Michael Brooks
Lions Clubs International is a secular, international service organization with a motto of We Serve. It was founded in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, by Melvin Jones, a Chicago business leader and Freemason. The organization has over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members worldwide. While it is not a Catholic organization, it is also not eligible to accept or solicit charitable donations as a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt social welfare organization.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of organization | The Lions Club is a secular organization. Discussion of religion is officially discouraged. |
| Focus | The Lions Club focuses on preventing and treating blindness. |
| Other causes | The Lions Club also sponsors programs to provide schoolbooks for children, feed the hungry, provide transportation for seniors, and raise money for disaster relief. |
| Membership | The Lions Club has over 1.4 million members in more than 46,000 clubs in over 200 countries. |
| Motto | "We Serve" |
| Founding | The Lions Club was founded in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, by Melvin Jones, a Chicago business leader and Freemason. |
| Expansion | The Lions Club expanded internationally in 1920 when a club was established in Windsor, Canada. |
| Headquarters | The Lions Club is currently headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. |
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What You'll Learn
Lions Clubs International is a secular organization
Lions Clubs International (LCI) is a secular organization. It is a separate entity from Freemasonry and the Catholic Church. LCI is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt social welfare organization that is not eligible to accept or solicit charitable donations.
The Association of Lions Clubs was established in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, by Melvin Jones, a Chicago business leader and Freemason. Jones wanted to expand the reach of his local business club and merge with similar groups across the country. The organization went international in 1920 when the Border Cities Lions Club was established in Windsor, Canada.
Today, Lions Clubs International is one of the world's largest service organizations, with 1.4 million members in more than 46,000 local clubs in over 200 countries. The organization's motto is "We Serve," and its main focus is on serving the community and the world. Local Lions Club programs include sight conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, and environmental issues, among others.
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is the charitable arm of LCI and is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charitable organization. LCIF provides grants to financially assist Lions districts with large-scale humanitarian projects and has awarded more than US$1.2 billion in grant funding since its inception in 1968.
While Lions Clubs International is a secular organization, it has supported the work of the United Nations since its inception in 1945 and was one of the non-governmental organizations invited to assist in drafting the United Nations Charter.
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The motto of the Lions Club is We Serve
The motto of the Lions Club, "We Serve", reflects the organisation's commitment to serving their communities and the world. Founded by Chicago business leader Melvin Jones in 1917, the club has since expanded to over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members worldwide.
Jones envisioned an organisation that went beyond business issues, promoting "unselfish service to others" as its main tenet. The motto, "We Serve", embodies this spirit of selflessness and dedication to the betterment of communities.
Lions Clubs International is a far-reaching organisation with a presence in more than 200 countries, including China, Ethiopia, and Iraq. The club's members, known as Lions and Leos, actively participate in a variety of service projects and humanitarian initiatives. They address a range of issues, from sight conservation and hearing and speech conservation to diabetes awareness, youth outreach, and environmental concerns.
One of the notable aspects of the Lions Club is its focus on serving the world. They have supported the United Nations since its inception in 1945 and actively contribute to international campaigns. For example, they endorsed the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases and implemented the SightFirst program to eradicate blindness due to trachoma. Additionally, they have provided disaster relief following events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
The Lions Club's motto, "We Serve", is brought to life through the dedication and impact of its members. Through their service projects, humanitarian initiatives, and global outreach, they embody the spirit of selflessness and community betterment that Melvin Jones envisioned over a century ago.
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The Lions Club was founded by Melvin Jones
Jones' group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed with his vision. After contacting similar groups across the country, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago. The Business Circle subsequently joined one of the invited groups, the "International Association of Lions Clubs". At a national convention held later that year in Dallas, Texas, the assembled groups adopted a Constitution, By-Laws, Code of Ethics, and an Emblem, and established “unselfish service to others" as a main tenet. Woods was elected as the first president, and Jones was selected as the organization's secretary-treasurer.
The Association of Lions Clubs became international in 1920 with the establishment of the Border Cities Lions Club in Windsor, Canada. At the time, Lions were active in 23 U.S. states with a total of 6,400 members. The name "Lions Clubs International" has been used since then, and the organization subsequently evolved as an international service organization under the guidance of Jones as secretary.
Today, Lions Clubs International is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, and has over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members (including the youth wing Leo) in more than 200 geographic areas around the world. The organization's motto is "We Serve", and its members plan and participate in a variety of service projects, including donations to hospices and community campaigns. Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is a tax-exempt public charitable organization that provides grants to empower the service of Lions Clubs members and has awarded more than $1.2 billion in grants since its inception in 1968.
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The Lions Club has over 46,000 clubs and 1.4 million members worldwide
The Lions Club, or Lions Clubs International, is a large organisation with a presence in numerous countries. As of January 2020, it had over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members worldwide, including the youth wing Leo. The association was established in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, by Melvin Jones, a Chicago business leader and Freemason. Jones was a 38-year-old business leader who encouraged his local business club to reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world.
The Lions Club motto is "We Serve", and it has supported the work of the United Nations since that organisation's inception in 1945. The Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is a public charitable organisation that provides grants to financially assist Lions districts with large-scale humanitarian projects. The foundation has awarded more than US$1.2 billion in grant funding since its inception in 1968.
The Lions Club has a presence in over 200 countries and geographic areas, with famous members including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Sir Edmund Hillary, a member of the Remuera Lions Club in New Zealand. Membership in the Lions Club is by "invitation only", as mandated by its constitution and by-laws. All member applicants need a sponsor who is an active member of good standing in the club they intend to join.
The Lions Club's local programs include sight conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, and environmental issues. The club also raises money for international causes, such as reacting to events like the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan.
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The Lions Club focuses on preventing and treating blindness
The Lions Club, or Lions Clubs International, is a secular organisation with clubs in nearly every country on Earth. It was established in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, by Chicago business leader and Freemason Melvin Jones. The organisation expanded internationally in 1920 when a club opened in Windsor, Canada.
In 1990, Lions Clubs International introduced SightFirst, a programme that enables Lions, healthcare providers, and partner organisations around the world to fight the major causes of preventable and reversible blindness. It also assists those who are blind or visually impaired. More than 544 million people have been impacted by SightFirst grants, and SightFirst has played a major role in helping restore, improve, and preserve the vision of millions around the world. Since 1990, over $389 million has been approved for over 1,461 projects in 118 countries, leading to 9.8 million cataract surgeries, the building of 1,719 eye centres and training institutions, and the training of 2.66 million eye care and community health workers.
The Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) provides grants that empower the service of Lions Clubs International members. Since its inception in 1968, LCIF has awarded more than $1.2 billion in grant funding. LCIF is the only foundation to empower the compassionate service of Lions across the globe, with 100% of donations benefiting grants and programs. The LCIF Vision Grant supports Lion-led service activities that fight blindness and preventable vision loss and/or assist people who are blind and visually impaired in underserved communities. From July 2024 to January 2025, LCIF awarded 21 vision-related grants totaling $3,242,886.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Lions Club is not a Catholic organization. It is a secular organization and discussion of religion is officially discouraged.
The Lions Club is an international service organization focusing on preventing and treating blindness. The organization has over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members worldwide.
Examples of Lions Club projects include donations to hospices, community campaigns such as "Message in a Bottle", and raising money for disaster relief.
Most Lions Clubs meet once or twice a month to plan projects and discuss club business. Membership in a Lions Club is by invitation only. To express interest in joining, contact a member through the organization's website or email [email protected].
