Contact:
Kristopher Kempski
kristopher.kempski@lionsclubs.org
(630) 571-5466, ext. 363

For Immediate Release

LIONS CLUB FOUNDED AT UK PARLIAMENT

OAK BROOK, IL, March 28, 2007— The Palace of Westminster Lions Club was officially chartered at the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Charter President and Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Francois and Secretary/Treasurer MP Stephen Hammond have been joined by 20 other MPs to found the Lions club in the “Mother of Parliaments,” the first parliamentary Lions club in the Northern Hemisphere (existing parliamentary Lions clubs being in New Zealand and Australia).

“This is a truly cross party group of men and women committed to the ideals and philosophy of Lions Clubs International, and the practical hands-on commitment needed to effectively target many welfare actions,” said Louvain Allen, Lions District 105A governor. “As leaders of the United Kingdom, the members of the Palace of Westminster Lions Club have joined the world’s largest volunteer service organization in the challenge to make the world a better place and show how much they care.”

According to Allen, members of Lions clubs come from all walks of life; but when community, business and political leaders also volunteer to serve as Lions, the outcome is most effective. Lions clubs in the British Isles and Ireland may now invite local representatives to join this new initiative in the Palace of Westminster and become Lions. It is expected that other European, Northern Hemisphere and world parliaments, will follow this initiative and form Lions clubs of their own.

Lions respond to local needs in the British Isles and Ireland, and work through local Lions clubs throughout the world, responding to global disasters and helping with medium and long-term initiatives.

Since Helen Keller challenged Lions to become “Knights of the Blind” in 1925, Lions have focused on sight initiatives, including blindness prevention and eyesight restoration in millions of people. This is done through education, vision screenings, provision of eye banks and cataract operations, funding and supply of affordable and effective medication to treat river blindness, and the provision of spectacles and aids for people with impaired eyesight.

Lions also work with speech and hearing impairment, diabetes and glaucoma education, breast cancer prevention, dental aid programs and the provision of clean water. Lions build schools and clinics, provide ambulances, and run street children support programs, young people life skills education and service centers for the elderly.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.3 million members in more than 44,800 clubs in 200 countries and geographic areas. In addition to its worldwide efforts to conquer blindness, Lions Clubs International has a strong commitment to community service, especially to helping youth throughout the world.