PEORIA MAGAZINE October 2023

LAUNCHING PAD

INTRODUCING PEORIA KIWANIS CLUB As one of the oldest such clubs in the world, Peoria Kiwanis prides itself on its outreach programs to central Illinois students

BY KAREN HOLMES

K iwanis is … a global or ganization of volunteers, dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.” There are many reasons to be in trigued by Peoria Kiwanis Club, but at the heart of the matter is our mission. Kiwanis International was founded in 1915. Initially, the clubs existed in just the U.S. and Canada, but worldwide expansion was approved in the 1960s. Today, Kiwanis helps children in 80 nations around the world. Peoria Ki wanis Club is among the oldest of clubs, started in 1917. The members are Kiwanis’ heart and soul, as they choose to volunteer in the service of others. Clubs are self-gov erned, members elect their own offi cers, and they choose the community service projects they want to pursue. Peoria Kiwanis is very proud of its Teacher of the Year program, where teachers are honored at an annual ban quet. These teachers are nominated by their coworkers for their outstanding work with students. This year, 14 excep tional teachers were recognized from eight elementary and six high schools in the Peoria area. This past 4th of July, Peoria Kiwanis agreed to help the Boys and Girls Clubs by volunteering at their annual fund raising event at the Carle Health Red, White and Boom event. Meanwhile, ‘

to visit and enjoy the program of speakers, which have included Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger, Peoria Friendship House CEO Marcellus Sommerville, WMBD TV Sports Anchor Kurt Pegler, Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp founder and Director Marylee Nunley, Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank founder Lee Ann Porter, W.D. Boyce Council Development Director Viki Burnett, Southside Community Center Director Irene Lewis-Wimbley, Phoenix Community Services Resource Development Manager Jolene Whisler, Youth Music Illinois Executive Director Lidia Riley, and more. Kiwanis Peoria Club maintains a won derful balance of history while keeping its finger on the pulse of what’s new in the Peoria community. Individual clubs — including South-West Kiwanis Club of Peoria and other clubs in Peoria Heights, Pekin, Elmwood, Bartonville, Canton, Eureka, Metamora, Creve Coeur and Washington — are given the freedom to create their own unique identity, within the solid framework of many generations of tradition. Please feel free to visit us online at peoriakiwanis.org.

“snack-packing” has been an ongoing service project that allows some 200 children to get nutritious snacks each week during the school year. Peoria Kiwanis also teams up with the Peoria Christian High School Key Club for its outreach program. Key Clubs are student-led high school organizations that promote leadership and advocate for making the world a better place through community ser vice. Peoria Kiwanis proudly sponsors Key Clubs at Peoria Christian, Rich woods, Peoria and Notre Dame high schools. College scholarships are awarded each year to two outstanding Key Club members. Club meetings are held at the Lariat Steakhouse in Peoria the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at noon and can be attended via Zoom, a holdover from the pandemic, which presented many challenges to service organizations. The public is wel come

Karen Holmes is a member of Peoria Kiwanis Club and is a retired licensed clinical social worker

104 OCTOBER 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE