Kiwanis Sponsored Organizations
As Kiwanis membership has grown and enthusiasm for its
service-based format has spread, Kiwanis has created
additional volunteer opportunities for people at every stage
of life through its sponsored programs.
Circle K is a service club for collegians and has nearly
13,000 members on more than 500 university and college
campuses in 13 nations. Circle K was started in Pullman,
Washington, and was formally organized as a service
organization in 1947. Its members are committed to
leadership, service, and fellowship.
The oldest Kiwanis sponsored-youth program is Key Club
primarily sponsored in High Schools around the world.
Seventeen boys in Sacramento, California, made up the first
Key Club in 1925, and today the organization is active in 20
nations and includes 4,711 clubs and 234,528 members. More
than 2 million youth have enlisted in Key Club since its
inception, including many who are now top government and
business leaders.
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 more
than 1,500 clubs and 44,000 members in 13 nations.
This organization for elementary school-age students
began in 1990 when the first club was formed in North
Lauderdale, Florida, and formally adopted as a sponsored
program by Kiwanis in 1998. Today 16,164 K-Kids in 500 clubs
and 11 nations are actively creating opportunities for
community service, leadership development, and citizenship
education.
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 2,000 members in 89 clubs.
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.
Kiwanis International announces Key Leader—a new
leadership experience for today's youth leaders. It will
focus on service leadership as the first, most meaningful
leadership development experience. A Key Leader will learn
the most important lesson of leadership—leadership comes
from helping others succeed.
|
