Lions are more than 1.4 million strong ... men and women . . . young and old. You will find us in more than 180 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.
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.
We are the youngest major social service 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.
And, with a new generation of enlightened members, Lions clubs are working smarter and faster with greater commitment than ever before.
We are the Lions ... and, we serve.
For more than 70 years, Lions have been recognized throughout the world for their service 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.
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 launched SightFirst in 1990 as an aggressive attack on the rising tide of blindness around the world. Forty million people are blind, yet 80 percent of all blindness is preventable or reversible.
Developed as a bold response to the World Health Organization's prediction that the number of people who are blind would double in 25 years, SightFirst works to close the gap between existing health care services and those that are needed.
Topping more than $140 million in funds raised through a major, three-year fundraising drive, Lions have initiated SightFirst programs in more than 40 countries on five continents. Lions have joined with governments, ophthalmic professionals and other organizations to help establish long term solutions in health care infrastructure, training of health care professionals, treatment and public education.
Incorporated in 1968, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) is the charitable arm of the organization. Through gifts to LClF, 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.
LCIF has approved more than $200 million in grants. This includes grants for the SightFirst Program, humanitarian services, disaster relief and vocational assistance.
The foundation receives contributions from Lions and others, reaffirming the strong belief that many people working together can achieve more than individuals acting alone.
Over the years, Lions have developed programs that help young people live up to their potential - programs that stimulate an awareness of what is going on in the world around them:
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.
Membership in a Lions club is by invitation. Clubs meet at least twice a month and elect officers annually. The association is governed by an international board of directors. Fach year more than 20,000 Lions attend their international convention to discuss new ideas, share experiences and reaffirm friendship and fellowship.