History:

The Highland Lions Club received its charter on March 20, 1975 as nearly 250 people attended theceremony and banquet at the Exhibition Building at Lindendale Park. Among the dignitaries presentwere Immediate Past President of Lions International, Tris Coffin of Canada, International DirectorWm. E. Steinbreuck of the Bohomme Lions, and Highland Mayor Bill Steib. Mannie Lopez of the MarineLions Club, the guiding Lion for the Highland Club, served as Master of Ceremonies. Since its founding the club has raised money for charitable and community causes. The Annual MemorialDay Biathlon, now in its twenty-seventh year, attracts nearly five hundred participants. It remainsthe club's single largest one day fund raiser. Lions selling bratwurst are a common sight at fairs andfestivals throughout the area. Bratwurst sales account for the bulk of funds raised by the club. Amongthe club's earliest projects was the purchase and installation of a scoreboard at VFW Park for use bythe American Legion baseball team. Later the club placed benches, which they still maintain, on the Highland Square and in community parks. In 1980, in conjunction with Highland Parks and Recreation, theclub established a basketball league for twenty-five girls. This year over 160 girls played, at no costto the family. Annually a $1000 scholarship goes to a graduating Highland High School senior. The clubsupported three Habitat for Humanity houses with grants of over $6000, purchased an Easy Reader for anelementary school student, gives annually to the Highland Schools' VIP program, and participatesannually in candy day and diabetes awareness fund raisers. Through the years local Lions sponsored freevision and hearing screenings for adults and infants and purchased or supplemented the cost ofeyeglasses and hearing aids for those in need. The club meets a Ponderosa but has met at The Cypress, Family Inn, and, during some dark days, in astation wagon in a parking lot.