February 1, 2019Tribal ShawlTopeka Sunflower Lion Daniel Martinez presents International President Yngvadottir with a Native American shawl featuring his tribal seal at the USA/Canada Forum in Ohio. Martinez belongs to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and lives on the Potawatomi reservation near Topeka, Kansas. It is a high honor for a woman to receive a shawl from their […] Continue Reading
March 1, 2019Bryan Adams Thanks LionsMusician Bryan Adams publicly thanked the Lions club in Ottawa, Canada, for bringing his family Christmas dinner when he was a child in the ‘70s. His name is added to the list of celebrities— including Stevie Wonder—impacted as children by the many kindnesses of Lions. Continue Reading
March 1, 2019Following the MelodyLions Clubs International rocked during the 2019 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. International President Yngvadottir and her husband were joined on the float by the husband and daughters of late International Director Karla Harris, who was featured in the video that inspired this year’s float theme, “Rockin’ The Vest”. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary […] Continue Reading
April 1, 2019100th Birthday Party Turns into WeddingLions Judy Goldman (New York Ann Sullivan-White Plains Lions Club, in Eastchester, New York) and Mannie Corman (Brooklyn Bridge Lions Club in Brooklyn, New York) surprised more than 160 members of their friends and family on Labor Day, 2018, when they turned a centennial birthday celebration into a wedding ceremony. The two, who have a […] Continue Reading
May 1, 2019Helen Keller is back in the Texas school curriculumPast International President Jimmy Ross (2006-2007) and dozens of Lions in Texas put pen to paper protesting a proposed change to the Texas school curriculum that would eliminate Helen Keller from lesson plans. The preliminary decision by the Texas State Board of Education in September caused a stir among the public, and Lions spoke up […] Continue Reading
May 1, 2019Trailblazer Gives Big Gift to PosterityLion Ruth Molenaar, vice district governor 16-N, recently received the Cultural Preservation Award from the Newark Public Library for her donation of archival material, articles, and photos from La Tribuna, the largest and oldest Spanish language newspaper published in New Jersey. La Tribuna was founded in 1962 in Newark, N.J. by Carlos Bidot, a Cuban […] Continue Reading
June 1, 2019Guide Dogs Lead Marathon Runner Across Finish LineRunner Thomas Panek made history on March 17, 2019 after becoming the first blind person to run in the United Airlines New York City Half Marathon without a human guide. Panek, the president and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, ran with three Labrador retrievers that took turns in guiding him as he completed […] Continue Reading
June 1, 2019Lions Gather at United Nations to Discuss Protecting the Health of the World’s ChildrenLions and Leos from across the globe gathered at Lions Day with the United Nations in New York, New York on March 9, 2019 for discussion on the theme, “Protecting our Future: The Health of our Children.” Lions joined leaders such as Riva Greenberg of the International Diabetes Federation and Dr. N. Menabde of the […] Continue Reading
July 1, 2019LION Magazine Reducing Print IssuesIn April, the International Board of Directors voted to require all official editions of LION Magazine to print at least two issues per year beginning in July 2020, which means that LION magazines around the world will soon be printing fewer issues. We will print four issues of this edition during the 2019-2020 Lion year, […] Continue Reading
July 1, 2019How One Essay Inspired Texas Club to Quintuple Scholarship FundsThe original idea was that the Zapata Lions Club in Zapata, Texas, would fund three college scholarships worth US$1,000 each to the winners of an essay contest for area Leos. Then they read the essays. The Zapata Lions were so moved by Valedictorian Gerardo Gonzalez’s essay about life as an immigrant and DACA student—fleeing violence […] Continue Reading
September 1, 2019Calling All Lioness ClubsThe Lioness Bridge Program, established to help encourage Lioness clubs to join the Lions family, will be ending on June 30, 2021. Between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2021, clubs that decide to convert can have any number of members, and charter fees will be waived. In addition, all Lionesses who join in this […] Continue Reading
September 1, 2019Golden ticket winner prompts conversation about disabilitiesOn May 28, Kodi Lee, 22, received a golden ticket on the season premiere of “America’s Got Talent.” The ticket is a fast-track to the show’s live-audition rounds. Lee won the judges and audience over with his rendition of “A Song For You,” by Donny Hathaway. The clip of his audition went viral, attracting more […] Continue Reading
