Get to Know Your Osseo Lions

Our History and Where it All Started

The Osseo Lions Club is a 501 (c) (4) Nonprofit organization managed by an elected board of volunteers dedicated to the mission and goals of the local charter, and in accordance with Lions International and its 8 Core Pillars of Giving and Service.

Where It All Started

The International Association of Lions Clubs began as the dream of Chicago businessman Melvin Jones. He believed that local business clubs should expand their horizons from purely professional concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large.

Jones' group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the "Association of Lions Clubs," and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA, in October of that year. A constitution, bylaws, objects, and code of ethics were approved.

Among the objects adopted in those early years was one that read, "No club shall hold out the financial betterment of its members as its object." This call for unselfish service to others remains one of the association's main tenets.

Just three years after its formation, the association became international when the first club in Canada was established in 1920. Major international expansion continued as clubs were established, particularly throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa during the 1950s and '60s.

A Promise Made

In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. She challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Since then, Lions clubs have been actively involved in serving the blind and visually impaired. Broadening its international role, Lions Clubs International helped the United Nations form the Non-Governmental Organizations sections in 1945 and continues to hold consultative status with the U.N.

In 1990, Lions launched its most aggressive sight preservation effort, SightFirst. The US$202 million program aims to eliminate preventable and reversible blindness by supporting desperately needed health care services. In addition to sight programs, Lions Clubs International is committed to providing services for youth. Lions clubs also work to improve the environment, build homes for people with disabilities, support diabetes education, conduct hearing programs, and, through their foundation, provide disaster relief worldwide.

Who We Are Today

Lions meet the needs of local and global communities. Collectively, we are over 1.35 million members strong, with volunteers represented in 206 countries. Our membership may be geographically and culturally different in many ways, but we all share a common core belief – community is what we make it – and serving those communities makes us stronger as a whole.

When it comes to meeting challenges, our response is simple: We serve.

It's something that unites Lions worldwide. And it's unconditional.

Lions aren't limited by continents or restricted to certain causes. We help wherever, whenever, and however we can—keeping our core 8 pillars in mind.

Who and How We Help

Here is a short list of local organizations and groups we've supported this past year.

Osseo Area School Youth Groups
Local Religious & Spiritual Organizations
Non-Profits Serving Homeless Youth
Non-Profits Serving Military & Their Families
Foundations Serving Those Without Sight
Foundations Fighting Diabetes
Foundations Fighting Cancer
The Can-Do Canine Program
Local Area Youth Academic Programs
Theater and Art Programs for Local Youth
And, more.

Our donations of time and money extend beyond the City of Osseo's physical boundaries, but the local effects of our service and financial support can be seen every day throughout the community.

The Osseo Lions serve the entire geographic boundaries of the Osseo School District, other non-profit organizations throughout Hennepin County that have a reach and impact on the local community (in and around Osseo), and state, national, and global initiatives supported by Lions International.

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Financial Support Given

Total donated to local and regional causes each year

Want to see a breakdown of the individuals, organizations, or foundations we gave to during this time? Click the corresponding year below to download a PDF report to view.

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

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The People Behind The Organization

The Osseo Lions Club is made up of more than 50 Active Members who support both our local and global initiatives to support our community and lift up those in need.

Every April, we vote in the new service year's board members and officers, who are then officially inducted into office in June. These are the dedicated members of the Osseo Lions Club elected by the membership body to serve on the Board from July of the current year to June of the following year.

Meet your 2026-2027 Osseo Lions Board Members.