Grants enhance CKI partnerships

Grants enhance CKI partnerships

Mar 21, 2025 | General interest, Kiwanis Children's Fund, Service Leadership Programs, Service projects | 0 comments

Eleven Circle K International projects get support from Tomorrow Fund grants.

By Erin Chandler 

    Members of Circle K International (CKI) are forming vital partnerships to find creative solutions in college and university communities around the world. The Kiwanis Children’s Fund established the Tomorrow Fund to help CKI clubs make the greatest possible positive impact as the next generation of servant leaders.  

    This February, the Children’s Fund awarded Tomorrow Fund grants to six CKI clubs and five districts that are teaming up with local organizations, schools and more to serve where they are needed most.  

    Baby Supplies for Families in Need
    Circle K International of Arizona State University, U.S.
    Arizona State University CKI’s support kits will help vulnerable members of the community — including those experiencing homelessness — cope with the stresses of new parenthood. A Tomorrow Fund grant will help the club purchase blankets, diapers, wipes and other essential items. CKI members, prospective members and members of the Kiwanis Club of Tempe will come together to pack the supplies into 20-40 kits, which will be distributed to those in need through House of Refuge. 

    CKI Gives
    Circle K International of the University of the Philippines Los Baños
    Each year since 2017, the University of the Philippines Los Baños CKI creates a special Christmas for community children in need. Club members hold a celebration that includes games and storytelling, and they give kids Christmas gifts, hygiene kits and Noche Buena meal packages. A Tomorrow Fund grant will go toward the purchase of gifts; hygiene items such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, bandages and nail clippers; and Noche Buena food items, including rice, rice noodles, soy sauce, fruits and biscuits. 

    The Present and Ready Project
    Circle K International of the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
    The University of Cincinnati CKI is taking on the problem of chronic absenteeism in Cincinnati Public Schools. A Tomorrow Fund grant will help provide backpacks filled with school supplies — including scissors, folders, writing supplies and art supplies — for families that might not be able to afford them. The club also will provide resources for parents on mental health, transportation and other factors that can contribute to frequent school absences. Club members will provide handmade letters of encouragement and bookmarks to accompany books donated by Queen City Book Bank. 

    Boys and Girls Club Craft Class
    Circle K International of the University of Texas at Dallas, U.S.
    The University of Texas at Dallas CKI will continue last year’s Tomorrow Fund-grant-awarded project, hosting art classes for kids at the local Boys and Girls Club. Grant funds will go toward supplies for crafts such as yarn flowers, slime, bracelets, origami, decorated journals and more. Club members hope to serve as mentors to the children and give them a healthy emotional outlet through art. 

    Empower Her: Bridging the Gap in Menstrual Health
    Circle K International of the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
    A Tomorrow Fund grant will help the University of the West Indies CKI purchase pads, menstrual cups and other menstrual hygiene products to reduce “period poverty” in the community. The supplies will go into menstrual kits for 200-plus students at UWI and Papine High School, plus permanent “period corners” that will be restocked regularly at both schools. Funds also will go toward resources and speakers for menstrual health education workshops, which will help eliminate myths and stigma around menstruation and provide information on lesser-known issues like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. 

    After School Soup Konnection
    Circle K International of the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada
    The University of Windsor CKI will work with Feeding Windsor Essex on the After School Soup Konnection program, which provides meals to children in need every Friday after school. A Tomorrow Fund grant will help provide soup, granola bars, juice, applesauce, oatmeal and other nutritious foods — enough to provide food packs to over 150 kids every week throughout the school year. 

    Hygiene for Hope Program
    Circle K International Eastern Canada District
    The Eastern Canada District of CKI plans to expand a hygiene kit program — begun by the University of Windsor’s CKI club — across Ontario. A Tomorrow Fund grant will go toward enough shampoo, soap, hand sanitizer, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other essential hygiene items to assemble into 549 kits. Volunteers will distribute the kits to shelters across the province, where district leaders hope they will improve the health and dignity of people experiencing homelessness.  

