Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the
world, one child and one community at a time starting in Meridian.
Kiwanis
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.
A typical Kiwanis club is a snapshot of its community, with members from all walks of life and at every step of the career ladder. They are unified in their belief that children and their communities benefit from the efforts of a proficient group of caring and involved volunteers. In a typical year, Kiwanis clubs invest more than 6.2 million hours and $100 million in communities around the world. Through these efforts, the Kiwanis organization truly leaves a lasting
legacy for future generations.
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.
Global Results
For Example:
Members and clubs have contributed more than $80 million toward the global
elimination of International Iodine Deficiency Disorder Funding (IDD), the leading preventable
cause of mental retardation.
