Lions Clubs International Membership Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.3 million members in 45,000 clubs in 202 countries and geographic areas. Lions are men and women who volunteer their time to humanitarian causes. Founded in 1917, the association’s motto is “We Serve.” Service to Others Worldwide, Lions clubs are recognized for their service to people who are blind and visually impaired. This service began when Helen Keller challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness” during the 1925 Lions Clubs International Convention. Today, Lions extend their commitment to sight conservation through countless local efforts, as well as through their international SightFirst Program, which works to eradicate blindness. Lions also collect and recycle eyeglasses for distribution in developing countries year-round and especially during May, which is Lions Recycle for Sight Month, and October, as a way to mark Lions World Sight Day, which is held the second Thursday of each October. In addition, Lions make a strong commitment to young people through many youth programs. Lions also work to improve the environment, build homes for the disabled, support diabetes education, conduct hearing programs and, through their foundation, provide disaster relief around the world. International Foundation Lions Clubs International Foundation is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International. The foundation’s mission is to support the efforts of Lions clubs around the world in serving their local and global communities by funding humanitarian service projects. www.lcif.org Sight Programs In 1990, Lions established SightFirst, a US$215 million global initiative to fight the major causes of preventable and reversible blindness. The unprecedented program joins Lions volunteers with blindness prevention experts and organizations and governments. The more than 900 SightFirst grants have: • provided more than 7.3 million cataract surgeries and prevented serious vision loss for 27 million • supported 114 million treatments for river blindness • built or expanded more than 300 eye hospitals/clinics/wards and upgraded more than 337 eye centers with equipment • improved eye care in 90 countries around the world • trained more than 345,000 ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses, other professional eye care workers and village health workers Lions launched Campaign SightFirst II to raise at least US$150 million to continue and expand the extraordinary work of SightFirst. Lions concluded Campaign SightFirst II in June of 2008. After three years of intense fundraising, Lions far surpassed the US$150 million minimum goal. Fact Sheet Founded: 1917 Motto: “We Serve” Members: 1.3 million Clubs: 45,000 clubs in 202 countries and geographic areas Convention: July 6-10, 2009 Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA International Headquarters: Oak Brook, Illinois, USA

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