    Making No-Sew Fleece Blankets at Georgia CKI District Convention
    Circle K International Georgia District, U.S.
    A Tomorrow Fund grant will help provide enough fleece and scissors for members of the CKI Georgia District to make 50 no-sew blankets at their annual convention. The blankets will go to Simple Needs GA’s My Birthday Matters program, which provides toys, books and supplies to children celebrating birthdays while experiencing homelessness in Cobb County, Georgia. The blankets made at the convention will supply 10% of the program’s annual need. 

    Sojourn Shelter Survivors Self-Care Project
    Circle K International Illinois-Eastern Iowa District, U.S.
    Members of the CKI Illinois-Eastern Iowa District will spend part of their district convention making supply kits to support the dignity and recovery of survivors of domestic violence at Sojourn Shelter. A Tomorrow Fund grant will help purchase personal hygiene items like shampoo, conditioner and body wash; self-care items like nail polish and lip oil; notebooks and coloring books; and underwear for the shelter’s general supply. Altogether, the supplies will go into 30 kits for women, two for men and 20 for children. 

    New England CKI District Convention Meal Packing
    Circle K International New England District, U.S.
    A Tomorrow Fund grant will help the New England District of CKI purchase supplies needed for members to pack over 10,000 shelf-stable, nutritious meals at their annual convention. Through a collaboration with End Hunger New England, the meals will go to families in need, children’s backpack programs and food cupboards in vulnerable communities. District leaders hope that members who participate in the project will be inspired to learn and do more to combat food insecurity with their clubs. 

    Ronald McDonald House Charities Care Kits
    Circle K International Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District, U.S.
    A Tomorrow Fund grant will help the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District of CKI put together approximately 48 activity kits for children and families staying in Ronald McDonald Houses in Eastern Wisconsin. The kits will contain coloring books, fidget toys and other items to provide distraction or comfort to kids of all ages undergoing medical treatment. CKI members hope these kits will elevate the mental and emotional wellbeing of Ronald McDonald House families during difficult times.  

    How to get involved
    Does your Circle K International group have a project idea that could benefit from a Tomorrow Fund grant? Learn more about the grant and how to apply. If your Kiwanis club does not yet sponsor a CKI club, learn about the advantages of chartering one.   

    Methods of membership growth 

    Methods of membership growth 

    Mar 21, 2025 | Club building, General interest | 0 comments

    From service to testimonial videos, one U.S. Kiwanis club is increasing membership in multiple ways.

    By Tony Knoderer

    In addition to service that makes a difference, there are several ways for a Kiwanis club to thrive — from fellowship among members to communication beyond the club. 

    The strongest clubs excel at all of them. For example, the Kiwanis Club of Carolina Forest, South Carolina, U.S., started in November 2023 — and already has over 30 members. Loren Korn, the club’s membership committee chair, shares how they did it, with some possible points of inspiration for your club. 

    Spread the word!
    “We share our meetings, service projects and birthday celebrations on Facebook and Instagram — along with Testimonial Tuesday videos, where members say why they joined or love Kiwanis Carolina Forest. We’ve also had success with word of mouth. We ask members to bring one friend to a meeting, and that’s also been helpful.” 

    Build a culture of fellowship
    “Kiwanis Carolina Forest is unique because of our diverse ages and backgrounds. Our second monthly meeting is a happy hour where we get to know each other and form friendships. It’s our favorite meeting by far! It also garners a lot of attention on social media — that’s how we got a few new members.” 

    Have a signature project
    “Our main project is called the Kiwanis Kloset, where we provide new clothing and toiletries to schools to help students in need. We also serve a monthly dinner to the kids at an emergency shelter called Sea Haven.” 

    Stay active in service and fundraising
    “We just partnered with Freedom Readers to build free mini-libraries, and a couple of us volunteer to read with the kids once a week. We do several fundraisers, including golf tournaments, trivia nights and bowling. We’re also working on a Kids Business Expo that will be held in April.”   

    To see more of the Kiwanis Forest Club’s online presence, check out its Facebook page — which includes a video series of Tuesday Testimonials from members. 

    Getting down to the business of membership

    Getting down to the business of membership

    Mar 20, 2025 | Club building, General interest | 0 comments

    A Kiwanis club in Ontario, Canada, has grown by giving young professionals a fun networking opportunity.

