Birmingham
Alabama
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Birmingham Lions Club
The International Association of Lions Clubs was founded in 1917 by Melvin Jones, a member of a men's club in Chicago, Illinois. Jones was a visionary who thought that a club should meet for other reasons than to eat and swap business cards. He saw that there was a need for an organization to help its fellow man.
In October 1917, twenty-two local clubs convened in Dallas, Texas. The major debate was what to call this new service organization. The name LIONS was chosen because the country was engaged in World War I. LIONS stood for Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nations Safety.
Throughout the country there were many such men's clubs. In 1922, a club in Birmingham applied for a Charter and was established as The Lions Club of Birmingham.
In 1925, Miss Helen Keller, a native of Alabama, challenged the Lions of the world to become the Knights of the Blind in the Crusade Against Darkness. Lions worldwide have accepted her challenge and continue to pursue the Crusade.
During the Great Depression, Lions Clubs International, like many organizations, struggled financially. Birmingham Lion Roderick Beddow answered Melvin Jones' call to keep the Association alive by giving $10,000 as operating funds. Beddow later became the 17th International President, one of three Alabama Lions to hold that office.
In 1943, the Lions Club of Birmingham along with other Lions Clubs founded the Alabama Sight Conservation Association to provide eye care for indigent citizens of Alabama. Birmingham Lions T. F. Gossett, Parks Scott, and Jim Livingston have served as president of this organization. The Birmingham Lions now had an effective method for meeting Miss Keller's Challenge, but lacked the “means.”
In 1944, the “means” arrived. Esquire Magazine had started a baseball classic in New York called “East-West Baseball.” The Birmingham News and the Birmingham Lions Club brought the classic to Birmingham. It provided an All-Star High School baseball showcase. Zip Newman and “Boots” Silverfield ran this great event for many years. It not only benefited young players, but also provided a significant source of income for Alabama Sight. Today, Alabama is the only state which still has the East-West Classic. The list of great professional players who are alumni of the Classic grows each year.
Birmingham was a sprawling metropolis and the Birmingham Lions Club numbered more than 180 members. Other Lions Clubs were sponsored throughout Jefferson and surrounding counties. There are presently some 1,200 active Lions in this area. This extension effort brought representatives of Rotary International in England to Birmingham to learn how this was done.
Dr. Alston Callahan, a Birmingham ophthalmologist, envisioned the most modern eye hospital in the world. Through a matching funds program from the Spain Foundation, the Lions helped fund the Eye Foundation Hospital of Birmingham. In 1963, Birmingham Lions held a star-studded program called Stars Fell on Alabama to help raise some of those funds.
During the 1970's the Lions established a small eye bank in Birmingham. Today, although no longer a formal Lions project, the Alabama Eye Bank is ranked number two in the nation.
A number of special challenges faced Alabama Sight in the 1980's and 1990's. The Birmingham Lions Club responded by raising more than $100,000 during one six-year period. The Club continues to raise significant sums each year for Alabama Sight as well as a number of other worthy causes. The Club recently contributed over $17,000 to Alabama Sight, $1,000 to Camp Seale Harris Diabetic Youth Camp, a $500 scholarship to the Miss Alabama Pageant, raised $800 for the Salvation Army, gave savings bonds to “Don't Do Drugs” poster contest winners, sent $1,500 to Lions Clubs International's “Campaign Sight First,” and recognized grammar school “Students of the Month” from local schools.
The Birmingham Lions raise funds for charitable activities in a variety of ways. Major efforts include an annual golf tournament, a Valentine Day Rose Sale, East-West Baseball, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army and AU-UA football ticket raffles. Members commit themselves to devote talents, time and energy toward the success of both fund-raising and service activities and programs.
Mission Statement:
To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.
In October 1917, twenty-two local clubs convened in Dallas, Texas. The major debate was what to call this new service organization. The name LIONS was chosen because the country was engaged in World War I. LIONS stood for Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nations Safety.
Throughout the country there were many such men's clubs. In 1922, a club in Birmingham applied for a Charter and was established as The Lions Club of Birmingham.
In 1925, Miss Helen Keller, a native of Alabama, challenged the Lions of the world to become the Knights of the Blind in the Crusade Against Darkness. Lions worldwide have accepted her challenge and continue to pursue the Crusade.
During the Great Depression, Lions Clubs International, like many organizations, struggled financially. Birmingham Lion Roderick Beddow answered Melvin Jones' call to keep the Association alive by giving $10,000 as operating funds. Beddow later became the 17th International President, one of three Alabama Lions to hold that office.
In 1943, the Lions Club of Birmingham along with other Lions Clubs founded the Alabama Sight Conservation Association to provide eye care for indigent citizens of Alabama. Birmingham Lions T. F. Gossett, Parks Scott, and Jim Livingston have served as president of this organization. The Birmingham Lions now had an effective method for meeting Miss Keller's Challenge, but lacked the “means.”
In 1944, the “means” arrived. Esquire Magazine had started a baseball classic in New York called “East-West Baseball.” The Birmingham News and the Birmingham Lions Club brought the classic to Birmingham. It provided an All-Star High School baseball showcase. Zip Newman and “Boots” Silverfield ran this great event for many years. It not only benefited young players, but also provided a significant source of income for Alabama Sight. Today, Alabama is the only state which still has the East-West Classic. The list of great professional players who are alumni of the Classic grows each year.
Birmingham was a sprawling metropolis and the Birmingham Lions Club numbered more than 180 members. Other Lions Clubs were sponsored throughout Jefferson and surrounding counties. There are presently some 1,200 active Lions in this area. This extension effort brought representatives of Rotary International in England to Birmingham to learn how this was done.
Dr. Alston Callahan, a Birmingham ophthalmologist, envisioned the most modern eye hospital in the world. Through a matching funds program from the Spain Foundation, the Lions helped fund the Eye Foundation Hospital of Birmingham. In 1963, Birmingham Lions held a star-studded program called Stars Fell on Alabama to help raise some of those funds.
During the 1970's the Lions established a small eye bank in Birmingham. Today, although no longer a formal Lions project, the Alabama Eye Bank is ranked number two in the nation.
A number of special challenges faced Alabama Sight in the 1980's and 1990's. The Birmingham Lions Club responded by raising more than $100,000 during one six-year period. The Club continues to raise significant sums each year for Alabama Sight as well as a number of other worthy causes. The Club recently contributed over $17,000 to Alabama Sight, $1,000 to Camp Seale Harris Diabetic Youth Camp, a $500 scholarship to the Miss Alabama Pageant, raised $800 for the Salvation Army, gave savings bonds to “Don't Do Drugs” poster contest winners, sent $1,500 to Lions Clubs International's “Campaign Sight First,” and recognized grammar school “Students of the Month” from local schools.
The Birmingham Lions raise funds for charitable activities in a variety of ways. Major efforts include an annual golf tournament, a Valentine Day Rose Sale, East-West Baseball, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army and AU-UA football ticket raffles. Members commit themselves to devote talents, time and energy toward the success of both fund-raising and service activities and programs.
Mission Statement:
To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.