The Lions Clubs trace their beginnings to one man, Melvin Jones, who, with leaders of 23 independent service clubs, formed an association known as the Lions Clubs. This was in 1917. Three years later, in 1920, a Lions Club in downtown Detroit sponsored a Lions Club in Windsor, Canada, thereby creating the International Association of Lions Clubs.

The general objectives of the Lions Clubs are as follows:

• To serve and assist the blind, and those among us who may be impaired due to a lack of sight
• To create and foster a spirit of understanding among the people of the world
• To promote the principle of good government and good citizenship
• To provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest, provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by club members
• To take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community
• To foster fellowship, friendship and understanding among its membership
• To encourage service-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward, and to promote high ethical standards in the community in both public and private endeavors