On April 22nd 1925 the International Association of Lions Clubs granted a local charter to the Lions Club of Bremerton, the new club started with 20 original members and has met continuously in service to the Bremerton community for over 86 years.
In the mid-40's we became the moving force behind the first community swimming pool, located on the South banks of the Washington Narrows. It was the recreational center piece for the city until dismantled, with the space being used for an expanded boat launch facility and picnic area.

      With the initial pledge of $10,000 in 1959, the facility now known as Lions Park was developed off Lebo Boulevard along the Washington Narrows. Through the years we have invested more money and manpower to plant Poplar trees, construct restrooms, picnic shelters, benches, storage buildings and walking trails. It’s now a premium community site for softball, tennis, soccer, boating, fishing, and picnicking.

      In the late 1960's Bremerton Central Lions made the first $50 donation to purchase materials for what was to become the first White Cane Days fund-raising effort to support the Northwest Lions Eye Bank. Recently renamed Sight Life, it is one of the largest eye banks in the country with the annual White Canes Days fundraiser now contributing approximately $200,000 to the budget each year.

      Following sale of a swimming beach in the Kitsap Lake area, the club purchased property near Holly, consisting of a lodge building, river-front camp sites and 80 acres of timber. Given the name Camp Sundown, the facility was used by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. After 3+ decades of management and maintenance, it was sold in the 70's, when conditions mitigated the value of maintaining it. In 1989 a large sum realized from the sale of Camp Sundown, was placed in the Bremerton Central Lions Charitable Foundation, a 501 (C) 3 organization.

$125,000 from the sale of Camp Sundown in the 1970s was contributed for the completion of the gymnasium in the new YMCA Family Aquatic and Recreation Center. We continue to support their programs with annual contributions.

      In the early 1990s steps were taken toward renovating a 50-year old theatre in Bremerton, as part of the revitalization of downtown. Our club made a specific pledge of $60,000 toward the restoration of the marquee. We continue our support through supplying the volunteer labor for the maintenance of the Admiral Theatre marquee.