The Kent Lions Club
We are a group of local volunteers who gather to support our community; serving since 1978. Through fundraising, awareness activities, and donating our time to various projects and initiatives, we strive to make our town a better place.
Our Membership
David Bain, George Bentley, Marsi Boon, Darlene Brady, Kevin Brady, Bill Case, Nicole Chase, Todd Cipolla, Bobbie Davis, Gary Davis, Joseph Davis, Nick Downes, Joseph Dwyer, Bernadette Ellegard, Jeff Galusha , Kendra Galusha, Dan Gantt, Chris Garrity, Mike Gawel, Teagan Gawel, Dan Greenbaum, Charles Goldberg, James Hart, George Hetson, Patty Hicks, Bob Hock, Marilyn Hock, Ed Hoffman, Bobby Love, Bob Indorf, Tony Iovino, Brent Kallstrom, Rita Kho, Jesse Klingebiel, Kostas Koulouris, Rick Levy, Marty Lindenmayer, Ed Matson, Trisha McMahon, Mike Monsarratt, Stephen Morocco, Jeff Namm, Lela Ogden, Lee Ogden, Randy O’Rourke, Ed Raftery, Alice Roper, Eric Roper, David Schreiber, Ira Smith, Toni Soule, David Stonebeck, Dynese Stonebeck, Suzanne Tanner, Jerry Tobin, James Vick, Matt Winter, John Worthington, Jennifer Wynn, Steve Yudin
Our Executive Board
2024-2025
President: Karren Garrity
First VP: Jonathan Matson
Second VP: Diane Impastato
Third VP: Norm Moser
Fourth VP: James Vick
Treasurer: Patti Hicks
Secretary: Diane Impastato
Membership Chair: Cathe Mazza
Tail Twister: Darlene Brady
Lion Tamer: Ed Matson
Our Mission
To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs. To be the global leader in community and humanitarian service. Five Pillars of Service: Vision, Hunger, Diabetes, Cancer, Environment.
Service Journey
The Service Journey is an approach to living and serving well. To make a real difference people can see and feel. It encompasses four simple phases: Learn, Discover, Act, and Celebrate. We love these words because they transcend organizational formulas. They have no borders. They are the essence of Lions.
Learn~ Insight is valuable: if we aren’t informed about what’s happening around us, our impact may fall short. So, we cultivate an awareness of local needs and how they connect to a larger global narrative. We seek new information and turn it into insight. Learning positions us to be effective.
Discover~ Opportunity awaits anyone willing to learn. Knowledge sharing equips us to leverage our strengths, bridge gaps through partnerships and encourage innovation. This process of discovery unifies our focus and prepares us for action.
Act~ Our mission is service, and service is visible. Its effects are measurable. Equipped with insight and inspired by opportunity, we practically support our communities, our regions, and our world together. Through action we fulfill our mission.
Celebrate~ Serving humanity in over 200 countries, we take pride in the unique expressions of kindness found in each of our local clubs across the world. When we share our stories and report our impact, we unify our organization, inspire our communities, and capture the attention of a global audience. Celebration elevates the experience and impact of service.
Lions At Work!
Some of Our Grantees
College Scholarships: Awarded to three Kent residents who are high school seniors
Kent Lion’s Service Scholarship: Awarded to one college student, who is a Kent resident, engaging in service work for nonprofit or charitable organizations.
Kent Center School: 8th grade recognition award
Kent Park and Rec : Halloween Glow necklaces to promote the safety of our town children
Kent Center School: Eyesight screening
Diabetes Camp: Sponsored a child to attend
Kent Affordable Housing: Rental assistance
Great American Cycle Challenge: Supporting Children with cancer
Kent Food Bank: Special supplies for the Holidays and year-round.
Kent Nursery School: Quality early education programs
Boy Scouts: Supporting the prestigious Eagle Scouts Program
Appalachian Mountain Club: Supporting the upkeep of the Bulls Bridge Hiking trail areas
Kent Village Housing for the Elderly: Rental assistance
Housatonic Youth Services Bureau: Supporting our local youth programs
Kent Memorial Library: Supporting operational efforts
Kent Community Fund: Helping our neighbors in need
Little Guild of St Francis: Animal shelter
Women’s Support Services/Project Sage: Aide victims of domestic abuse
Events & Activities
Connecticut Antique Machinery Association (CAMA) at Sloane Stanley Museum, Spring and Fall: We serve up egg sandwiches, burgers & dogs, and some of the best french fries around!
