In Indiana, U.S., Kiwanians joined Rotarians to help create 1,976 acts of kindness. 

By Tony Knoderer 

The Kiwanis Club of Carmel, Indiana, U.S., made partnership a strength for everyone to see on August 5 — by joining the local Rotary club for a civic event that engaged the whole community.  

On that day, Carmel celebrated its 50th anniversary as a city with the Jim Irsay 1,976 Acts of Kindness Day. Irsay, who passed away in 2025, was the owner of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League — as well as a Kiwanian and a Rotarian.  

In honor of the anniversary, the event’s goal was to complete 1,976 acts of kindness in a single day.  

“It’s important to have partnerships for events like this,” says Trevor Nicholas, president of the Carmel Kiwanis club. “Just like when an individual member joins a club and his or her efforts are multiplied, the same thing applies when clubs partner together to create an even bigger team. Our efforts are way greater than the sum of our parts.”  

In addition to the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs — and support from the Colts — dozens of businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations participated as donors and volunteers. The daylong event began in the morning with public addresses from various leaders, including Kiwanis International Executive Director Paul Palazzolo and club member Brad Boyd. Attendees and participants included representatives from Carmel Fire Fighters, Indiana University North Hospital and others.  

“I’m just honored to be a part of something like this,” Nicholas says. “Before being Kiwanians, we’re citizens of our city, of our country, so it’s important that we give back and have pride in our communities.  

“And what better way to do that — and to celebrate — than to serve.” 

Snack packs and backsacks
Throughout the day, that service included more than 40 projects across the city, from food drives that supported multiple pantries to school-supply drives and educational workshops.  

As a group, the Kiwanis club helped to assemble 1,000 “seeds of caring” snack packs for Horizon House, a local charity that serves people experiencing homelessness, and put together 300 menstrual-care packs for Indy Hygiene Hub, which serves Indiana families in need.   

At one event, “Pack the Cruiser,” various Kiwanians and Rotarians joined Carmel Police and employees of Kroger to load items into a police car at a local Kroger grocery store. Shoppers were given a list of needed items — such as cereal cups, applesauce pouches and granola bars — and those who participated brought the items back to the volunteers in the parking lot.  

The items were then driven to Merciful H.E.L.P. Center. Through its Carmel Backsacks Project, the center provides two-day “backsacks” to children who are at risk of extreme hunger during weekends. Kiwanians and Rotarians joined local church members and other people from the community to pack food and drinks into decorated bags with positive messages for the recipients. 

“We would never try to accomplish any of our missions by ourselves,” says Jayne Slaton, executive director of Merciful H.E.L.P. Center. “We always incorporate other agencies, caring agencies, caring churches — anybody.” 

Such volunteer work is also a vital resource for Indy Hygiene Hub, says Bayley Petre, one of the organization’s board members: “Many hands make light work. We couldn’t do it without our partners who provide help, provide the products and help provide the volunteers. Tonight has been a wonderful night.” 

Make a connection
Words like that are music to the ears of Rick Markoff, the Carmel Rotary club member who was chairman of the Jim Irsay 1,976 Acts of Kindness Day and cochairman of the 50th anniversary of the city of Carmel.   

“What we saw is service organizations coming together, businesses coming together,” Markoff says. “All because they’re motivated to do something special, other than handing over a check. The most precious thing a person can give to any entity is their time.”  

For Trevor Nicholas, the Kiwanis club’s president, the community-wide event was a reminder that the effort of reaching out is a key part of collaboration.  

“Partnerships like this and events like this don’t happen if you don’t ask,” he says. “So make a call. Send an email. Make a connection and see what happens. You never know what can come about when people get together and come up with creative ideas.”