Connecting with Key Club creativity 

Connecting with Key Club creativity 

Nov 20, 2024 | General interest, Service Leadership Programs, Service projects | 0 comments

In California, U.S., a Kiwanis club’s festival benefits from students’ energy.  

By Julie Saetre

Seven years ago, the Mountain View Kiwanis Club in California, U.S., decided to hold its first Harvest History Festival to celebrate Mountain View’s agricultural past. For help with the event, the club reached out to the two Key Clubs they sponsor. In fact, they made an offer: In return for assistance, the Kiwanis club would pay each student volunteer’s Key Club membership dues for the year. The response was enthusiastic — and impressive. 

“They helped with the setup, they helped with the tear-down. The city [representatives] were so impressed with them,” says Marina Marinovic, a Mountain View club member. “And so, as the festival kept going, I would think of ways that we could raise some money for them.” 

At subsequent Harvest History Festivals, Key Club members have sold snacks and raffle tickets to raise money for their club budgets. And their festival responsibilities grew to include face-painting, manning a coloring table, guiding children through arts and crafts projects and more. 

When one of Marinovic’s neighbors was giving away a puppet theater, Marinovic approached the Key Clubs and asked whether they’d like to create a puppet show for the festival. The members readily agreed.  

Thanks to their enthusiasm, Marinovic now hopes the clubs will be able to hold future performances for young patients at area children’s hospitals. It’s not just the spirit of service but the Key Clubbers’ passion for creative projects that makes her optimistic. 

“I don’t think they get an opportunity to do that so much in school anymore,” Marinovic says. “So it seems they enjoy doing something that is fun and great for children.” 

Is your club making the most of its Key Club sponsorship? Marinovic advises Kiwanis clubs to reach out to their Key Club members and discuss ways that their clubs can collaborate.  

“It’s great to interact with kids and see how resourceful and wonderful they are to work with,” she says. “It’s great to have the young energy there and for them to interact with older members. It just really brings up the spirit of the whole event. I don’t think we recognize that they can really support Kiwanis clubs as an asset.” 

Grants help CKI do more in communities

Grants help CKI do more in communities

Sep 6, 2024 | General interest, Kiwanis Children's Fund, Service Leadership Programs | 0 comments

Six Circle K International projects receive Tomorrow Fund grants.

By Erin Chandler

Circle K International members are the next generation of servant leaders — and they’re already making a difference in college and university communities around the world. The Kiwanis Children’s Fund established the Tomorrow Fund to help these clubs implement more creative solutions to problems and make the greatest possible positive impact. 

This July, the Children’s Fund awarded Tomorrow Fund grants to six new CKI projects that will bring vital resources where they are needed most. 

Connect, Learn and Act for Disaster Prevention
Circle K International of Ashiya University, Japan
Ashiya University CKI plans to host a disaster-preparedness course for attendees of the 2025 CKI Asia-Pacific Conference. A Tomorrow Fund grant will go toward the fees for an expert-led lecture and workshop. The course will also include a tour of a disaster-prevention experience-learning facility. Ashiya CKI members hope the clubs that take part in the experience will be motivated to host similar courses in Asian communities that commonly deal with disasters such as earthquakes, floods and tsunamis. 

Literacy Kits Donation for Young Students
Circle K International of Pace University, New York, U.S.
A Tomorrow Fund grant will help Pace University CKI purchase backpacks, school supplies and hygiene kits to distribute to kids in need in New York City. CKI members will fill the backpacks with supplies and deliver them to schools participating in Jumpstart’s “Read for the Record” early literacy program. The school supplies, including copies of the book being read aloud during “Read for the Record,” will help engage kids in learning and reading, while the hygiene supplies will reduce absences and boost confidence. 

Leading for Literacy: Little Free Libraries
Circle K International of the University of Alabama, U.S.
University of Alabama CKI will use its Tomorrow Fund grant to help purchase kits with all the materials necessary to build Little Free Libraries at three area Title I schools. Through this project, kids whose families might not be able to purchase books will be able to build their home libraries, practice reading outside of school and develop their love of learning. The club plans to turn its Leading for Literacy book drive into an annual event that will allow club members to continually restock each Little Free Library.   

Community Book Fair
Circle K International of the University of Central Florida, U.S.
University of Central Florida CKI intends to increase literacy rates in its community’s public elementary schools by hosting a series of engaging, interactive book fairs. A Tomorrow Fund grant will help the club purchase books and school supplies, some of which will be available to students for free, and themed learning games. CKI volunteers will lead the games during the book fairs and donate them to the schools afterward. The club also intends to follow up with the participating schools, hosting storybook readings and providing tutoring where needed. 

Decorating Bags for Meals on Wheels and Senior Resources
Circle K International of the University of South Carolina, U.S.
The University of South Carolina will use its Tomorrow Fund grant to purchase paper and cloth bags for the local Meals on Wheels and Senior Resources programs, as well as art supplies to decorate the bags with messages and artwork. The bags will be filled with food for community members who struggle to afford groceries or to get to the store. CKI members hope the decorated bags will help fill both the nutritional and emotional needs of those who receive them.  

Once Upon a Time Literacy Service Project
Circle K International Florida District, U.S.
A Tomorrow Fund grant will help purchase supplies for the district-wide “Once Upon a Time” project to promote literacy at the 2025 CKI Florida District Convention. Participants will rotate through a variety of small service projects: making reading pointers, bottle cap letters, sight word flashcards, number flashcards, paper bag hand puppets, bookmarks and booklets. They will also write messages inside books that the Kiwanis Club of Avalon will distribute to local K-Kids. The project’s organizers hope to inspire young children to love reading and to inspire clubs to replicate these projects in their communities. 

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.  

Tips for partnering with SLP clubs 

Tips for partnering with SLP clubs 

Aug 22, 2024 | General interest, Service Leadership Programs, Service projects | 0 comments

Here are a few ways to get other Kiwanis family members involved in your club’s service. 

By Tony Knoderer

When your Kiwanis club is involved in a service activity, it’s always a great idea to partner with fellow clubs from the Kiwanis family — including one or more clubs from our Service Leadership Programs. More volunteers mean more impact, of course, but collaboration also builds a relationship between clubs. That’s especially important when you sponsor an SLP club. For a successful collaboration, use these tips:  

  • Encourage participation. Which of the Kiwanis club’s service activities would be a good fit for SLP members? Ask your club’s advisors to the SLP clubs you sponsor — and then have them share information about those opportunities at SLP club meetings. (Extra idea: Have the Kiwanis advisor hold a vote for the SLP members to choose the service they’re most interested in supporting.) 
  • Issue invitations. Create an invitation email or card for one or more activities. Include dates, times and locations of each event if you already know these details. Give the email or card to the Kiwanis advisor to send to the SLP club and collect RSVPs for the Kiwanis club. 
  • Make sure everyone feels comfortable. Help SLP club members learn about Kiwanis. For example, the Kiwanis advisor can talk about the similarities of the two clubs. And during a Kiwanis club meeting, encourage your own members to visit the SLP program’s website. (Links can be found here.) If you’re partnering with an Aktion Club and have members who haven’t worked with adults with disabilities, it might also help to read and use the guidelines for working with Aktion club members.   
  • Make volunteering with SLPs easy for your own members. Have your club’s webmaster work with the Kiwanis advisor to create a page where the SLP clubs’ service activity schedules can be posted. Include an invitation for Kiwanians to participate — with the Kiwanis advisor’s contact information so people can reach out and sign up for an event.  

Does your club have a success story based on collaboration with club from one of our SLPs? Let us know! Email shareyourstory@kiwanis.org. We might share your story with other Kiwanis clubs!