October 1, 2019Activist Honored for Work with Survivors of Wartime Sexual ViolenceIn July, human rights activist and Nobel Peace laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege was the recipient of the highest honor Lions Clubs International bestows. The gynecologist who fights on behalf of survivors of wartime sexual violence was honored at the 102nd international convention in Milan with the Humanitarian Award. He dedicated the award to the victims […] Continue Reading
October 1, 2019LEGO Braille Bricks Put Inclusive Play at Your FingertipsNow parents of blind and visually impaired children will also need to watch their step: a new kind of LEGO brick is set for release in 2020. The Lego Group, the Danish toy company that makes the popular building block, has repurposed their hallmark knobs into braille dots. “With thousands of audiobooks and computer programs […] Continue Reading
December 1, 2019All-Woman Climbing Expedition Raises Funds for SchoolOn August 6, 2019, seven women Lions from a ten-woman team reached the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania. They have so far raised US$42,000 so far for their efforts, and all donations will go directly to fund a school for children in Kenya. The Kilimanjaro for Children project (“Kili for Kids”) was inspired by […] Continue Reading
December 1, 2019A Fresh Face to Lead Arizona LionsIsabel Ticlo, who was crowned Miss Arizona in 2018, has added a new title to her name: President. She has taken over the reins of the Chandler Lions Club in Chandler, Arizona. The long-time Lion has been volunteering with the club since she was a Leo in high school. “It was like hanging out with […] Continue Reading
January 1, 2020Lions Clubs Now Prominently Featured in Trudeau Family Home and Prime Minister OfficeWhen Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, wife of the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, spoke at the Lions of Canada New Voices Symposium in Ottawa in May of 2019, Lions had expected the prime minister to attend as well. He was unable to make it and therefore unable to receive the Peace Plaque the Lions had prepared to […] Continue Reading
January 1, 2020Lions Recognized as Partners with Mobility Worldwide in Serving the World’s Leg-DisabledLions Clubs International was recognized for its role as a major distribution partner by Mobility Worldwide in serving the needs of the leg-handicapped of the world as the organization celebrated its 25th Anniversary at its annual meeting in Austin, Texas, September 26-28, 2019. Founded in 1994, Mobility Worldwide (formerly known as the Pet Project) has […] Continue Reading
April 1, 2020PID Alexander Steps into 1st VP RoleThe International Board of Directors appointed Past International Director Douglas X. Alexander to the office of International First Vice President to fulfill the responsibilities of the office due to the passing of Vice President Judge Haynes H. Townsend in December. Vice President Alexander served as international director from 2010 to 2012, and he is a […] Continue Reading
April 1, 202050th Anniversary of Earth DayApril 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Established in 1970, the first Earth Day mobilized 20 million Americans and is credited with launching the modern environmental movement. It is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event and has led to many landmark environmental laws. In 2016, the United Nations chose Earth […] Continue Reading
April 1, 2020Mural Increases Visibility of LionsA new mural on the side of the Jefferson Township Lions’ clubhouse and banquet hall in Mount Cobb, Pennsylvania, has been drawing traffic. The vibrant mural depicts a lion’s head with a full, brightly- colored mane showcasing the many local services, landmarks, and volunteer projects that make their community great. Gabrielle Edwards, a high school […] Continue Reading
July 10, 20202019-2020 Peace Poster and Essay Contest WinnersWhile the world has been turned upside down with a global health crisis, the annual Peace Poster Contest seems even more relevant. Continue Reading
July 22, 2020Welcome to the New Digital LIONOver the past year the LION magazine publishing model has undergone some changes. We have transitioned from publishing six print issues and five digital-only issues to a rolling publishing model that enables us to publish stories regularly. We will still send you two print issues per year, so you can get your fill of all […] Continue Reading
July 23, 2020We Stand TogetherLions Clubs International joined Kiwanis International, Optimist International, and Rotary International to issue a joint statement to deliver hope and comfort during the 2020 global health crisis. Continue Reading
