HISTORY OF LIONS INTERNATIONAL AND LIONS IN WAUKEGAN
LIONS INTERNATIONAL was founded in 1917 by Melvin Jones, a prominent leader in the Chicago business community, who wanted to encourage business clubs to support efforts to address social needs in their communities and around the world.
LIONS INTERNATIONAL is now the world's largest service organization with 48,000 Clubs in over 200 countries. The LIONS motto is: "WE SERVE". The LIONS acronym stands for Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation's Safety.
Most of the work of LIONS INTERNATIONAL goes to raising money for worthy causes and supporting clubs and leadership development. A significant focus of LIONS INTERNATIONAL has been their work with the blind and visually impaired, which began in 1925 when Helen Keller addressed their convention and charged Lions to be "Knights for the Blind".
WAUKEGAN LIONS CLUB
As the spirit for community service grew across America, the desire to form a Lions Club in Waukegan was promoted by influential members of the community, leadiing to the chartering of the "Waukegan Lions Club" in 1924. Like LIONS INTERNATIONAL, Waukegan LIONS gave emphasis to serving the needs of the blind and visually impaired.
Early Chapter guidelines specified that members should represent the diverse businesses in the community, such that 'no more than two members from any given industry our business type' in town would be admitted. The Club met evenings and provided inspiration and services for many years to the Waukegan community until disbanding in 2010.
LITTLE FORT LIONS CLUB
In 1971, several Waukegan Lions Club members suggested that it would be advantageous to form a second Lions Club which would meet at noon to accommodate prospective members unable to attend evening meetings. With support from the Waukegan Lions Club, and the diligent efforts of Lions Leslie Morris, Mickey Mann, Abby Rose, and George Kapheim, the WAUKEGAN LITTLE FORT LIONS CLUB was chartered on January 22, 1973 with 30 members.
The two clubs agreed to divide their efforts to serve the blind and visually impaired, with the Waukegan Lions focussing on adults, while Little Fort Lions would work through the school system to help children and youth. Charter members Bob Abbott (for whom Abbott Middle School was named) and Bill Vickers, teachers with Waukegan District 60 schools, were invaluable in helping Little Fort Lions meet this mission. Early on, Little Fort Lions created an annual Christmas holiday party event for visually impaired students (later including hearing impaired). For several years both Clubs worked together on fundraising efforts. Later, Little Fort Lions raised monies with Bingo at various veterans halls, an annual STEAK N' EGGS Breakfast, and October CANDY DAYS.
Currently, Little Fort Lions continue to serve the Waukegan community by providing eye and hearing exams, glasses and hearing aids to the needy of all ages, sight and hearing amplification equipment to schools, school supplies, tuition for high school students to attend the annual WORLD AFFAIRS SEMINAR at Carroll University, and monetary support to many local (as well as state and international) charitable efforts. We also support natural disaster relief efforts, community environmental projects, community food pantries, CANINE COMPANIONS for sight impaired individuals, CAMP LIONS for visually impaired youth, and programs to address preventable blindness and diabetes, among others.
Little Fort Lions established the "Red Carrison Humanitarian Award" to honor one of its founding members for his caring and compassionate work. The award is given annually to an individual who has extended him or her self to help others and the Waukegan community.
When it comes to meeting challenges, our response is simple: "WE SERVE".
