The Clarendon Hills Lions Club didn’t create any fanfare to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2025.
Rather, the organization continued with the same mission it’s always had and is carrying into 2026: to provide humanitarian service and financial support to the community and Lions International through the voluntary involvement of members.
The Lions Club has worked to raise funds to enable the disadvantaged to see more clearly with a pair of glasses, or a blind child to read with specialized equipment.
“We obtain large print books for the library, and we raise funds to tackle tough problems like drug abuse prevention, river blindness and diabetes awareness,” said Brian Keating, the group’s president. “Serving as a member of the Clarendon Hills Lions Club takes time and sometimes involves hard work, harsh conditions and sweat. We do our work and serve so that others may have a higher level of dignity in their lives.”
Bill Hamel has operated a dentistry practice in Clarendon Hills for about 40 years. He has been a Club member since 1985 and currently is its secretary. He joined the club on a suggestion from someone and has remained active ever since.
“My time is more valuable than my money,” Hamel said. It’s all about philanthropy. It is really important to me to give back; my life is blessed. You see so much need, it drives you forward. And I kind of got hooked on it, meeting great people.”
Hamel said the Clarendon Hills Lions Club currently has 51 members and has had up to 75 in past years.
Keating said group members represent many different careers and participate in many other organizations, including various civic and faith based organizations.
“As Lions we come together to work and serve with over 1.3 million Lions members worldwide to help answer specific needs that challenge our community,” he said.
The Clarendon Hills Lions Club’s biggest annual fundraiser is its Christmas Tree sale that has taken place for more than 60 years. Since its inception, the tree sale has provided more than $1 million to worthy causes. In addition, when Dutch elm disease was killing the elm trees in the village in the 1960s and 70s, the Lions Club used some of the proceeds from the Christmas tree sale to plant more than 1,000 trees in Clarendon Hill parkways.
“The Christmas tree sale is a tradition for numerous families, starting from the time the children are infants to when they return as adults with children of their own,” group member Jim Johnson told others in the Clarendon Hills Lions Club.
“Many generations have come to the tree sale because they want to give back in a tangible way to help those less fortunate than themselves. Others continue to come year after year because the Lions helped their family members get through some difficult times with health issues. Many times, people come to the tree sale, see the good work being done, and then want to join the Clarendon Hills Lions Club.”
Students from Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South high schools earn community service credit for helping with unloading the trees and sales.
Probably the place where the name of the local Lions Club is most often seen is the swimming pool — Lions Park Pool — operated by the Clarendon Hills Park District. The pool was opened in 1992 and managed and operated by the Lions Club. In 2003, the Lions Club decided it no longer was up to those tasks, so the park district was asked to take over.
While it no longer operates the pool, the Lions Club did work toward the passing of the 2024 $8 million referendum to fund improvements at the pool and some additional park improvements. The pool was closed in 2025 for improvements work and is scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend in 2026.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
