"Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness;
no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided?" - Helen Keller -

The real spark that ignited Lionism occurred at the Ninth Annual Convention held at the Breakers Hotel in Cedar Point, Ohio, with Lion Benjamin F. Jones, First Vice President, presiding. Miss Helen Keller addressed this convention and this is what she told the Lions in 1925. Dear Lions and Ladies, I suppose you have heard the legend that represents opportunity as a capricious lady, who knocks at every door but once, and if the door isn’t opened quickly, she passes on, never to return. And this is as it should be. Lovely, desirable ladles won’t wait. You have to go out and grab ‘em. I am your opportunity. I am knocking at your door. I want to be adopted. The legend doesn’t say what you are to do when several beautiful opportunities present themselves at the same door. I guess you have to choose the one you love best. I hope you will adopt me. I am the youngest here, and what I offer you is full of splendid opportunities for service.

Try to imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly stricken blind today. Picture yourself stumbling and groping at noonday as in the night, your work, your Independence gone. In that dark world wouldn’t you be glad if a friend took you by the hand and said, “come with me and I will teach you how to do some of the things you used to do when you could see. That is just the kind of friend the American Foundation is going to be to all the blind in this country if seeing people will give it the support it must have.

You have heard how through a little work dropped from the fingers of another, a ray of light from another soul touched the darkness of my mind and I found myself, found the world, found God. It is because my teacher learned about me and broke through the dark, silent imprisonment which held me that l am able to work for myself and for others. It is the caring we want more than money. The gift without the sympathy and interest of the giver is empty. If you care, if we can make the people of this great country care, the blind will indeed triumph over blindness.

The opportunity I bring to you, Lions, is this: To foster and sponsor the work of the American Foundation for the Blind. Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided. I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?

I thank you.

The Lions gave Miss Keller a standing ovation and made her the “first lady Lion of the continent.”

Miss Keller responded “l am happy and proud to be a Lion.”  History has been written about Lions since that time.