By Sophie Pappas
The Zionsville Alpha Leo Club, a group of pre-teen and teenage Lions Club kids, started as a way for adult Lions Club members’ kids and grandkids to get involved with community events.
But according to Lions Club member Leigh Ann Akard, the Alpha Leos have become so much more.
“We actually started getting kids that don’t have family members in the club,” she said. “We decided to open the club to really be a community club for kids from ages 12 to 18.”
Leigh Ann’s son, Anthony, has been a president of the club and now another son, Spencer, is the new president, following the year under Drew Hobick.
During Hobick’s time as president, the group raised more than $250 for the Lion’s International Measles Initiative. The Leos conducted a Bake Sale during the Eggnormous Easter Egg Hunt to raise the money.
“We wanted to donate to the Measles Initiative so that we can help children not only in our community, but in other countries as well. We can immunize one child from measles with just one dollar raised,” Hobick said.
Members and their families baked cookies before the event.
“I’m really impressed with how much these guys have done,” Leigh Ann said. “But they work together really well. And it’s not just boys, there are girls in the group too.”
Leigh Ann said that there are club members from homeschooling groups, private schools and Zionsville Community Schools.
“We don’t have regular, boring meetings,” Spencer said.
The Alpha Leos are helping the Lions Club during Fall Festival, and will be the hosts of LeoPalooza, a drug and alcohol free party for kids on Saturday night.
“It’s for the young adults,” Leigh Ann said.
The Alpha Leos will also be helping during the VIP Carnival night, which is a special evening on Friday just for kids with special needs and their families.
“The Leos will be designated riders,” Leigh Ann said. “This means that because some special needs people can’t go on rides by themselves or maybe their parents are too elderly to ride with them, the Leos can ride and be their buddy.”
