The organization and the
goals of Lions Israel
The Lions organization is a volunteer-social activity organization that works for the benefit of the community.
The Lions organization in Israel operates within the framework of the international organization of Lions clubs, whose global motto is:
“WE SERVE”
Lions Israel received the President's Volunteer Award for its contribution to society and the community in 2002.
The goals of the Lions Clubs International organization
- To take an active part in community life and provide assistance to those in need.
- To unite members in bonds of friendship, fellowship, and mutual understanding.
- To cultivate the spirit of volunteerism for its own sake as a contribution to the community.
- To create an open forum for discussion of all matters of public interest, without regard to political opinion, religion, nationality or race.
- To uphold the principles of good government and good citizenship.
- To preserve and strengthen mutual understanding among all people worldwide.
About the Lions Club Organization in Israel
The Lions Clubs Israel Organization (an Amuta) is a registered non-profit organization and it has received approval from the Knesset Finance Committee. Donations to the organization are recognized for income tax purposes under Section 46A.
Lions Israel was founded by Mr. Teddy Kollek in 1960, at the request of the then Prime Minister, Mr. David Ben-Gurion. The Lions Clubs Israel Organization received the President's Award for Volunteerism for its contribution to society and the community. Today, Lions Israel has about 700 active volunteers who are members of 27 clubs throughout the country, and the organization is in the process of establishing additional clubs across the country.
The Lions clubs implement the goals of the international organization and carry out many community service activities for the benefit of those in need, such as:
- Assisting the blind and visually impaired
- Activities with Holocaust survivors and the elderly
- Activities with people with disabilities
- Activities in schools and assistance to students
- Distributing scholarships to students
- Providing assistance and housing for lone soldiers
- Environmental quality and sustainability
- Organizing Blood donations
- Assistance and acquisition of innovative medical equipment for hospitals through donations, fund raising and grants from Lions Clubs International Assistance Fund (LCIF)
Lions members volunteer in full coordination with the local municipalities. The organization also operates in culturally and socially integrated projects, such as sponsoring the international "Poster for Peace" competition (for children aged 11-13), choosing the Volunteer of the Year who is not a Lions member, awarding the Model Citizen Award for a lifetime of public service, and granting a special citation to an organization or enterprise for the volunteer activities of its employees in the community.
Social activity as an added value for members of the organization
In addition to the volunteering activities, each of the clubs holds extensive and varied social activities. These include monthly meetings, lectures, parties, joint weekend getaways, trips, and more. Additionally, there are nationwide (district-level) activities for all members of the organization, such as: fun days and bonding events, district weekends, musical evenings, lectures, and more.
The connection to the international Lions organization
The Lions Clubs in Israel are part of the global Lions movement that includes about 1,380,000 members organized into approximately 49,500 clubs in over 200 countries around the world. Lions members participate in the organization's international events and are connected in many areas to the activities of Lions clubs worldwide.
The Name LIONS
L=LIBERTY
I=INTELLIGENCE
O=OUR
N=NATIONS
S=SAFETY
The organization's emblem is adorned with the letter L at its center. At the bottom is the word INTERNATIONAL. On both sides of the emblem are profiles of lions, symbolizing the movement's regard for both the past and the present. We take pride in the past and look confidently ahead to the future. Each of the emblem's colors, blue and gold, represents a value from our lives. The blue symbolizes loyalty to country and friends, wholeness of heart and thought, strength, courage, and perseverance in purpose. The gold symbolizes honesty, generosity, liberality, good judgment, and purity of life.