    By Erin Chandler 

    When Kiwanis International was founded in 1915, it was an organization to help businessmen make a positive impact in their communities. According to Jarrod Goldsmith, president of the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, “growing their business and networking” is still one of the top reasons people join Kiwanis.  

    With that in mind, Goldsmith proposed a new recruitment program for his club in 2023: Kiwanis Socials. From 5-8 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month, the Ottawa club hosts a social networking event at different locations around the city. The events are open to non-Kiwanians as well as members of Kiwanis clubs throughout the area.  

    “These are not Kiwanis Club of Ottawa Socials,” he says. “These are Kiwanis socials.” 

    The only stipulation? The locations must be fun and engaging: a bar, a restaurant, an activity center, etc. Goldsmith encourages clubs to eschew the traditional church basements and find alternative places willing to host an event free of charge.  

    The goal of Kiwanis Socials is to attract younger members who will keep Kiwanis serving communities well into the future. 

    “Adapt the organization to where you think the prospective members would be,” Goldsmith advises. 

    How does it work?
    Goldsmith, who has professional experience organizing and hosting events, designed Kiwanis Socials to showcase the fun, vibrant side of Kiwanis — a complement to its ability to form connections and help communities. 

    The events are free of charge and open to anyone who would like to attend. The typical social draws 30-50 attendees, about half of whom are non-Kiwanis members. There is always food, either provided by the venue or donated by a third-party sponsor. 

    Goldsmith takes no more than the first 10 minutes to thank the venue and sponsor — giving them a chance to advertise their services — and to talk about the mandate and values of Kiwanis.  

    “I don’t believe in sales pitches,” he says. “Kiwanis is such an easy sell.” 

    Goldsmith makes sure to recognize all clubs in attendance. Each club gets a turn at the mic to let everyone know about upcoming events and to ask for extra help if needed. This lets nonmembers see the real work Kiwanis does. Recently, Goldsmith has even spoken to local Rotary clubs about taking part. Other clubs and service organizations aren’t the competition, he says. 

    “We should be working together to promote the community.” 

    The rest of the event is for having fun and allowing attendees to network, although there is always the opportunity to bring the conversation back to why Kiwanis matters and the impact it has. 

    “Networking is what I do,” Goldsmith says. “I like connecting the ecosystem, the community, together.” 

    Tips for success
    For clubs looking to host their own Kiwanis Socials, Goldsmith has some additional advice: 

    • To organize and lead your socials, look for an active club member who already attends networking events and might have existing relationships in the business community. They can draw on these connections for sponsorships and attendance. 
    • Plan your events six months in advance and be consistent with dates and times. 
    • Encourage attendees to engage on social media — take pictures, tag the people and clubs who are there, and use a designated hashtag. This will help increase your club’s social media presence. 
    • Give door prizes donated by community organizations. Everyone loves a prize — and if you give out tickets for door prizes at the beginning of the night, but award the prizes at the end, it provides an incentive to stay. 
    • Set up an online RSVP system so that you know approximately how many attendees you will have. If someone shows up without an RSVP, no big deal — just provide forms for them to fill out their contact information. 

    Think outside the box
    When Goldsmith first pitched the idea of Kiwanis Socials, he says some members were skeptical of trying something new, especially an idea from a younger person. But he persisted. 

    “’We’ve always done it this way’ is the kiss of death [for a club],” he says. “This is thinking differently. And it’s working.” 

    The Kiwanis Club of Ottawa has gained approximately 25 new members since it began hosting Kiwanis Socials.  

    “The city of Ottawa is once again talking about Kiwanis, and these Kiwanis Socials are a big reason why our membership is growing,” Goldsmith says. “People are joining our membership because of these events. Because they see the value of intergenerational synergies.” 

    Above all, Goldsmith encourages Kiwanians to be open to new ideas and perspectives from younger members. 

    “Let them run with it,” he says. “What have you got to lose? It’s their time on the line. Probably won’t cost anything at all. It doesn’t cost us anything for these Socials. So why not? The worst that can happen is you’ll have a new project.”