1917: The Beginning

Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman and Freemason, invites business clubs from around the U.S. to a meeting to address issues from WW1 and rapid industrialization. The Association of Lions Clubs is formed. Three years later, the Association of Lions Clubs becomes international when the Border Cities Lions Club in Windsor, Canada is established.

 

1925: Knights of the Blind

Helen Keller addresses Lions at the International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. She famously challenges Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." This begins a century-long mission—impacting hundreds of millions of lives through vision-related work.

 

1949: The Palos Lions Club is founded.

The Palos Lions Club starts with ~100 members and grows to more than 200 at which time some members split off into the Worth Lions Club and the Orland Park Lions Club. (All three clubs remain close, supporting each other and commonly attending each other’s events.)

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Today: Our Purpose

The Palos Lions Club’s purpose is to support and raise money for the youth, the blind, local families and non-for-profit organizations in the Palos community as well as larger NGOs. We raise over $25,000 a year which we distribute as student scholarships, gift cards & food baskets for local families, First Responder recognitions, and money to organizations such as The Center in Palos Park, Heartland Service Dogs, Leader Dogs, the Crisis Center Auxiliary, Radio Lighthouse, Special Olympics and children’s hospitals. 

(Learn more about our recipients...)

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Our Christmas Tree sale is our largest fundraiser. We also raise money with raffle tickets and smaller events. (More about our fundraisers...)

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