A commemorative postage stamp on the Centenary of the Lions Clubs International (LCI), an international non-political service organization founded by Melvin Jones in Chicago, USA, in 1917 :

Issued by India

Issued on May 25, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on The International Association of Lions Clubs on its centennial celebration.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 650475

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The International Association of Lions Clubs was founded in 1917 to bring succour to the poor and needy across the World. The organization’s motto is “WE SERVE” and slogan is Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nations Safety.
• The International Association of Lions Clubs is headquartered at Chicago, USA and there is an Area Office in Mumbai. The last 100 years have seen it grow to the strength of over 1.4 million volunteer members, serving through 46000 clubs in 210 countries across the world.
• The organization celebrated its Centennial in 2017 and, as a special Centennial Service Challenge, Lions Clubs International (LCI) has undertaken to serve 100 million people worldwide, 25 million each in the 4 key areas of Sight, Environment, Youth & Hunger.
• At the International Convention in 1925, the late Helen Keller – the champion of the Blind, gave Lions the vision to become the “Knights of the Blind” and since then Prevention & Eradication of Blindness has been the signature activity worldwide.
• LCI was invited to join in an advisory capacity on the committee drafting the United Nations Charter in 1945. Even today, LCI remains associated with UNESCO in an advisory capacity & LCI is the only NGO, whose International President has the opportunity to address the UN General Assembly on Lions Day each year.
• With the setting up of Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) – the charitable arm of LCI on 13^th June 1968 – LCI opened up a new era in extending succour to communities and causes across the world. Till date, LCIF has awarded more than USD 901 million as grants worldwide – for restoring sight, supporting youth, disaster relief and other humanitarian issues.
• As a result of the transparency and accountability maintained by LCIF, its members are proud to have many of the world’s leading philanthropic trusts as partners in Service.
• The Lions movement came to India in 1956, with the formation of the first two clubs at Mumbai & Delhi. The movement has enjoyed steady growth over the years and today, in just over 60 years, India constitutes the second largest body of Lions in the world – with nearly 250000 members serving through 6400 clubs in every nook and corner of the country.
• Two Indians have already proudly served as International Presidents – in 1992-93 & 2005-06, and from July 2018 onwards, yet another Indian – Lion Naresh Aggarwal – will again be the International President – leading the organization into the next Century of its existence.
• Through LCIF, India has received, 1535 grants worth USD 83 million (Rs. 53.76 crore) for the causes related to disaster relief, restoring sight, supporting youth, and other Humanitarian causes. Of these, over 500 grants worth USD 3.7 million (Rs. 23 Crores) are for disaster relief alone.
• Lions have raised more than Rs. 22.8 crore (USD 3.57 million) to fund ‘Sight First’ programs in India. Over 236 Hospitals have been upgraded / set up in India with LCIF Grants. In the next three years, Lions will screen 25 lakh patients for vision disorders, perform nearly 100,000 cataract surgeries and treat over 20,000 people for other sight conditions.
• The Lions Quest program is a comprehensive youth development program for social and emotional learning, that promotes character education, drug awareness and service learning in a caring, safe, participatory learning environment, allowing students to develop 21^st Century life skills. To date, working in over 10 local languages, Lions have impacted over 1 million youth and trained 30,000 educators under this programme.
• LIONS are involved in every aspect of Social Welfare activities in the country and have made significant contributions in terms of financial investments, benefits to community and the people at large. Lions Clubs have established and run Hospitals & medical Centres, Schools, Orphanages, Institutions for the Specially Challenged, Old Age Homes, Blood Banks, Dialysis Centres etc.
• Lions Clubs International has also recently been chosen as one of the Brand Ambassadors for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan of the Government of India.
• There is virtually no sphere of social service left untouched by this organization and the multifarious service activities are conducted pan India on a daily basis, benefiting lakhs of the poor & needy populace.
• The Centennial Slogan – “WHERE THERE’S A NEED, THERE’S A LION” aptly summarizes the culture, work and social contribution of this organization.
• Text : Based on the information received from proponent.

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