| Who
We Are... |
 |
Lions are more than 1.4 million
strong...men and women... young and old. You will find us in more
than 190 countries and geographical areas from the hinterlands of
Australia and Brazil to thriving urban centers like New York City
and Milan. We speak dozens of languages and vary in nature and customs.
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We share a common spirit. Since our beginning
in 1917, we have been united in a single cause: helping those less
fortunate. We are tackling the tough problems like blindness and drug
abuse as well as diabetes awareness--and finding help and training
for the deaf, disabled, underprivileged and the elderly. In fact,
whatever the community needs to make life better, we're there to help. |
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We are the youngest service club community
based organization, yet we have grown to be the world's largest. We
are succeeding because we have embraced all those committed to building
a brighter future for the world and for themselves. |
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And, with a new generation of enlightened members,
Lions clubs are working smarter and faster with greater commitment
than ever before. |
| What
We Do... |
| Bringing
Rays Of Light To Thousands |
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For more than 85 years, lions have been recognized
throughout the world for their services to the blind and visually
impaired. Back in 1925, when Helen Keller
challenged the Lions to become "Knights
of the Blind," she could not have possibly imagined the impact
of Lions commitment to blindness prevention. |
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Bringing rays of light to the darkness of countless
people around the world, Lions have established the majority of eye
banks worldwide, funded ground-breaking research on leading causes
of blindness, organized eyeglass recycling efforts and helped hundreds
of thousands of visually impaired people develop the skills to live
productive lives. |
| Lions
Clubs International Foundation: Making A World Of Difference |
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Incorporated in 1968, Lions Clubs International
Foundation (LCIF) is the charitable arm of the organization. Through
gifts to LCIF, Lions serve a broader community than would otherwise
be possible. Lions have reached out across all borders to purchase
equipment for an eye bank in western Korea... to construct a hospice
for children with disabilities in France... and to fund treatment
for diabetic eye disease in Newfoundland, Canada. |
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LCIF has approved more than $280 million in
grants. This includes grants for the SightFirst Program, humanitarian
services, disaster relief and vocational assistance. |
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The foundation receives contributions from
Lions and others, reaffirming the strong belief that many people working
together can achieve more than individuals working alone. |
| Serving
Young People |
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Leo clubs offer young people ages 12-28 a chance
to serve their communities and experience the camaraderie of their
peers. Sponsored by local Lions clubs, Leo clubs have an opportunity
to make an impact on their communities and learn how they can continue
to make a difference for the rest of their lives. |
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Through the Lions International Youth Exchange
program, 3000 -4000 youngsters travel yearly to a foreign country,
where they live with host families and experience cultures different
from their own. |
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Lions clubs and districts sponsor and operate
international youth camps to bring together young people from different
countries. In addition, each summer, thousand of disadvantaged and
disabled youths -for whom summer camp would otherwise be just a dream
-attend Lions-sponsored camps. |
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Lions can reward the volunteer and leadership
efforts of youth with two youth awards. At the club level, Lions Young
leaders in Service Awards honor young people ages 12-18 who have completed
50 to 100 hours of community service. At the district and multiple
district levels, Young Ambassadors of the 21st Century Award provides
a means of recognizing young people ages 15-19 who excel in community
service, leadership, public speaking and academics. |
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In an effort to educate children about the
concepts of peace and international understanding, Lions Clubs International
sponsors the International Peace Poster Contest. Using only pictures,
children -ages 11 to 13- from around the world are challenged to depict
their personal interpretations of world peace. |
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The Lions-Quest "Skills for Growing"
program for elementary school students and the "Skills for Adolescence"
curriculum for middle school students and "Skills for Action"
for high school students have helped millions of young people around
the world acquire the skills and self esteem they need to live productive,
happy, drug-free lives. |
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To provide teens with the tools they need to
get started on their own community service projects, Lions created
"The Future is Ours...So Now What?", a complete in-school
program that provides motivation and guidelines for teens to become
volunteers. |
| Reaffirming
Fellowship Through Membership |
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Through membership in a Lions club, people
not only help those in need, but have opportunities to develop personal
friendships and gain valuable leadership skills. |
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Membership in a Lions club is by invitation.
Clubs meet at least twice a month and elect officers annually. An
international board of directors governs the association. Each year,
more than 20,000 Lions attend their international convention to discuss
new ideas, share experiences and reaffirm friendship and fellowship. |
