Each year the Deer Park Lions Club makes a $1000 donation to the Lions Club International Foundation and then names one member of the club as its Melvin Jones Fellow in honor of Melvin Jones, the founder of Lions Clubs International.  The Melvin Jones Fellowship Award is the highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism.

Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman, founded Lions International in 1917.  Lions, who are best known as "knights of the blind," also provide many other services in their communities including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and assisting the elderly and disabled.  Lions are a part of a global service network and their motto is "We Serve."

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service organization with 1.35 million members in more than 45,000 clubs worldwide.  The following members of the Deer Park Lions Club have been honored as Melvin Jones Fellows:

David Alt*

Andy Atwater

William "Wally" Balls*

Jay Beigel

David Buckland*

Steve Crum

Bill Francis

Jack Francis

Marlene Gienow 

Tom Groft

Dave Hopkins

Ron Kafchinski

Jim Kave*

Grace Liebno

Richard Liebno

Gene Myers

Robert Nelson

Richard Podobnik

Robin Ravenscroft

Norman Ravenscroft

Roger Sauter*

William Stonesifer*

Rose Yuhas

* indicates Progressive Melvin Jones Fellows - those who received the honor more than once