A Century of Service: Lake Worth Lions Club Celebrates 100 Years of Service!

Name: A Century of Service: Lake Worth Lions Club Celebrates 100 Years of Service!
Start: 2025-11-15T14:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-11-15T17:00:00-05:00
Location: Cultural Plaza

Schedule

Sat Nov 15 2025 at 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Cultural Plaza | Lake Worth, FL

Join us as we celebrate Lake Worth Lions Club 100 Year Anniversary — a century of vision, service, and dedication to our community.
In 1925, during the Lions Clubs International Convention, **Helen Keller** issued her legendary challenge for Lions to become *“Knights of the Blind in the Crusade Against Darkness.”* Inspired by those words, a group of community leaders in Lake Worth accepted that call to service. On **April 17, 1925**, the **Lake Worth Lions Club** was officially formed, with **W.A. Boutwell** serving as its first president. A few months later, on **August 20, 1925**, the club was chartered with a grand **Charter Night Celebration** at the historic **Gulf Stream Hotel**.
From that moment forward, the Lake Worth Lions Club began a legacy of service that continues to shine today. Over the decades, the Lions have led and supported countless community projects, including:
* Building the **Band Shell** in the City Park at Lucerne Avenue and Dixie Highway (later moved to Bryant Park).
* Rebuilding the **Football Field** at the Lake Worth Community School after the devastating **1928 Hurricane**.
* Creating the **Honor Roll Board** recognizing local heroes.
* Donating a **Milligan Respirator** to the **Lake Worth Fire Department**.
* Installing a **Drinking Fountain** at **Lake Worth High School**.
* Providing **Uniforms for the Lake Worth High School Band**.
* Giving **Monetary Gifts** to the **Visiting Nurses Association**.
* Distributing **Thanksgiving food baskets** to families in need.
* Partnering with the **Lake Worth Lions Club Auxiliary**, whose members—wives of the early Lions—played a vital role in assisting the club’s charitable work. They helped test and screen the eyesight of children in Lake Worth schools, including parochial schools, ensuring generations of students received care and support.
Through the decades, the **Lake Worth Lions** and **Lions Auxiliary** have continually found ways to uplift the community. Their service has extended from the early pioneers to today’s leaders and members, including men and women like **Lucille Smith**, **Joyce Winter**, **Joseph Kilpatrick**, **Carol Manser**, **Donald Vinniti**, and **Clifford Taylor**, whose dedication and example have inspired others to carry the mission forward.
Today, the Lake Worth Lions Club proudly partners with numerous local and national organizations, including:
**The Guatemalan Maya Center**, **Florida Outreach Center for the Blind**, **The Braille Club of Palm Beach Co.**, **Florida School for the Deaf and Blind**, **Lions Diabetes Awareness Foundation of MD-35, Inc.**, **National Federation for the Blind of Florida**, **Beauty of Sight (formerly the Florida Eye Bank)**, **LeaderDogs for the Blind**, **Lions Club International Foundation, Inc.**, and the **Lake Worth Playhouse**.
The club also funds **scholarships for graduating seniors** of **Lake Worth Beach Community School**, helping ensure the next generation has access to opportunity and education.
In addition to their community partnerships, the Lions continue to serve through vital health initiatives and humanitarian efforts such as:
* **Blood glucose screenings**
* **Glaucoma and vision exams**
* **Pre-school sight programs**
* **Rehabilitation programs**
* **Disaster relief outreach**
They also collect and recycle **used glasses and hearing aids** to be distributed worldwide, while working with hospitals, clinics, and businesses to provide affordable **eye exams, glasses, and surgical services** to individuals in need.
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Like the early pioneers, today’s members proudly **carry the torch as “Knights of the Blind in the Crusade Against Darkness.”**
Join us on **November 15, 2025**, at **Cultural Park in Downtown Lake Worth Beach** (Across from the Lake Worth Beach Library and across the street from TooJay’s Restaurant) *for an afternoon of music, history, fellowship, and community pride as we celebrate a **century of service and vision** — and look forward to the next hundred years of Lions lighting the way.