Since 1917, Lions Club International has offered people the opportunity to give something back to their communities. Chicago businessman, Melvin Jones, dreamed of helping local business clubs expand their horizons from purely professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large. He called a meeting in June of 1917 to organize existing clubs into a larger association. In October, 1917, the group held its first national convention in Dallas, Texas.

In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions' Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio. She challenged the Lions: "Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?" The Lions accepted her challenge, and programs to assist the blind and visually impaired continue to be important as Lions fulfill their motto: "We Serve".

In our community, the Irving Noon Day Lions Club spent over $15,000 last year, providing eyeglasses for needy children in the Irving Independent School District. We also support, with Lions District 2-X1, the "Blind and Visually Impaired Sports Extravangza." This event, held each fall, allows young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity, to run races, play games, throw softballs, and even participate in an archery contest!

We also support the work of Leader Dogs for the Blind, the Texas Lions Camp at Kerrville, New Horizons Day Camp for Diabetic children, Lions Sight and Tissue Foundation, and many other local charities. We also provide a college scholarship for one student from each of Irving's four public High Schools (Irving, MacArthur, Nimitz and The Academy).