
2013:
LCIF partners with the GAVI Alliance to protect millions of
children from measles and rubella. LCIF commits US$30 million
for immunizations, matched by US$30 million from UK Government
and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, bringing the total to US$60
million. Colombia eliminates river blindness with the support of
Lions and The Carter Center partnership.
2014:
Lions launch the Centennial Service Challenge a global
initiative to serve 100 million people around the world.
2017: Lions celebrate their 100th Anniversary and first century
of service!