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About Kiwanis
Founded in 1915 in Detroit and with headquarters
now in Indianapolis, Kiwanis International is a thriving organization of
service- and community-minded individuals who support children and young adults
around the world. More than 600,000 Kiwanis-family members in 94 countries make
their mark by responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their
resources to address worldwide issues. Through these efforts, Kiwanis
International truly is "Serving the Children of the World."
Guided by six permanent Objects,
Kiwanis clubs view their role within their respective communities with a great
deal of foresight. Key aspects to operating an effective club include:
- Evaluating both children’s issues and
community needs on an ongoing basis
- Conducting service projects to respond to
those identified needs
- Maintaining an active membership roster of
professional business people who have both the desire and the ability to
serve their community
Club meetings traditionally are conducted once a
week and offer an atmosphere of fun, learning, and fellowship. In addition to
attending the meetings, the typical Kiwanian volunteers each month to assist
with club service projects.
Service projects often are linked to the Kiwanis
program, “Young Children: Priority One.” This initiative places continuing
focus on the needs of children in pediatric trauma, safety, child care, early
development, infant health, nutrition, and parenting skills.
Service projects also can address other needs
within the community, such as working to stop substance abuse, helping the
elderly, promoting literacy, supporting youth sports and recreation, responding
to disasters, and supporting specific persons in need.
Kiwanis also plays a special role in developing
future generations of leaders. K-Kids clubs at the elementary school level,
Builders Clubs in middle school and junior highs, Key Clubs in high schools, and
Circle K clubs at the collegiate level all are Kiwanis organizations that teach
community service and leadership skills to young people. In addition, Aktion
Clubs are made up of adults with mental and physical disabilities who
enthusiastically perform service to help others.
Worldwide, the entire Kiwanis family is
committed to eliminating the devastating effects of iodine deficiency disorders
(IDD), the world’s leading preventable cause of mental retardation. More than
1.5 billion people are at risk of suffering IDD because they do not receive
enough iodine in their diet. But, because of Kiwanis’ efforts, many parents
who have been affected by IDD are able to watch their children grow up healthy
and reach their full physical and mental potential. The results of the IDD
program will benefit every future generation.
A typical Kiwanis club is a snapshot of its
community, with members from all walks of life and at every step of the career
ladder. They are unified in their belief that children and their communities
benefit from the efforts of a proficient group of caring and involved
volunteers. In a typical year, Kiwanis clubs invest more than 6.2 million hours
and US$100 million in communities around the world. Through these efforts, the
Kiwanis organization truly leaves a lasting impression on future generations.
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