Kiwanis’ global impact in 2023

Kiwanis’ global impact in 2023

Check out some of Kiwanis’ biggest moments this year.

By Sarah Moreland

Making a difference
Kiwanians all around the world did what we do best: helping others. Members in Barbados provided opportunities to play for kids of all abilities. Further north, Kiwanians in Pennsylvania, U.S., provided disaster relief for 45 people displaced by a fire. Canadian volunteers collaborated with Kiwanians in Iceland to distribute bicycle helmets to kids, and members across Europe have continued to provide relief supplies to Ukrainian refugees (pictured above).

Volunteers’ impact is seen in the lives of kids and communities everywhere. Brooke Moreland, whose family was homeless when she joined Key Club International, credits Key Club for giving her the skills and confidence to pursue her doctorate degree. And a Kiwanis meeting helped “Reggie” Regino save a life.

The best of the best
More than 400 clubs across 42 districts vied for one of the top spots in the 2023 Signature Service Project Contest. Impactful winning projects ranged from programs that empower single mothers to a free children’s health clinic to a reading hub created to eliminate the post-pandemic literacy gap. See the full list of winners.  

Enter the 2024 Signature Service Project Contest! The submission period is now open.

The power of community
We do more good together — and that’s why Kiwanis members joined members of Lions Clubs International, Optimist International and Rotary International to serve even more people, families and neighborhoods. See how Kiwanians from around the world — from India and Canada to the Cayman Islands and the United States — participated in the third annual Celebrate Community week this past September.

Supporting youth leaders
Seven outstanding Key Club International seniors and Circle K International members were recognized with Kiwanis Children’s Fund scholarships — out of an applicant field of more than 450 students. Meet each of this year’s deserving student leaders.

Applications for 2024 scholarships are now open! Encourage eligible Key Club and CKI students to apply by February 1.

A day to give
Our inaugural Kiwanis Day of Giving raised more than US$56,000 — exceeding our initial goal and impacting more than 25,000 kids! Thank you for your support!

Mark your calendars for Kiwanis Day of Giving 2024: On February 21, we aim to raise US$75,000 to reach 30,000 kids. Join us to help kids on this special day!

Helping where it’s needed most
The Kiwanis Children’s Fund helped the Kiwanis family reach more kids in 2023, with a record 183 grants and scholarships awarded throughout the year. The Children’s Fund also added a new opportunity with the introduction of the Microgrant Program. For clubs with 35 members or fewer, the program offers a chance to apply for grants of US$250-$1,000. Meanwhile, the Children’s Fund continued the Kiwanis family’s support for the fight against maternal and neonatal tetanus — with a US$275,000 grant to UNICEF in October.

A global celebration
More than 1,500 Kiwanis members from 49 districts celebrated another year of service to kids and communities at the 2023 Kiwanis International Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Hundreds of members also participated virtually. Kiwanians heard from inspirational speakers, elected Kiwanis’ new leaders and renewed their commitment to help even more kids in their communities.

Save the date! The 2024 Kiwanis International Convention will be held in Denver, Colorado, U.S., July 3-6.

And that’s not all! Our Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs saw successes too!

Key Club International
Our program for high school students continues to grow — with more than 220,000 members globally! Student leaders gathered in Anaheim, California, U.S., in July for the annual Key Club International convention, where they further improved their leadership skills, learned how to help others through Key Club’s service partners and elected the 2023-24 board, led by President Kyle Hanson of the Pacific Northwest District. Key Club members also continue to raise money for Start Strong: Zambia, a fundraising campaign with UNICEF to support early childhood education in the southeastern African nation.

Save the date: Key Club turns 100 in 2025! Ask your sponsored Key Club how you can help commemorate the historic milestone or charter a new Key Club in honor of the anniversary.

