Annual Projects:
Veteran’s Day Parade Judging
Each year, club members are entrusted with the very important task of judging the Veteran’s Day Parade entries. Twelve to fifteen members participate by judging floats, marching units, horse groups, antique cars, and miscellaneous entries. Trophies for 1st and 2nd place are awarded for each category.
Meals for Mediators
During the annual high school mediators training, the club purchases, cooks and serves a hamburger lunch (with all the trimmings) for 30-35 school mediators and their adult coaches.
Scholarships
Over the past six years the club has donated $14,850 to 52 recipients for educational scholarships. The scholarships have been provided to William Buckley Elementary School in honor of the late William Buckley, a dedicated Lion; to Porterville College in honor of Past District Governor Lion Hank Brovelli; and to the four local high schools.
Valley Adult Day Services
Each year the club purchases, prepares, and serves a sphagetti dinner for the annual Rock-A-Thon fundraiser estalished to assist their day care services to adults with serious health issues.
Construction Projects:
Porterville Museum
The Porterville Museum was established in 1965 in the old Southern Pacific Depot which was constructed in 1913. The Museum has a goal of preserving the history and culture of Southern Tulare County, making it available to the public and local students. The Porterville Breakfast Lions have been involved in several projects at the museum in an effort to maintain the artifacts it preserves. Most recently, in 2016, the Lions Club added a structure to cover the outdoor saw mill and forestry equipment display.
The Porterville Sheltered Workshop
The Porterville Sheltered Workshop provides services to over 600 adults with developmental disabilities in Southern Tulare County in over ten different departments and at five different facilities. The first building constructed for the Porterville Sheltered Workshop was completed in 1966 by a contingent of Breakfast Lions with assistance from many local businesses and individuals. The Lions donated $14,600 to complete the construction and the building was officially dedicated on December 18, 1966. The Porterville Sheltered Workshop has continued to grow in its commitment to both the clients and the community it serves.
Fair Stage
In 1972 the club constructed a mobile stage for the Porterville fairgrounds. The stage was used until the location of the fair was moved in 2010.
Orange Avenue Park
The club constructed the “Lions Mini Park” on Orange Avenue in Porterville in 1973 making use and beautifying a small vacant City lot.
Lions Pavilion
In the early ‘80’s several dedicated lions constructed the original Breakfast Lions Pavilion at Veterans Park. By 2010 the roof and wooden members of the pavilion had deteriorated and a replacement was desperately needed. The Lions partnered with the City of Porterville to demolish the original structure to ground level. With a new design in hand, the City Parks Division provided the labor and skill for construction and the Breakfast Lions donated $4,830 to purchase the materials.
At the ribbon cutting, April 26, 2011, the mayor stated, “This is another excellent example of people helping people in the City of Porterville. Thanks to the Breakfast Lions this facility will serve many generations to come.”