Memorial Day Parade: Distribute flags for the parade, and serve ice cream afterward!
Spring Car Show at Sloane Stanley Museum: More Dogs & Burgers!
Memorial Day Town Picnic: Provide an activity focusing on eyesight.
Kent Memorial Library Family Festival: Hot dogs and drinks.
Great Cycle Challenge: Raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer.
Halloween: Provide glow-in-the-dark safety necklaces to trick-or-treaters
Super Bowl Pool
Polar Bear Run at Lake Waramaug: Race day support, Check in, Parking, food set up
Eyeglass & Hearing Aids Collection
Monthly member meetings: 3rd Wednesday of the month
Appalachian Trail Maintenance: Seasonal Activities
Club Events Calendar
Scholarships
The Kent Lions Club is pleased to support academic leadership and community service. Each year we sponsor three scholarships for graduating high school seniors, a community service scholarship and two awards for graduating eighth-graders at Kent Center School.
High School Seniors Scholarship
In support of academic effort and community care, we are pleased to sponsor up to three scholarships for graduating high school seniors.
The Kent Lions strive to support global leadership and community service. Lions are making a significant impact in lives and communities around the world.
Community Service Scholarship
Supporting young adults enrolled in post secondary education, who work to enhance their communities through leadership and volunteer service; we offer one scholarship.
Kindness defines who we are as Lions. An act of kindness may be small and personal, or large and profound. Coming together creates positive change.
Lion’s International History
In 1917: Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. Jones’ group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the “Association of Lions Clubs,” and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects and a code of ethics were approved. Within three years, Lions became an international organization. Since then, we’ve earned high marks for both integrity and transparency. We’re a well-run organization with a steady vision, a clear mission, and a long – and proud – history. Beginning in 1917 Melvin Jones asked a simple and world-changing question – what if people put their talents to work improving their communities? Almost 100 years later, Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization, with 1.35 million members in more than 46,000 clubs and countless stories of Lions acting on the same simple idea: let’s improve our communities.
1920: Going International: Just three years after our founding, Lions became international when we established the first club in Canada. Mexico followed in 1927. In the 1950s and 1960s international growth accelerated, with new clubs in Europe, Asia and Africa.
1925: Eradicating Blindness: Helen Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA, and challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” Since then, we have worked tirelessly to aid the blind and visually impaired.
1945: Uniting Nations: The ideal of an international organization is exemplified by our enduring relationship with the United Nations. We were one of the first nongovernmental organizations invited to assist in the drafting of the United Nations Charter and have supported the work of the UN ever since.
1957: Organizing Youth Programs: In the late 1950s, we created the Leo Program to provide the youth of the world with an opportunity for personal development through volunteering. There are approximately 144,000 Leos and 5,700 Leo clubs in more than 140 countries worldwide.
1968: Establishing Our Foundation: Lions Clubs International Foundation assists Lions with global and large-scale local humanitarian projects. Through our Foundation, Lions meet the needs of their local and global communities.
1990: Launching SightFirst: Through SightFirst, Lions are restoring sight and preventing blindness on a global scale. Launched in 1990, Lions have raised more than $346 million for this initiative. SightFirst targets the major causes of blindness: cataract, trachoma, river blindness, childhood blindness, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
TODAY: Extending Our Reach: Lions Clubs International extends our mission of service every day – in local communities, in all corners of the globe. The needs are great and our services broad, including sight, health, youth, elderly, the environment and disaster relief. Our international network has grown to include over 200 countries and geographic areas.
Lions International Organization
When caring people join together, roll up their sleeves and take action to make their community better, it’s a beautiful thing—and an incredible feeling for everyone involved. That’s Lions. Being a Lion is about leading by example, building relationships and improving the world through kindness. It’s 1.4 million caring men and women serving together so they can make a lasting impact and change more lives.
Membership Info
To submit an application please click on the link below. First year dues are $110, following annual dues are $80. Meetings are on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
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