Richard “Rick” Poulton
Elgin, Illinois, USA

Richard (Rick) Poulton of Elgin, Illinois, USA, was appointed to serve a three-year term as a Kiwanis Children’s Fund trustee, beginning October 1, 2022.

Poulton is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Elgin, where he has received numerous Distinguished Service Awards, and the Kiwanis Club of Geneva, Illinois, where he served as the 2014-15 club president. He subsequently served the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District as lieutenant governor (2010-11) and governor (2016-17).

From 2017-21, he was a Kiwanis Children’s Fund Ambassador. Poulton believes the Kiwanis Children's Fund enables Kiwanis members and nonmembers alike to create a “greater societal impact" in support of children than any individual or club could do alone. Poulton is a George F. Hixson Fellow, a Walter Zeller Fellow, a Major Gift donor to The Eliminate Project, a Legion of Honor recipient and a member of the Founders Circle.

In addition to Kiwanis, Poulton served for 10 years as a court-appointed special advocate for children in Kane County and received the organization’s Doris Hunt Volunteer Recognition Award. He participates in the Reading Buddy preschool program and volunteers with Food for Greater Elgin and Senior Services of Elgin. Poulton is also a member of the housing board for the Association for Individual Development, an organization that works to empower people in northeastern Illinois who have developmental, intellectual and mental health challenges.

Poulton holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron and a master’s degree in business administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University. Before his retirement, he was a marketing director for AT&T. In his free time, he enjoys running, kayaking, biking and skiing.

Poulton and his wife, Bonnie, who is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Elgin, have a daughter, son-in-law and grandson.