The Saratoga Springs Lions Club is a pride of Lions, and its members take pride in their good work.

Formed in 1925 with 28 charter members, the Saratoga Springs Lions Club is a fellowship of men and women from all age groups, from all career fields, from all ethnic and religious backgrounds, and from various income levels, who share a commitment to serve the community through participation in Lions projects and fund raising events.

Membership now stands at 85, making the chapter one of the largest and most productive clubs within New York State. Since 1999, the club has sponsored a Leos Club to get students at Saratoga Springs High School interested and involved in community service, and supported their attendance at Lions Day at the United Nations.

The club is dedicated to the community needs regarding sight, hearing, diabetes, and youth.

Sight:

The club pays for eye exams, glasses, and medication for youth and adults who cannot afford them. Each year, the club collects and recycles thousands of pairs of used eyeglasses which improve sight for impoverished people around the world. The Saratoga Springs Lions Club was the first club to pledge $25,000 to the Lions Eye Institute in Albany; an additional $30,000 donation resulted in an examination room being named in the club’s honor.

Hearing:

The club’s goal is to improve the quality of life for the deaf and hard-of-hearing by enabling fuller functioning at home and in society. The club financially supports and promotes a “lending library” of assistive listening devices, available free of charge through the Saratoga Hearing Center, and sponsors Saratoga Hard of Hearing, a support group for those with hearing problems. The Saratoga Springs Lions Club has funded a theater-quality FM system at the Saratoga Arts Center, an FM system for the Academy for Lifelong Learning, and pocket talkers to enhance the hearing ability of residents at the Wesley Health Center and the Community Hospice Center, and patients at Saratoga Hospital.

On a regional level, the Saratoga Springs Lions Club was instrumental in the formation of the Lions Hearing Conservation Society in District 20-Y2.

Diabetes:

One of the leading causes of blindness is diabetes. The Saratoga Springs Lions Club supports the efforts of the American Diabetes Association, and financially supports a group of Lions cyclists riding in the ADA’s annual major fund raiser, the Tour de Cure.

Youth:

In a typical year, the Saratoga Springs Lions Club donates $25,000 to youth organizations, athletic teams, and projects. These donations of money, as well as time, range from major gifts to the Saratoga Children’s Museum, the YMCA, and the East Side and West Side recreation fields, to support for an alcohol-free post-prom party at Saratoga Springs High School. The Saratoga Springs Lions Club provides leadership, major funding and physical assistance on and off the ice for Gliding Stars, a skating program for handicapped and visually-impaired youth and young adults.

Community:

The Saratoga Springs Lions Club was a charter member of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center; the first community organization to pledge $25,000 to the Weibel Avenue Ice Rink, and a major supporter of Saratoga Hospital’s numerous expansions. Members of the Lions Club annually support and help staff the First Night Saratoga 5K Run to benefit the Saratoga County YMCA. The Saratoga Springs Lions Club has hosted several New York State-Bermuda Lions Club conventions, each time bringing in thousands of visitors and tourism dollars to the city.