Richard A. Poulton

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

Poulton is a member of the Kiwanis Clubs of Elgin, where he has received numerous Distinguished Service Awards, and Geneva, where he served as club president from 2014-15. He subsequently served the Illinois-Eastern Iowa district as lieutenant governor from 2010-11 and as governor from 2016-17. From 2017-21, he was a Kiwanis Children’s Fund Ambassador. When asked about the importance of the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, Poulton cited the opportunity it provides to Kiwanis members and non-members alike to create a “greater societal impact” in support of children than any individual or club could 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, for ten years Poulton served 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. He is also a member of the housing board for the Association for Individual Development, an organization that works to empower people in northeastern Illinois with 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, also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Elgin, have one child and one grandchild.