General Information

Name: Leo Club Curacao

Meetings: Saturday 10:00 to 12:00 at Landhuis Klein Kwartier

Charter Date: 3/8/1984

Club ID: 70513

District: E 1

Sponsor: Curacao Lions

History

The first Leo club was founded in 1957 by Jim Graver, the coach of the Abington High School, Pennsylvania baseball team. He was an active member of the Glenside Lions Club. The club was founded with the help of William Ernst, another Lion. It adopted the high school's colors of maroon and gold. The club also created the acronym Leadership, Equality, Opportunity for the word Leo. The word equality was later changed to experience.

In 1964 the Leo Club Program became a sponsored program of the Lions Clubs International. It grew beyond Pennsylvania and the United States of America. By 1967 the program had grown to over 200 clubs in 18 countries and become an official youth program of Lions Clubs International. In the following year, the Leo Club Program spread rapidly, more than quadrupling in size, to 918 clubs in 48 countries by the end of 1968.

Leo Club Curacao was founded on March 8th, 1984. But it wasn’t always called Leo Club Curacao. The club was formed by former LEO Founding president and now Lions Life Member Ivan “Vanky” Moreno. Lion Ivan Moreno was attending Peterstuyvesant College at the time. He remembers reading about the Leo Clubs and thinking to himself that this could be something we can do here in curaçao. Lion Ivan Moreno decided to write a letter to Lions International explaining why he thought we needed a Leo Club here in curaçao and a school-based Leo Club was formed named “Leo Club Peterstuyvesant”. After years of ups and downs the Leo Club Peterstuyvesant became a community based Leo Club named “Leo Club Curacao”. This meant that now everyone regardless of what school they attend, could join and become a member.

Objective & Motto

Through the Leo Club Program, young people develop and practice leadership, organizations and social skills through participation in Leo Club activities and service projects. Involvement in these activities fosters a lifetime of commitment to helping others, while enhancing the community.

Leadership – Develop skills as a project organizer, time manager and team leader.

Experience – Learn how teamwork, cooperation and collaboration can bring exciting changes to your community and the world.

Opportunity – Leos develop positive character traits and receive recognition for their contributions.