KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL
Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time – locally through Kiwanis Club-sponsored activities and programs and globally through the Kiwanis international Worldwide Service Project and other worldwide initiatives. Kiwanis comprises 600,000 adult and youth members in more than 90 nations and geographic areas that serve children and communities worldwide.
Kiwanis members are service-minded men and women united in their commitment to and compassion for others. They dedicate more than 6 million volunteer hours and invest more than US$100 million annually in projects that strengthen communities and serve children. Kiwanians, through guidance and example, work to prepare today’s children to be tomorrow’s citizens.
KIWANIS SERVICE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
As Kiwanis membership has grown and enthusiasm for its service-based format has spread, Kiwanis has created additional volunteer and leadership opportunities for people at every stage of life through the extended Kiwanis Family and its service leadership programs.
Circle K International
Circle K International, a service leadership program, is a service club for college students with nearly 13,000 members on more than 550 university and college campuses in 17 nations. Circle K was started in Pullman, Wash., and was formally organized as a service organization in 1947. Its members are committed to leadership, service and fellowship. For more information about Circle K or the please visit www.circlek.org or call 1-800-KIWANIS. For more information about Kiwanis, please visit www.kiwanis.org.
Key Club International
The oldest Kiwanis service leadership youth program is Key Club. Seventeen boys in Sacramento, Calif. made up the first Key Club in 1925, and today the organization is active in 26 nations and includes 4,800 clubs and 239,000 members. More than 2 million youth have enlisted in Key Club since its inception, including many later leaders in government, business, entertainment and sports, from U.S. President Bill Clinton to Elvis Presley.
Builders Club
When middle school and junior high students began to show an interest in organizing to serve their schools and communities, the Builders Club program was launched in 1975. With support from Kiwanis clubs, Key Clubs, and Circle K clubs, the Builders Club network has grown to include nearly 1,400 clubs and nearly 35,000 members in 8 nations.
K-Kids
This organization for elementary school-age students began in 1990 when the first club was formed in North Lauderdale, Fla., and formally adopted as a sponsored program by Kiwanis in 1998. Today 27,000 K-Kids in 950 clubs and 8 nations are actively creating opportunities for community service, leadership development and citizenship education. Under the K-Kids umbrella, Kiwanis recognizes two new service leadership programs; Terrific Kids and Bring Up Grades (BUG).
Terrific Kids
Terrific Kids is a student recognition program that promotes character development, self-esteem and perseverance. Students work with their classroom teacher to establish goals to improve behavior, peer relationships, attendance and coursework. After a specific period of time agreed upon by the teacher, principal and student, the child is recognized as a “Terrific Kid” (Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive, Capable) for achieving his/her goals.
Bring Up Grades (BUG)
This program is designed to recognize students who raise their grades to an acceptable range, and maintain or continue to raise them from one grading period to the next. Bring Up Grades, or BUG, awards students who continue to improve their grades by placing them on the school’s BUG Honor Roll, and awarding them with a food-themed party and presentation of certificates and/or pins.
Aktion Clubs
In October 2000, Kiwanis extended service opportunities to adult citizens living with developmental disabilities through the formation of Aktion Clubs. These clubs provide members with opportunities to develop initiative and leadership, to serve their communities, to be integrated into society, and to demonstrate the dignity and value of citizens living with developmental disabilities. To date, there are more than 5,900 members in nearly 260 clubs.
Kiwanis Junior
Kiwanis Junior clubs are recognized in Europe and help to share the Kiwanis service experience with younger adults, ages 18-35. Kiwanis Junior became an official program in 1992 and now includes more than 50 clubs.
Key Leader
Key Leader is a series of leadership development conferences aimed at high school students (Key Club members and nonmembers alike). The program is being launched in 2005, and is designed to reach a broader spectrum of students—not just academic achievers. It also will focus on how service to others helps develop leadership skills.
