Galena, Illinois

The LIONS (Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation's Safety) was founded in 1917, in Chicago, Illinois. It began with businessmen wanting to give back to their community. The motto of the Lions became, and still is, "We Serve". 

In 1925, Helen Keller asked the Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Her request inspired the Lions to focus on helping people with sight and sound needs.

The Lions Club International is currently the largest service organization in the world, with 1.35 million members in 46,000 clubs, in 206 countries. Lions help people receive glasses and hearing aids, support victims of natural disasters, recycle glasses, build parks for children, and provide many other needed services.

In the last five years, the Galena Lions Club has donated over $100,000 for the needs of local community organizations, including: 

The Galena ARC

United Churches of Galena

The Food Pantry

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts

Toys for Tots

Red Cross of Northwest Illinois

Galena Area Emergency Medical Services

Safe Haven

Tyler's Justice Center

Galena Stauss Community Care Center

and 6th grade field trips!

In the last five years, The Galena Lions Club has donated over $60,000 to sight and hearing causes, such as individuals in need of eye exams, glasses, hearing aids, and cataract surgery. 

Club members also donated  viewing scopes for enjoying the beautiful landscapes at Horseshoe mound, as well as audio books for The Galena Public Library.

In the last five years, the club has given $36,000 in scholarships to students pursuing an education that will lead to an occupation in the fields of sight and hearing.

The Galena Lions Club has also built kiosks at the city owned Gateway Park and horseshoe Mound to provide information sights for the public.

In five years, The Galena Lions club has donated over $30,000 to to various state, national, and international needs, such as: the Leader Dog Program of Rochester Hills, Michigan, the Illinois Eye Bank, the Lions of Illinois Foundation, Camp Lions, and disaster relief in several different areas of the state, country, and world. 

Our mission is to serve our community by providing voluntary services and financial assistance, especially in the areas of sight and hearing, within an atmosphere of fellowship and fun, and in keeping with the Lions' traditions of community involvement, international cooperation, and environmental protection.

We would be remiss not to remember Ronna Duckwitz, who painted and donated her beloved wiener dog artwork for our Annual Oktoberfest. She painted joyous dachshunds that have brought smiles to our faces and raised money that helped so many in our community.