Circle K International
CKI, our program for college and university students, held its 2023 convention in Minneapolis in tandem with the Kiwanis International convention. Delegates elected Zak Kahn of the New England District to serve as 2023-24 Circle K International president. Attendees participated in workshops about CKI projects and initiatives, including its newest: Brick x Brick, in partnership with UNICEF USA. CKI has, to date, raised more than US$72,000 for Brick x Brick, which supports sustainability, education and empowerment for families in the African nation of Côte d’Ivoire.

CKI will again join Kiwanis in Denver in July 2024 for its concurrent convention.

(2023-24 Circle K International President Zak Kahn and 2023-24 Key Club International President Kyle Hanson)

Here’s to more service, more smiles and more fun in 2024!

CKI member wins nationally televised tuition contest

CKI member wins nationally televised tuition contest

Victory in football-throwing competition brings money and kudos from across the U.S.

Kiwanis International congratulates Andrew Jimenez, a member of Circle K International — our Service Leadership Program for university students — for winning US$100,000 in tuition during college football’s SEC Championship Game on Saturday. A member of the Sandhills Community College CKI Club and lieutenant governor of the Carolinas District, Jimenez won the Dr. Pepper Tuition Challenge during halftime, tossing 18 footballs into the sponsor-branded “can” in a timed competition.

His win during the televised game got national attention and compliments for his technique. See some of the reaction below — including video of the contest when you click the CBS Sports tweet.

Scholarship recipients share passion for service

Scholarship recipients share passion for service

The Kiwanis Children’s Fund honors 7 scholars who developed skills through Key Club and CKI. 

By Erin Chandler 

The outstanding scholars who will receive this year’s Kiwanis Children’s Fund Scholarships stood out among 459 applicants not only for what they have already accomplished, but for their commitment to creating a more just and inclusive future. Through their membership in Key Club and Circle K International, these seven students have grown as leaders and are ready to further pursue their passions to create a more equitable world in the fields of science, healthcare, business, environmental stewardship and education. The Kiwanis Children’s Fund is honored to help them continue their education in the upcoming academic year. 

Maya Narayan, Linda Canaday Memorial Scholarship
Maya Narayan is a recent graduate of Goshen High School in Indiana, U.S., where she served successively as her Key Club’s secretary, vice president and president. She also served the Indiana District of Key Club as a lieutenant governor and as secretary-treasurer. Narayan was an officer in her school’s Multicultural Youth Alliance, three-year student council class president, an active leader in her local 4-H club and a record-setting captain of the Goshen High School girls’ golf team. Narayan has a passion for singing and has participated in multiple choirs as well as in national vocal programs. She won lead roles in school and professional musicals — most recently that of Wednesday Addams in “The Addams Family.” Initially hesitant about joining Key Club, Narayan was drawn in by how it helped her grow as a leader. “That is what I appreciate most about the Key Club community,” she says. “We are a group of tomorrow’s leaders whose horizons keep broadening.” She will continue to broaden her horizons next year as a freshman at Western Michigan University. 

Swarada Kulkarni, Kiwanis Children’s Fund Scholarship
Swarada Kulkarni is a recent graduate of West Ranch High School in California, U.S. She designed the website for her school’s Key Club before going on to serve as its vice president, then as her division’s project coordinator and finally on the California-Nevada-Hawaii District’s technology team. According to her former division lieutenant governor, Kulkarni is “a true brainstormer, team worker and, most importantly, a kind-hearted person.” In addition to Key Club, Kulkarni has served as an ambassador for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and taken on leadership roles in Academic Decathlon, Speech and Debate Club, the California Scholarship Federation and the National Art Honors Society. She is an award-winning Hindustani classical singer, world champion dragon boat paddler and volunteer in urgent care, emergency room and neonatal intensive care settings. Kulkarni is founder and CEO of the nonprofit Bridge to Hope Foundation, which works to minimize the effects of income inequality around the world. Next year, she plans to attend Vanderbilt University with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon, providing affordable healthcare in underserved regions around the world.  

