The first Leo club was established in 1957 in Abington, Pennsylvania by Jim Graver, a high school baseball coach and member of the Glenside Lions club with assistance from William Ernst. The club originally adopted the high school's colours and created the acronym LEO to stand for Leadership, Equality and Opportunity with Equality later changed to Experience. Its purpose was to provide young people with opportunities for personal growth through community service and leadership development. The program quickly gained traction and by 1964, it became an officially sponsored project under Lions Clubs International expanding beyond Pennsylvania and the United States.

By 1967, the Leo Club Program had grown to over 200 clubs across 18 countries and in 1968, its expansion surged to 918 clubs in 48 countries. Today, Leo Clubs operate in over 140 countries with a global membership exceeding 160,000 young people. The club's focus is on fostering leadership skills, personal development and community service among youths aged 12 to 30 through various projects. The program is typically divided into Alpha Leo Clubs for teens and Omega Leo Clubs for young adults aiming to empower the next generation of leaders through engagement and social impact.

Leo Clubs are sponsored by Lions Clubs and former Leos often continue their service by joining Lions Clubs maintaining a strong connection between the two organizations. Lions are members of Lions Clubs International which is the largest service organization globally. Lions are established professionals and community leaders who focus on addressing wide-reaching challenges such as hunger, health, education, and disaster relief. They provide mentorship to Leos and support Leo programs.

Administrative Structure in Leoism

In Sri Lanka, the Leo Club movement is organized under Multiple District 306, which oversees six administrative Leo Districts spread across the country. The first Leo Club in Sri Lanka was established in 1969, shortly after the Lions Clubs had taken root on the island beginning in 1958. Sri Lanka's Leo movement has since expanded significantly, currently comprising over 160 Leo Clubs with more than 6,000 active members. These clubs are located in communities, colleges, and universities throughout Sri Lanka, promoting youth leadership, community service, and personal development.

The Multiple District 306 structure ensures unity and efficient administration for the Leo Clubs across Sri Lanka, fostering collaboration and coordinated efforts among the districts. As of 2025, the existing six districts within Multiple District 306 will be reorganized into 12 districts (D1 to D12) to further enhance service outreach.

Importantly, Leo Club of Kalubowila comes under Leo District 306 D2 in Sri Lanka’s Multiple District 306 structure. This district affiliation connects the club with other Leo Clubs in the region under coordinated leadership enabling collaboration and shared goals for youth empowerment and community service within Sri Lanka. With support from the Lions Club of Colombo Kalubowila and leadership from a dedicated Leo Advisor, the club continues to thrive as a vital part of the Leo movement in Sri Lanka.