January 12, 2021Christmas Tree Sales SurgeOne bit of good news ended our pandemic year. Sales of live Christmas trees on Lion lots were brisk as families looked for safe outdoor holiday activities and ways to keep spirits up. For the Lions clubs with tree lots, more sales means more money for community projects in 2021. According to the Michigan Christmas […] Continue Reading
January 12, 2021Annual Leo Video Contest Showcases Young TalentThe Binan Leo Club in the Philippines is this year’s top winner of the annual Leo Video Contest. It is the 6th year of the annual contest, which celebrates the many varieties of Leos and their service projects since the inception of the Leo Club Program 63 years ago. This year Leos were asked to […] Continue Reading
July 22, 2021Peace PrevailsIn a year of pain and heartbreak for many, the annual Lions Clubs Peace Poster Contest proves that peace does find a way. Despite global lockdowns, clubs organized and children created elaborate drawings, many featuring healthcare workers, to share their idea of peace with the world. The 2020-2021 grand prize winner is Yue Zheng, 13 […] Continue Reading
July 22, 2021LDUN Prompts Lion Sing-AlongLions Day with the United Nations (LDUN) has been an important Lion tradition for 43 years, taking the opportunity to showcase Lions’ commitment to peace and service that transcends politics and borders. This year was no different, even if it was just a little different. More than 5,600 Lions and leaders from 140 countries registered […] Continue Reading
July 22, 2021Pioneering Geneticist Named Honorary LionAs part of their annual Tribute Day, Arthur Riggs, Ph.D was invited by the Lions Club of Montebello to be an honorary member for his extraordinary contribution and incredible advancements in the fight against diabetes. In 1978 Riggs co-led the team that laid the groundwork for the development of the first synthetic human insulin with […] Continue Reading
January 31, 2022International Board of Directors Visits Catalina Island for Day of ServiceOn November 2, 2021, the International Board of Directors took a day off from their annual meeting in Long Beach for a day of community service on Catalina Island. The board is comprised of members from all constitutional areas, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, USA, Canada and India. They partnered with the Avalon Lions Club […] Continue Reading
January 31, 2022Listen to the Greatest Stories on EarthA team of dedicated Lions in Georgia record themselves reading the full print issues and make the recordings available to anyone who needs (or wants) them. Lion Stacie Court, a member of the Athens Lions Club, has been overseeing the project for 15 years. However, now that a majority of the articles are only available […] Continue Reading
January 31, 2022Lions Day with the United Nations is BackOn March 11, 2022, global leaders will convene with Lions at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City to discuss the important work being done by Lions and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This year’s theme is “NGO’s Impact on Global Health” and will feature a panel discussion along with the announcement of the International […] Continue Reading
January 31, 2022Tema Supreme Leos Reign SupremeEvery December, we celebrate Leos and invite Leo clubs from around the world to submit an entry in the Annual Leo Video Contest. This year, to celebrate their club’s unique story, we asked Leos to create a video that shows what they’re most proud of in their club’s #LeoLegacy. We received 44 videos from 20 […] Continue Reading
July 29, 2022Lions Clubs International Honors Dr. Helena Ndume with Humanitarian AwardFor her dedication to humanitarian service and medical contributions to the world, Dr. Helena Ndume, Chief of Ophthalmology at Windhoek Central Hospital in Namibia, and partner with SEE International, was presented with the 2022 Lions Humanitarian Award during the 104th Lions Clubs International Convention in Montreal, CA, on June 28, 2022. Forced to flee her […] Continue Reading
July 29, 2022We Are ConnectedAnja Rožen, 13, from Ravne na Koroškem, Slovenia, is the Grand Prize Winner of the 2021-2022 Peace Poster Contest. “Peace is very important,” said Rožen. “There is inner peace, which is finding happiness and contentment no matter how stressful your life is. Peace is also freedom from violence. When there is peace, nations and the […] Continue Reading
July 29, 2022Walking the WalkLions in District 35-N (Florida, Bahamas, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao) felt the 35th anniversary of women in Lions deserved some flair. They designed a commemorative pin that they say “represents feminism but also strength in leadership, professionalism, and service to Lions Clubs International.” Says Second Vice District Governor Jane Colona, “I challenge you to take […] Continue Reading