Organized on May 4, 1917 the Young Men's Business League of Beaumont, Texas, with a membership of more than 1,000, "strives to improve the general welfare of the city of Beaumont and Southeast Texas; it develops and pursues programs which will maintain and improve the city's educational facilities and opportunities; it undertakes activities to enhance the agricultural and commercial resources of the area; it takes part in projects which will benefit the youth as well as the elderly; the YMBL is ever mindful of the needs of the community in fields of health and welfare, public works and civic improvement, governmental leadership and spiritual guidance."