We Serve Champions

SOLA (Special Olympics Los Angeles) Lions Club supports sports and training programs for any individual with intellectual disabilities — thereby improving their lives and the lives of everyone they touch. We are dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences.

Working in partnership with Special Olympics of Southern California, SOLA Lions Club provides resources to make training events and competition happen locally in the San Gabriel Valley and Greater Los Angeles.

We provide athletes with places to play, uniforms, celebrations, medals, and more, all made possible through the year-round work of our volunteers. We invite you to join us in supporting our athletes by giving of your time.

Our Mission

"To take an active interest and participate in the mission and vision of the Special Olympics. To help provide sports and training programs for any individual with intellectual disabilities and thereby improve their lives and the lives of everyone they touch."

Our History

Founding the First Special Olympics Lions Club

The Special Olympics Los Angeles (SOLA) Lions Club was born out of a shared vision of service and inclusion. On March 11, 2009, fifteen community-minded individuals gathered at Oralingua House for the first organizational meeting. A week later, the club elected its first officers, including President Dr. Elisa Roach, and by March 24, the SOLA Lions Club was officially chartered with 45 members—becoming the first Lions Club in the world dedicated to serving Special Olympics athletes.

Our Charter Night was held on May 4, 2009, with over 100 guests and a presentation by Lions Clubs International President Al Brandel. That summer, 35 SOLA Lions attended their first Special Olympics Summer Games at Cal State Long Beach, followed by our first softball competition at York Field in Whittier and our first holiday program providing meals and grocery cards for Special Olympics families.

Throughout our inaugural year, members established club bylaws, designed our logo, incorporated as a nonprofit, and began the process of forming the SOLA Lions Foundation, now a registered 501(c)(3).

Building Traditions of Service and Friendship

By 2010, SOLA had grown to 49 members. That year we began supporting Special Olympics competitions year-round—from swim meets and softball tournaments to Tip-A-Cop fundraisers and Healthy Athlete screenings. At the 2010 Summer Games, 35 SOLA Lions worked alongside Chapman University to provide hearing screenings to over 700 athletes.

We also launched our first “SOLA Afternoon” fundraising event, hosted socials on the Fourth of July, and expanded our holiday food program to serve 40 families.

In 2011, SOLA hosted its first Annual Swim Meet at La Serna High School, held in the middle of a rainstorm but filled with laughter and cheers. That same year, we held a successful fundraiser at Portofino’s in La Habra, attended our first District 4-L2 convention, and continued our annual Special Olympics Softball Tournament. On November 2, 2011, our Foundation officially received 501(c)(3) status.

A Model for Inclusion: The Champions Club

Beginning in 2010, SOLA leaders helped shape the vision of what a Special Olympics–focused Lions Club could be. Working closely with Lions Clubs International and Special Olympics International, the club helped define a new category of service organization—what would later become known as “Champions Lions Clubs.”

SOLA Lions members went on to present about the Champions model at two International Lions Conventions, three MD-4 Conventions, and in multiple Lions International podcasts—inspiring clubs worldwide to follow our lead.

Spotlight on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games

When Los Angeles was selected to host the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, SOLA Lions were there from the start. We attended the official announcement at the Staples Center and worked with the Whittier Host Town Committee to welcome 123 athletes from Macau, China, housing them at Biola University and providing hospitality during their visit.

Over the years, SOLA expanded its competitions to include basketball, track and field exhibitions, and ongoing support for the Healthy Athletes program. A highlight came in 2018, when SOLA hosted 16 Special Olympics softball teams and welcomed the Lions Clubs International Board of Directors to our event, providing free vision and hearing screenings for over 300 athletes—and debuting our now-iconic blue SOLA shirts.

Service, Partnership, and Recognition

Our fundraisers have taken many forms—from hoe-downs and concert concessions to our signature Charity Golf Tournament, first held at California Country Club and later at Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier.

The impact of Lions and Special Olympics working together continues to grow. Since 2001, the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has contributed more than $28 million to Special Olympics, enabling free vision screenings for 455,000 athletes and eyeglasses for 194,000, and helping launch over 20 Champions Lions Clubs worldwide.

In February 2019, the SOLA Lions Club was honored as “Club of the Year” for 2017-2018 at the MD-4 State Convention—selected from over 700 Lions Clubs across California. Past District Governor Alberto Montes de Oca accepted the award on behalf of SOLA.

Continuing the Legacy

Today, SOLA Lions remain dedicated to inclusion, service, and community. We volunteer year-round at Special Olympics events, provide financial support for team uniforms and competition costs, and host annual celebrations for athletes and families.

While we are still a relatively young club, the SOLA Lions Club has made a lasting mark—not only in our local community but also across the global Lions movement. Our story continues because of the heart, leadership, and friendship of every Lion who has proudly worn the blue SOLA shirt.

“We may be a young club,” said Guiding Lion Ron Copley, “but we’ve made a huge impact on Lionism and Special Olympics alike. It’s all possible because of our great leadership and our terrific members.”

About Special Olympics

From humble beginnings at Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s home in Washington DC in 1962 with 16 “campers” with Intellectual Disabilities,  Special Olympics was born and in the 50 years has grown worldwide with 5.5 million athletes with intellectual disabilities involved in Special Olympics programs around the world, which includes:

•             Africa Region.

•             Asia Pacific Region.

•             East Asia Region.

•             Europe/Eurasia Region.

•             Latin America Region.

•             Middle East/North Africa Region.

•             North America Region.

 In addition, Special Olympics has more than 1.1 million coaches and volunteers with 244 national and U.S. programs in 193 countries.

Special Olympics provides opportunities for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), of any age, to participate in sports practice and competitions. Not only do they gain the knowledge of the sports, but the benefits of participating in Special Olympics also includes increase strength and physical fitness, prevents social isolation, improves communication skills, boosts cognitive abilities, forges new relationships with family and community members and gives the athletes a sense of achievement.

Special Olympics is growing daily, with new teams forming all across the world.

Support is always needed to provide practice locations, competitions, equipment, uniforms and volunteers. For this reason, the SOLA Lions Club was formed to serve athletes in the greater community.

SOLA Lions Club works in close collaboration with the Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) Central Division staff to provide financial or hands-on  needs for our Special Olympics Athletes.

To learn more about SOSC, visit: SOSC

To learn more about Lions Clubs International, visit: LCI