Mission Statement

Monterey Old Capitol Lions Club is a local service club working to provide support for vision and youth charities. We are part of the largest service organization in the world – Lions International. Monterey Old Capitol Lions Club exists to provide social interaction, fundraising, and activities that strengthen our community.

Assistance for Blind, Visually Impaired, and Youth Charities

Monterey Old Capitol Lions Club

Monterey Old Capitol Lions Club was chartered in June 1964 by Lions International, the largest global service organization. Our club was formed by a group of businesspeople to honor Monterey's Colton Hall as the founding Capitol of California. Old Capitol has represented Lions in Monterey County for over 60 years. We are a friendly club, working hard through various fundraising efforts to support other local charities. We have raised funds working for the Big Sur Marathon and at the Laguna Seca Races. We have sponsored classic car and motorcycle shows and many other fundraisers. Our current effort is "Chariots for Charity." Our club has raised well over $1,000,000 to support various vision and youth charities in Monterey County. The Monterey Old Capitol Lions Club was the leader in buying the property and founding The Blind Center in Pacific Grove in the early 1970s with continuing support for more than 50 years.

What It Means to Be a Lion

Lions International is one of the oldest and largest world-wide service organizations on the planet. Our local clubs are part of over 49,000 Lions clubs with 1.4 million members worldwide.

Local Lions have been providing service to the community for more than 100 years. In 1924 Helen Keller challenged Lions to become "Knights of the Blind."

One of our club's service projects is The Blind Center located in Pacific Grove. Local Lions Clubs raised funds and purchased the property at 225 Laurel Ave in 1972.

Our Lions members and local clubs renovated the buildings and assisted a group of blind and visually impaired people to form "The Blind & Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County."

The Lions Building for the Blind Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity providing a home for the activities of The Blind & Visually Impaired Center.

Lions participate in community fundraising; provide social and networking opportunities for our members; and provide our time, treasure, and talents to assist local nonprofit groups and strengthen our community.

Origins of Monterey as the "Old Capitol" of California

Monterey was founded in 1774 by the Spanish. Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra were instrumental in its development. Monterey became the Capital of the Province of California under the Spanish in 1777. The United State took possession of California during the Battle of Monterey in 1846. In 1849 the first Constitution of California was drafted in Monterey's Colton Hall. Colton Hall became the "First Capitol'' of California, whereas San Jose became the" First Capital" of California. ("Capitol" refers to a building and "Capital" refers to, among other things, a city as the seat of government.) The Monterey Old Capitol Lions Club was formed 105 years later to honor the history of the Monterey area.