La Habra Host Lions Club
The La Habra Host Lions Club was organized in 1947. Two years later they were searching for an idea for their major fundraiser. One of its members, Bill Miller, knowing that Southern California had many transplanted mid-westerners suggested that the Club start an old fashioned corn festival. Initially, it was a one day event that was a community gathering that included square dancing, bingo and all the buttered ears of corn that one could eat. Sixth-two years later, not only does the festival live on– but it is the highlight of the social calendar in La Habra . The Festival has been expanded to cover an entire weekend and now includes numerous rides and attractions, independent food, game and craft booths, live music, a car raffle and a queen and her court! In addition to all of that, there is a traditional mile long parade on Saturday morning. This parade is one of the largest summer parades in Southern California and helps encourage folks to come by the festival located in El Centro Lions Park .
The net proceeds from this event supplies a large portion of the funds distributed to the various local and Lions Club recognized charities and causes. A partial list includes Lions Clubs international Foundation, Lions Eye Foundation, Southern California Lions Eye Institute, City of Hope , Canine Companions for Independence , teen Recognition, the La Habra Boys and Girls Club, and many others.
The most recent festival, held this past August 7-9, 2009 brought in net proceeds of over $65,000.00. The Parade had about 25,000 onlookers and an estimated 75,000 people filled the park over the three day period. In addition, for the event a beautiful baby contest and a corn cob eating contest were added. There were plenty of tacos, burritos, funnel cakes, hamburgers, ice cream and sodas and of course about 14,000 ears of buttered corn were gobbled up. The weather was unusually cool and pleasant which lent itself to a large turnout and enjoyable weekend.
Since the beginning in 1949, some $2.5 million has been raised and distributed to a variety of worthy organizations, projects and causes.
In 2005, the club formed the La Habra Host Lions Foundation. The Foundation is now the fundraising and dispersing arm of the Club. All donations made to the Foundation are tax-deductible as the Foundation is recognized by the federal government as a 501(C)3 corporation.
The La Habra Host Lions Club is a very active and committed club. It takes the International Motto of “We Serve” to heart. Beyond that, it has a tradition of excellence, as witnessed by the fact that the Club has produced 4 District Governors and 4 District 4-L4 Lions of the Year. The Club members have included La Habra Citizens of the Year, numerous City Councilmen and Mayors, Chamber of Commerce Presidents and other civic leaders. The Club also supports a very active Leos Club.
