Serving Montreal's East End with Hope & Humanity Since 2023
Discover our mission and core values to learn how we bring Lions International's century-old spirit of
'We Serve' to Saint-Léonard and Rivière-des-Prairies
Mission and Core Values
- Diabetes – supporting initiatives for diabetes awareness, prevention, and care.
- Vision – continuing Lions’ historic work in sight conservation and assistance to the visually impaired.
- Hunger Relief – fighting world hunger and food insecurity in the community.
- Environment – participating in environmental protection and sustainability efforts.
- Childhood Cancer – supporting children and families affected by pediatric cancers.
In addition to these five core global causes, the Montreal Hope for Humanity club places special emphasis on autism and special needs support in its local community. The club actively works to raise awareness and resources for children and adults on the autism spectrum. For example, the club has noted that autistic students and adult learners often require costly extra resources, and it strives to help meet those needs. This reflects the Lions’ broader values of inclusivity, compassion, and community service.
Importantly, the club’s ethos mirrors Lions Clubs International’s overall mission to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, and encourage peace and international understanding. Lions’ values include service, fellowship, diversity, and integrity, all centered on making a positive impact. The Hope for Humanity chapter – as its name suggests – is driven by hope, humanitarianism, and solidarity with those in need. Its members are all volunteers motivated by the desire to serve others and uphold the Lions’ century-old spirit of “We Serve.”
Our Story: From Vision to Charter
In 2023, Montreal’s east end welcomed a new force for community service. Lions Club Hope for Humanity was born from the recognition that communities like Saint-Léonard and Rivière-des-Prairies needed dedicated advocates for humanitarian causes, particularly in supporting families affected by autism and special needs challenges.
Our charter journey began with founding President Lion Carmelo Tortolano and a group of committed volunteers who saw an opportunity to bring Lions International’s century-old tradition of service to underserved areas of Montreal. On September 30, 2023, our dream became reality during our Charter Night Gala at Hotel Montreal Métropolitain, where District Governor Antoine Menassa officially welcomed us into the Lions family.
Early Service, Lasting Impact
From our first months as a chartered club, we focused on action over words. Our inaugural service project partnered with Avalanche Kidz Hockey Development and Friends4Cause to create Christmas baskets for families in need during the 2023 holiday season. This collaborative approach became our signature – working with established community partners to maximize impact while building our own presence.
2024 marked our expansion into targeted special needs support with our Spaghetti Brunch fundraiser, directly benefiting three local schools in Rivière-des-Prairies. The success of this event, which featured entertainment and community partnership with school principals, demonstrated our club’s ability to identify specific local needs and address them effectively.
Looking Forward
As we continue our journey into 2025 and beyond, our Autism Awareness Bowling Night exemplifies our commitment to both raising awareness and providing tangible support for individuals and families affected by autism. Each event builds on our founding vision: where there is a need in Montreal’s east end, there are Lions ready to serve.