Freeport Lions Club

We Serve - Nearly 1.35 million Lions members in 197 countries and geographic areas answer the needs that challenge the communities of the world. Lions tackle tough problems like blindness, drug abuse prevention and diabetes awareness.

Global neighbors - Lions members—men and women—provide immediate and sustained relief in time of disaster and offer long-term assistance to those in need. Lions collect and recycle eyeglasses for distribution in developing countries and treat millions of people to prevent river blindness.

Community Leaders - Lions improve the quality of life in their local communities by building parks, supporting hospitals and establishing water treatment programs. For nearly 90 years, whenever there is a need at home or around the world, Lions members are there to help—We Serve.

Vision Programs - Today, in addition to their international SightFirst program, Lions extend their commitment to sight conservation through countless local efforts.

Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired. This service began when Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness" during the association's 1925 international convention. Click here to read her inspiring speech.

Lions are also involved in a variety of other activities to improve their communities and help people in need, such as assisting the hearing impaired, providing diabetes awareness and education materials, working on environmental projects and developing youth programs.

Lions Opportunities for Youth

The mission of Lions Opportunities for Youth is: To provide the young people of the world with opportunities for achievement, learning, contribution and service, individually and collectively, through sponsorship of activities identified as best practices in the field of youth development.

Other Programs

Since Lions clubs were established, Lions have been dedicated to giving back to their communities. Lions clubs provide community parks, playgrounds, senior citizen programs and medical care for those in need.

Lions remain committed to improving the lives of those less fortunate—around the world and right at home.

Lions Club History

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, 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 code of ethics were approved.

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.

In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions international convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. She challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." From this time, Lions clubs have been actively involved in service to the blind and visually impaired.

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$202 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 Clubs International is 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 1.3 million men and women in approximately 45,000 clubs located in 202 countries and geographic areas.

View a multimedia presentation on The History of Lions Clubs International, learn about the history of the association name and symbol or visit the Lions Learning Center to view more presentations.

Becoming a Member

Lions club members are men and women who strive to make a difference in their local community as well as in communities worldwide. Their volunteer efforts go beyond the support of vision care, to addressing unmet health and education needs worldwide.

Why should I become a Lion?

As a Lions club member, you can:

make a difference everyday in your community
provide support locally or reach out internationally
grow personally and professionally by participating in our programs, community service projects and events
have an impact on local and international humanitarian issues
develop relationships with both local and international community and business leaders
have access to membership discounts and services.

Interested in becoming a member?
Membership in a Lions club is by invitation from a local club. If you are interested in membership, use the club locator to contact a local Lions club. Tell the local club you are considering membership and want to attend a meeting to learn more. Then, ask a member for a membership application.

Can't find a club near you?
Fill out the Prospective Member Form. Lions Clubs International will forward your contact information to a club in your area.

Find out more about what Lions do. Read the publications, I am a Lion (ME37) and Lions Make a Difference (ME40). Find out how families fit into Lions clubs. View our full list of member discounts and services.

For additional questions, e-mail the Membership Operations Department or call 630-571-5466, ext. 340.