About the Lions – Our Mission, Our History,
Our Worldwide Network

The International Association of Lions Clubs began as the dream of Chicago businessman Melvin Jones. He believed that local business clubs should expand their horizons from purely professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large.

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. 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, in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objectives and code of ethics were approved.

Melvin Jones, the founder of Lions and the architect of the club as a service organization, died in 1961. His philosophy of life was embodied in his statement, “You can’t get very far until you start doing something for somebody else.” This philosophy lives on in our motto: “We Serve.”

Among the objects adopted in those early years was one that read, “No club shall hold out the financial betterment of its members as its object.” This call for unselfish service to others remains one of the association’s main tenets. Just three years after its formation, the association became international when the first club in Canada was established in 1920. Major international expansion continued as clubs were established, particularly throughout Europe, Asia and Africa during the 1950s and ’60s. Broadening its international role, Lions Clubs International helped the United Nations form the Non-Governmental Organizations sections in 1945 and continues to hold consultative status with the U.N.

In 1990, Lions launched its most aggressive sight preservation effort, SightFirst. The US$143.5 million program strives to rid the world of preventable and reversible blindness by supporting desperately needed health care services.

In addition to sight programs, Lions are committed to providing services for youth. Lions clubs also work to improve the environment, build homes for the disabled, support diabetes education, conduct hearing programs and, through their foundation, provide disaster relief around the world.

Lions Clubs International has grown to include nearly 1.35 million men and women in approximately 45,000 clubs located in 200 countries and geographic areas.

View a multimedia presentation on The History of Lions Clubs International, which is part of the Lions Learning Center. Visit the Lions Learning Center for directions on viewing the presentation or to view more presentations.