Downtown San Diego Lions Club

Our Mission is to improve the world one human being at a time through programs that teach and promote empathy, fellowship, and service.  To lead a movement of compassion and activism in our community that inspires new generations to answer the call of "We Serve".

The Lions Optometric Vision Clinic (LOVC) provides eye care for individuals in San Diego who are unable to obtain assistance through private insurance, welfare, or other social services and they accept donations of used eyeglasses.

The LOVC operates independently of the Downtown San Diego Lions Club and we know of no other place to go for Low Cost Eyeglass assistance in San Diego.

The Ear of the Lion is currently open and operating during COVID-19.

Ear of the Lion can be contacted at 1-800-327-8077.

The Ear of the Lion serves San Diego County and operates independently of the Downtown San Diego Lions Club.

Club Calendar

For more information on upcoming speakers or to propose an upcoming speaker or event please contact us here.

Upcoming Events

Supporting the San Diego community!

The Downtown San Diego Lions Club has granted $5,235,553+ in funding to local non-profit organizations between July 1996 and June 2022.

These grants supported:

$400,000 - UC San Diego Shiley Eye Institute’s Downtown San Diego Lions Club BioBank for Vision
$5,000 - Lions Clubs International (LCI) for Ukrainian Refugees
$3,000 - Support the Enlisted Project (STEP)
$1,600 - Community Christen Service Agency
$2,500 - Elder Help of San Diego
$4,067 - San Diego River Park Foundation
$1,600 - Uptown Community Service Center
$5,000 - Promises2Kids
$1,000 - The Honor Foundation
$9,000 - San Diego Center for the Blind
$8,000 - Traveler's Aid Society of San Diego
$6,035 - Challenge Center
$6,000 - Reality Changers
$5,860 - Paralyzed Veterans of America, California
$5,000 - Armed Services YMCA, San Diego

How We Serve

When it comes to meeting challenges, our response is simple: We serve! In our community, we are involved in volunteer work, helping, leading, planning, and supporting. Because we're local, we can serve the unique needs of the San Diego community and because we're global, we can address challenges that go beyond borders.

Downtown San Diego Lions Club Building

We want everyone to see a better tomorrow. That's why we support sight programs and services including vision screenings, eye banks, and eyeglass recycling. The Downtown San Diego Lions Club is involved in a wide variety of projects that reach out to at-risk youth, seniors, physically disadvantaged, the military and Veterans, and others.

We empower the next generation by providing youth volunteer opportunities and leadership experiences, our youth programs invest in the future by reaching out to young people.

We serve local communities and protect the planet.  From performing hands-on community work and service projects to providing emergency assistance, our community and environment programs improve our communities and protect the environment.

Lion Facts

Established in 1922, the Downtown San Diego Lions Club is one of very few service clubs to enjoy the ownership and use of its own beautiful meeting facility. Our meeting room and Executive Offices are located in the heart of San Diego's exciting Gaslamp District.

We welcome Lions from around the world to join us when visiting San Diego! We invite all service-minded individuals located in San Diego to call for information about attending a meeting!

Since 1917, Lions have served the world's population through hard work and commitment to make a difference in the lives of people everywhere. With 1.38 million Lions serving in 46,481 clubs in over 210 countries and geographical areas, Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization. The Downtown San Diego Lions Club is one of the largest Lions Clubs in the United States.

Although Lions internationally are noted for their assistance to the blind, the Downtown San Diego Lions Club supports a wide variety of projects that reach out to at-risk youth, seniors, physically disadvantaged, the military and Veterans, and others!