Arcadia Host Lions Club celebrated its 80th year of service with the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Wednesday evening as a community event. Arcadia Host Lions Club was founded Sept. 21, 1936 and has served the Arcadia community for 80 years through a variety of projects such as delivering American flags to school children, walk-a-thons, teacher back-to-school barbecue, children’s Christmas party, student speaker contest, eye mobile to provide free eye screenings to the community, free eye exams and new glasses for seniors through their senior sight program. The Arcadia Host Lions Club also supports the Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation which pays for cataract surgeries and hearing aids for people who earn below the poverty level.
During the event, a centennial history on Lions Clubs International was presented and left attendees in awe; many people were not aware of Lions Clubs International’s rich history. Lions Clubs International was started by its founder, Melvin Jones, on June 7, 1917. Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become the “knights of the blind against darkness” in 1925.
Lions Clubs International is a humanitarian club which focuses on improving their communities through four key areas: Engaging Our Youth, Vision and Sight, Relieving the Hunger, and Protecting Our Environment. There are many note-worthy people who have received the Lions Humanitarian Award; Nancy Reagan received the award for 1983-1984, and Mother Teresa received the award for 1985-1986.
Also in attendance was Lion John Nelson, Lions 4-L2 2nd Vice District Governor and Lion Bill Walters, Lions 4-L2 past District Governor was in attendance, as well as members from the Los Angeles Lions Club to show their support for Arcadia Host Lions Club’s community service. The Los Angeles Lions Club is the oldest Lions club in District 4L-2 and will celebrate its centennial next year along with Lions Clubs International. Lions Clubs International is entering a historic centennial float in the Pasadena Rose Parade on Jan. 2, 2017. The Lions Motto is “We Serve” and as we enter the centennial, “Where There’s a Need, There’s a Lion.”
