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 clubs on more than 600
university and college campuses in 17 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. Seventeen boys
in Sacramento, California, made up the first Key
Club in 1925, and today the organization is active
in more than 20 nations and includes nearly 5,000
clubs. 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 clubs on more than 1,200 campuses in 18
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, there are more than 600
clubs and 12 nations, all of which 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 200 clubs in seven nations.
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 |
