The Leo Club Program began in 1957 thanks to the vision of Jim Graver, a baseball coach and member of the Glenside Lions Club in Pennsylvania. Coach Graver wanted to establish a service club for the high school students at Abington High School where he coached. With the help of fellow Lion William Ernst, he founded the world's first Leo club on December 5, 1957.
The name "Leo" was chosen as an acronym representing the program's core values:
Leadership
Experience
Opportunity
The original Leo club had 35 members and established many traditions that continue today, including projects focused on individual and community development. Red and gold, the colors of Abington High School, were chosen as the Leo club colors—the same colors that represent Leo clubs worldwide today.
What began as a single club quickly demonstrated its value to both young people and their communities. In 1964, the Lions International Board of Directors officially adopted the Leo Club Program. By 1967, the program had expanded to include clubs in Australia, Pennsylvania, and various areas throughout the United States.
The program's early growth demonstrated that young people worldwide shared a desire to serve their communities and develop leadership skills. It also showed the wisdom of Lions providing mentorship and support to youth-led service initiatives.
The 1970s saw tremendous growth in the Leo program worldwide. Leo clubs began appearing across continents, each adapting to local needs while maintaining the core principles of leadership development through service.
By 1978, over 1,000 Leo clubs were operating in 48 countries. The decade also saw the development of more formal program structures, including district and multiple district Leo chairpersons to coordinate activities and support club growth.
In the 1980s, international Leo conferences and forums began to emerge, creating opportunities for Leos from different countries to connect, share ideas, and collaborate on service initiatives. These gatherings helped strengthen the global Leo network and inspire new approaches to service.
As the program matured, Lions Clubs International recognized that Leo clubs could serve young people of different age groups with appropriately tailored programming. This led to the formal establishment of two tracks:
Alpha Leo Clubs: Serving youth between 12 and 18 years old, typically associated with schools
Omega Leo Clubs: Serving young adults between 18 and 30 years old, often based in communities or universities
This division allowed the program to better address the developmental needs and interests of members at different life stages while still maintaining the core focus on leadership through service.
As the Leo program continued to evolve, Lions Clubs International recognized the need to create better pathways for Leos to transition into Lions membership. The early 2000s saw increased attention to this transition process, with special membership categories and programs designed to retain the talents and enthusiasm of aging-out Leos.
In 2017, the Leo-Lion program was formally established to create a smooth bridge between Leo and Lions membership. This initiative includes:
Special membership dues
Dual membership recognition
Leadership opportunities that specifically leverage the perspectives of former Leos
Representation on Lions boards and committees
The digital revolution transformed how Leos connect and serve. Social media platforms became powerful tools for Leo clubs to share their projects, recruit members, and collaborate across borders. Lions Clubs International developed digital resources specifically for Leos, including:
Leo-focused websites and social media channels
Online reporting systems for service activities
Digital leadership development resources
Virtual meeting capabilities
The 2010s also saw increased emphasis on measuring and reporting Leo service impact, allowing the organization to better understand and communicate the program's contributions globally.
Today, the Leo Club Program includes:
Over 7,500 Leo clubs
More than 180,000 members
Presence in approximately 150 countries
Diverse service activities addressing local and global challenges
Structured leadership development opportunities
Strong connections to Lions clubs and LCIF initiatives
The modern Leo program balances respect for tradition with innovation to remain relevant to today's youth. Leo clubs continue to adapt their service approaches to address emerging community needs while developing the leadership skills that will serve members throughout their lives.
The Leo program has evolved to include numerous leadership development opportunities:
Club officer positions
District and multiple district Leo structures
International Leo forums and conferences
Leo leadership institutes and workshops
Leo advisory panels at various organizational levels
Leo-Lion liaison positions on Lions boards
These opportunities allow Leos to develop practical leadership experience while contributing to the program's continued evolution