Lions Clubs International History Timeline

 1917: Association founded in Chicago, Illinois, USA on June 7 by Melvin Jones.

1920:    Association became international with the formation of the first club in                Canada.

1925:    Helen Keller challenges the Lions to become her “Knights of the blind in the                Crusade against blindness.”

1931:     First club in Latin America chartered.

1945:    Association helps from the Non-Governmental Organizations section of the                United Nations.

1947:    First club in Australia chartered.

1948:    First club in Europe chartered.

1953:    First club in Asia chartered.

               First club in Africa chartered.

1987:     Lions Clubs International becomes the first service club to admit  women as                members.

1990:     SightFirst, a major blindness prevention initiative, is launched.