Another Successful Year

The Everglades Lions Club has been serving the community since 1952 and is already starting to plan for its 75th anniversary celebration in November 2027. Lions Clubs International is the largest service organization in the world, with over a million members worldwide. The organization started in 1917 in Chicago, and at one of its early conventions, was asked by Helen Keller to become Knights of the Blind. One of the main missions of Lions is to provide corrective eye treatment and glasses to needy children and adults of the community, and since its beginning, cooking has been a well-established fundraising tradition of Everglades Lions.

The Lions Foundation of Everglades was established in 2009 after the club received a generous bequest from the estate of a former Lion. The Foundation is both the fundraiser and the donor arm of the Lions and is recognized by the IRS as a charity able to receive tax-deductible contributions. Fundraisers included dinners at Everglades Isle, a community chicken BBQ in McLeod Park, and the Chuck Wagon at the Everglades Seafood Festival.

The Lions Club and the Foundation participated in many community activities, including Trunk or Treat, the Airpark support event, the Swamp Heritage Festival, the Easter Egg Hunt, and the “Gator Walk” at Everglades City School. Hot dogs, burgers, and lemonade were served at most events. The Foundation was a principal sponsor of the very successful Hook ‘em in the Glades fishing tournament, which enabled a $14,000 donation to several entities in the Everglades City School, as well as a $600 donation to the school’s Book Fair.

Fourteen members of the community received eye exams and eyeglasses courtesy of the Lions. The Lighthouse of Collier made a presentation of its services to the blind and visually impaired and was given a donation in support of its valuable mission. Contributions were made to Holly’s Hope for assistance in drug rehab, to the City for the Independence Day fireworks, and to the Everglades Society for Historic Preservation for graduating seniors’ banners and in support of the Bank of Everglades restoration project. In addition, Lions generously supported the Lions Club International Foundation, the District 35-I Disaster Fund, and other Lions entities. The total contributed by the Foundation since July 1, 2025, was more than $42,000. Thank you, Lions!