Our History
The Brooklyn Caribe Lions Club was founded in October 15, 1973 and was sponsored by the Downtown Brooklyn Lions Club, under the leadership of Lion Armando Castellano who was also the first president of the Brooklyn Caribe lions club.
Twenty-three chartered members have been inducted and installed as officers of this club. They are: Lion Armando Castellano (R.I.P. – first president), Lion Julio Barrilla , ( secretary), Lion Adriano Medina (Treasurer), Lion Joseph Aportella, Lion James Berenthal, Lion Pedro Cardenas, Lion Armando Castellano, Jr., Lion Carlos Castellano, Lion Ismael Cruz, Lion Marcos A. Diaz, Lion Reginaldo Fonte, Lion Manuel Garcia, Lion Rafael Garotiza, Lion Luis Olmedo, Lion Fausto Padron, Lion Alejandro Perez, Lion Jose Rivero, Lion Jose Sanchez, Lion Javier and Lion Raul Torres.
Throughout the twenty-nine years, nineteen Lion members have served as President of our Club. Among them L. Armando Castellano (Founder of the Club – R.I.P), L. Javier Santiago, L. Ralph Panaranda, L. Jorge Garcia, L. Ismael Cruz, L. Eddie Vidal, L. Gerardo Mariani, L. Armando Rivera, L. Julian Rivera, L. Anthony Miranda, L. Frank Mendez, L. Eloy Acosta (VDG- 1997-98), L. Noemi Acosta, L. Osvaldo Torres L. Oswald “Ozzie” Torres, L. Ronaldo Rojas, L. Juan Rafael Espinal, L. Melissa Torres, L.Elizabeth Morales, L.Jose Narvaez, L.Sarita Ayala, and L.Luis Aponte (current president).
The Brooklyn Caribe Lions Club has always been recognized and admired for the dynamic display of their membership. It was the first Club within the district to establish the Lioness Club under the presidency of Lion Rosita Santiago who managed most of the functions and activities under the sponsorship of the Lions club. Many events took place which brought enough resources to spread and give to the most needy in our community based organizations, schools, churches, health care and nursing homes. Our Club has always been present in most of the Hispanic affairs, parades, Board of Education meetings and at the local Precinct community boards. Every New Years Eve, our Club presents to the first born of the year a small basket of wardrobe for baby. Visiting the nursing homes for the elderly has been a tradition to bring happiness and joy during the Christmas season. On the festivity of the Three Kings, boys and girls are given toys as has been the tradition of our Club.
The Brooklyn Caribe Lions Club through the pass year has been functioning with an extensive budget in order to improve and satisfy the needs of the poor, handicapped, elderly and the blind. At this date we are sustaining two paid professors in Honduras. A substantial amount of contributions are presented to the Boy Scouts of America of the greater New York area every year. The Club sponsors softball Little League team for the boys, participate every year in the New York marathon, at the campaign sight first pledge, our Club commit itself to a two hundred and fifty dollars pledge for every member. Wheelchairs, crutches, eyeglasses, medicine, electric beds, ophthalmology equipment, dentist, clothes and cash flow have been carried to Guatemala, Peru, Chile , San Salvador, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and other countries. Our continuous support to the Guide Dog Foundation, Empire speech and Hearing Clinic, Handicapped Scouts, vacation camp for the blind and also overseas organizations; further demonstrates the Lions motto: “WE SERVE”.
"WE SERVE"