WHO ARE THE KIWANIANS
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.
Kiwanis Name
The name “Kiwanis” means “we trade” or “we share our talents.” It was coined from an American Indian expression, Nunc Kee-wanis.
Kiwanians are volunteers changing the world through service to children and communities. Kiwanis members help shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, mentor the disadvantaged, and care for the sick. They develop youth as leaders, build playgrounds, raise funds for pediatric research, and much more. No problem is too big or too small. Why? Because working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone. When you give a child a chance to learn, experience, dream, and succeed, great things happen!
As Kiwanis clubs and members, we see it everyday!
Membership
O About 8,000 clubs in 96 countries
O More than 260,000 adult members
O Approximately 320,000 youth
Mission
To serve children of the world.
Service
Each year, clubs:
O Sponsor nearly 150,000 service projects.
O Raise more than $107 million.
O Kiwanis was founded in Detroit, Michigan, on January 21, 1915.
O In the early years, Kiwanis clubs focused on business networking,but even then, members were serving the needs of the poor.
O By 1919, the organization had changed its focus from business to service.
O Kiwanis became an international organization in 1916 with the organization of the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario.
O Kiwanis limited its membership to the United States and Canada until 1962 when worldwide expansion was approved.
O Until 1987, Kiwanis was a male-only organization. But after years of debate and growing support, women’s membership was received overwhelmingly
KIWANIS-GLOBAL
Kiwanians around the globe have one common goal: To serve the children of the world. Kiwanis advocates this vision every day by providing opportunities to serve for every member of a community through Service Leadership Programs. Through these opportunities, youth and young adults around the world become competent, capable, and compassionate leaders.
Key Leader - for youth leadersKey Leader is a leadership experience for today's youth leaders. It focuses on service leadership as the first, most meaningful leadership development experience. A Key Leader learns the most important lesson of leadership—leadership comes from helping others succeed.
Key Club - for high school students245,000 high school leaders from 24 countries unite every day to provide service in their homes, schools, and communities, and complete more than 12 million hours of service. Key Clubbers work to help eliminate HIV/AIDS in Africa, stop premature birth, and battle for the rights of children in their communities.
Builders Club - for middle school and junior high students
Early 40, 000 middle and junior high students in 1,300 clubs in 18 nations contribute service to school and community while developing leadership and people skills. Builders Club members implement practical service-learning principles as they focus on supporting organizations that focus on the needs of children.
KKids - for elemetary students
K-Kids is a student-led community service club for elementary students that teaches members the value of helping others through participation in community service projects and club activities.
Terrific Kids is a student recognition program that promotes character development, self-esteem, and perseverance. Students work with their classroom teacher and establish goals to improve behavior, peer relationships, attendance, or schoolwork. Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive, Capable.
Bring Up Grades (BUG) is a program designed to provide recognition to students who raise their grades into an acceptable range, and maintain or continue to raise them from one grading period to the next.
Aktion Club - for adults with disabilities
Aktion Club members in more than 200 clubs in seven nations allow adults living with disabilities to develop initiative and leadership skills through hands-on service. These adults return to the community the benefits, help, and caring they have received.
The Florida District, comprised of the more than 290 clubs and over 10,000 Kiwanians within Florida. Florida is one of the largest and most successful districts in Kiwanis International.
FLORIDA KIWANIS DISTRICT GROUP MAP
SERVING THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD
KIWANIS YOUNG CHILDREN
Young Children Priority One Addresses the Needs of Children 0-5 Years old.