Page 45 - KINGS & QUEENS E-NEWS _ MAGAZINE Feburary 2024

February 2024 – Pre-Convention Edition Vol: XI No: 3
CELEBRATING HUMANITARIAN SERVICE!

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

AND BRIGHTEN THE WORLD FOR OTHERS!

Contributing Photo Journalists: Lions Shirley Maddoxx, Yolande Cadore, Renee Harper

HUMANITARIAN AWARD

CELEBRATION 2024 OVERVIEW

On January 13, 2024, District 20-K1 hosted its 24 Annual Humanitarian Awards Celebration on the same day
th
that Lions across the world celebrate the birthday of our founder, Melvin Jones.
He was an energetic, kind, visionary leader who told his business partners, “You cannot get very far until you
start doing something for somebody else.” On June 7, 1917, he established Lions Clubs International, today’s
largest service organization.
Forty-three years later (1960), District 20-K1 was chartered and continues Jones' local and global humanitarian
service mission.
Today, we are an ethnically diverse District with a membership of over 1900 members in 69 clubs. We pause to
salute the philanthropy of selected honorees. Special congratulations to Lion Lavern Harrison (Central Brooklyn
Lions Club) whose dedication was acknowledged with the prestigious Earl and Ruth Williams Distinguished
Service Award. Lion Lavern, your fellow Lions of District 20-K1 are roaring loudly, congratulating you on your
well-deserved award.
This year’s Humanitarian Award Celebration had a new “twist” which made it very engaging and informational.
Talented “actresses and actors” from several clubs enacted the theme “Be a Part of Changing the World”. The
play, written and narrated by CC Ingrid Andrews-Campbell, showcased the history of District 20-K1 and
highlighted the following chronicle.

We learned that ~
• The current District 20-K1 (Brooklyn and Queens) is a consolidation of the former District A (1938-1949)
and District K (1949 – 1960).
• It is the largest District in MD20 (highest membership) and has been rebranded as “Lions of Brooklyn and
Queens - New York”

• PIP Douglas X. Alexander (Brooklyn Bedford Stuyvesant) was the first African-American resident to be
elected (1921 - 1922) as leader of Lions International.

• PIP Alexander T. Wells (Long Island City) 1939 – 1940
• PDG Leroy L. Foster (Laurelton) 2000 - 2001. Past LCI Board Appointee introduced the idea of having a
“Humanitarian Celebration” each year to honor all Lions who received honors and awards during the
previous year.

• PID Robert Libin (Rego Park / Forest Hills) 2015 - 2017
• PID Douglas X. Alexander (Bedford Stuyvesant) 2010 - 2012
• PCC Gloria V. Askew (Brooklyn Prospect Heights) was the first African-American woman elected MD20
Council Chairperson in 2012-2013.