History

Melvin Jones

Founder of Lions Clubs International

Melvin Jones was born on January 13, 1879, in Fort Thomas, Arizona. He was the son of a United States Army captain.

Melvin Jones made his home in Chicago, Illinois, and in 1913 formed his own insurance agency.

He soon joined the Business Circle, a businessmen's luncheon group, and was soon elected secretary. This group was one of many at that time devoted solely to promoting the monetary interests of their membership. Because of their limited appeal, they were destined to disappear. Melvin Jones, however, had other plans.

That if these men," he asked, "who are successful because of their drive, intelligence and ambition, were to put their talents to work improving their communities?" Thus, at his invitation, delegates from men's clubs met in Chicago to lay the groundwork for such an organization and on June 7, 1917, Lions Clubs International was born.

Melvin Jones eventually abandoned his insurance agency to devote himself full time of the Lions Clubs International Headquarters in Chicago. It was under his dynamic leadership that Lions Clubs earned the prestige necessary to attract civic-minded members.

The association's founder was also recognized as a leader by those outside the association. One of his greatest honors was in 1945 when he represented Lions Clubs International as a consultant in San Francisco, California, at the organization of the United Nations.

Timeline

1917

1920

Text Box: Becoming “Knights of the Blind”

Helen Keller addresses Lions at the International Convention where she famously challenges Lions to become

1925

1945

1957

1968

Text Box: Establishing Our Foundation

Lions Clubs International Foundation is created, with the mission

1990

2017

FUQUAY VARINA LIONS CLUB has provided services for 83 YEARS TO THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED members of our LOCAL COMMUNITY.

The Fuquay Varina Lions Club (FVLC) is a local non-profit service organization & is a member of the NC Lions Club & Lions Club International.

Nearly half a billion people served worldwide:Vision-26.2 million, Environment-65.8 million, Children Cancer-10.6 million, Diabetes-21.9 million, & Hunger-71.3 million.

There are 1.4 million Lions in 49,000 Clubs worldwide. LCI was founded in 1917 in Chicago. FVLC was founded in 1941 & has raised over 1.3 million to help serve our core mission & the Fuquay Varina community.

The Fuquay Varina Lions Club Foundation, Inc. is a public charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our EIN is 88-3551656. For your convenience, you may make your check payable to Fuquay Varina Lions Club Foundation, Inc. and note in the memo field the category you would like the gift used to support. The FV Lions Club is not eligible to accept or solicit charitable donations.

"Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Mark Twain

“If you want to change the future, you must change what you’re doing in the present." Mark Twain

Funds raised help members of our community in many ways:

Eye exams & glasses, collecting old glasses, repairing & recycling tens of thousands of pairs.
Free Eye Screening through KidSight (6 months to seven years of age).
Provide Meals for local Read & Feed events, an innovative tutoring program.
Recognize our local first responders.
Audiometers to FV High School, Banks Road Elementary School, FV Elementary School & Lincoln Heights Magnet elementary. Impacting 45,000 students.
Funding for Fuquay Varina residents (blind and/or visually impaired to attend Camp Dogwood for a week.
Scholarships

Please consider providing financial support to ensure the success of our programs. As an acknowledgement of your generosity, you or your business will be listed as a contributing sponsor on our website. Your tax- deductible contribution will stay in our local community.

If you are looking for an organization to join, I can’t think of a better group than the Lions Club.

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.