Lilian Thai, Kiwanis Children’s Fund Scholarship
Lilian Thai is the current president of Key Club International. A recent graduate of Garland High School in Texas, U.S., Thai was a member of Garland High School Key Club for four years. She served as a Key Club division governor before becoming governor of the Texas-Oklahoma District. In her role as Key Club International president, Thai launched a scholarship to increase access to the Key Club International convention, created resources for clubs in the newly chartered Philippine Luzon District, mentored fellow Key Club leaders and sought to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. “My priority has always been to serve the members of our organization with passion and love,” she says. In addition to Key Club, Thai is a member of UNICEF, served as treasurer in the National Honor Society and spent two years as captain of her varsity tennis team. She will take the skills she has acquired in her leadership roles to Southern Methodist University, where she will major in business administration. 

Brittani Meis, Circle K International Past Presidents Scholarship
Brittani Meis is a student at Colorado State University, U.S., where she is pursuing a degree in soil and crop science. She has served her school’s Circle K International Club, first as treasurer, then as president. As a club leader, Meis focused on creating more volunteer opportunities and partnerships that forged connections between CKI and the community. She even put her background in agriculture to use by partnering with The Growing Project, a community garden organization. Meis hopes to take the leadership and networking skills she has developed through CKI with her to graduate school and then around the world as she uses sustainable agriculture to help those suffering from malnutrition and poverty. Outside of CKI, Meis has served as vice president of the Striders running club, president of her school’s agronomy club and an agroecology lab assistant.  

Aleisa Tobin, John E. Mayfield Circle K International Scholarship
Aleisa Tobin is a student at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, U.S., where she is pursuing a degree in adolescent to young adult life science education. Under her leadership as vice president and president, her school’s Circle K International club increased its membership, service hours and number of projects, and it was able to secure university funding to send 10 members to the Ohio District convention for the first time. Her club’s advisor states that Tobin’s “charisma allows her to engage with her fellow students and motivate them to want to do more and make a bigger impact.” In preparation for her teaching career, Tobin is a Science and Math Education in ACTION Scholar and a board member for her university’s Science Education Council. She hopes to use the skills she has built in CKI to become a compassionate and inclusive teacher who inspires her students to learn and lead. 

Grace Nguyen, Kiwanis Children’s Fund Scholarship
Grace Nguyen is pursuing a degree in cell and molecular biology at Seattle University in Washington, U.S. She is the past secretary and current president of her school’s Circle K International club, and she takes pride in incorporating her passion for activism and social justice into her leadership. Her club’s advisor credits Nguyen with leading the club “to new and record heights” in membership and community involvement, for which the club received an Excellence in Service Award. In addition to Circle K International, Nguyen works part-time as a student peer research consultant with the Seattle University Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons and as a student programming assistant with the Seattle University Office of Multicultural Affairs. She has held leadership roles in the Seattle University Japanese Student Association; Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American Student Association; Vietnamese Student Association; and biology club. 

Matthew Yuro, Kiwanis Children’s Fund Scholarship
Matthew Yuro is a student at The College of New Jersey, U.S., where he is pursuing degrees in special education, elementary education and history. He has served on and chaired multiple committees for Circle K International at the club, district and international levels, and he is the current lieutenant governor of his division. At the 2022 Circle K International Convention, Yuro was honored as New Member of the Year and Outstanding International Committee Member. In his quest to become an educator, Yuro holds leadership roles in the New Jersey Education Association Preservice, Student New Jersey Education Association, Teachers of Young Children Association, history club and multiple peer mentoring organizations. He is a tutor at his college’s tutoring center, the Monroe Township School District and a private tutoring agency. “Circle K International is more than just a club for me,” Yuro says. “It’s a place for me to be my best self with a community of like-minded people who truly care for me and want to help others in the local community.” 

Visit the Kiwanis Children’s Fund Scholarship Opportunities page for information about scholarships distributed by the Children’s Fund, including who to contact with questions and award notification dates.