What is a Lion ?
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest community service organization with clubs around the world.
Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 205 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.
Lions participate in a vast variety of projects important to their communities. These projects range from cleaning up local parks to providing supplies to victims of natural disasters.
See Below for Simcoe Lions Projects & Accomplishments
Projects & Accomplishments
The Simcoe Lions Club achievements continued throughout the years and total more than $1,000,000 in donations. Our most recent pledge in the fall of 2000 is for $150,000 to the Norfolk General Hospital Emergency Wing renovations. The following list illustrates a small sample of our work over the past seven decades:-
Norfolk General Hospital 1937 through to the 1980’s. Over $66,000 for various initiatives & equipment.
Children & Youth Programs 1931 – 1996 including Lions Quest (an international program to help youth cope with life). Over $174,000 sponsoring baseball, hockey, softball, soccer, darts, bowling, archery and basketball as well as school trips, bursaries, effective speaking & science forums.
Talbot Street Arena 1945 -1949 & 1991 – 1995. $7,500 & $200,000 respectively, for renovations.
Simcoe Recreation Centre 1969 – 1975. $75,000 for construction.
Golden Lions Drum & Bugle Corp 1969 -1980. $49,000.
Simcoe’s second ice surface. Over $60,000.
Youth Exchange 1973 – 1996. Sponsored trips & hosted youths from around the world donating in excess of $30,000 in the process.
Eyesight Programs both local national & international from the 1930’s through to today. Over $100,000 donated as well as associated volunteer work and projects.
Simcoe Lion’s School 1957 – 1965. Over $34,000.
Lions Ball Park 1992 -1995. Over $460,000 as well as hundreds of hours of volunteer time building the facility.
Norfolk Music Arts Festival 1985 – 1999. Over $83,000.
Norfolk County Fair Grandstand 1991. $25,000.
Camp Trillium Rainbow Lake 1999. $30,000 for a passenger van.
Active In The Community
Lions Food Truck
Norfolk General Hospital
Norfolk Senior Support Services
History of Lions
In 1917, Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. Jones’ group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed.
After contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the “Association of Lions Clubs,” and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects and a code of ethics were approved.
Within three years, Lions became an international organization. Since then, we’ve earned high marks for both integrity and transparency. We’re a well-run organization with a steady vision, a clear mission, and a long – and proud – history.