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

Dedicated to serving Special Olympics Athletes and Events, SOLA Lions Club was given its Charter on March 24, 2009, and had its Charter Installation on May 4, 2009, with International Lions Club President Al Brandel present. SOLA is the second Lions Club in the world to serve the athletes of Special Olympics. Since then, other Lions Clubs that primarily serve only Special Olympics Athletes and events are now called “Champions Lions Clubs.”

SOLA Lions provide logistical and volunteer support to champions in our community. As they step onto the track, field, pool, or court and compete, the athletes we serve are the ones who improve our lives as they challenge us all to do our best.

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