KIWANIS CLUB OF CARMICHAEL

CLUB PROJECTS

Kiwanis International is a world wide organization of men and women dedicated to the helping the local, national, and international community. Founded in 1915, Kiwanis now has over 500,000 members comprising in excess of 7,000 clubs in more than 80 countries throughout the world. One of Kiwanis' international projects is combating the iodine deficiency disorders on a global scale. The Kiwanis family is poised to accomplish what is being described as "one of the most significant health-related accomplishments in history." Kiwanis has fulfilled—and is proceeding beyond—its promise to the world's children to raise $75 million for the virtual elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), the world's leading preventable cause of mental retardation.

The Kiwanis Club of Carmichael began its tradition of leadership in community service from its inception, including the hands-on service and monetary donations to charitable organizations. All of the seventy plus members of the club are active in our projects. The club sponsors Boy Scout and Cub Scout units, Special Olympics, Tiny Tots Christmas, Easter Egg Hunts, and a High School Jazz Band Festival. The club gives scholarships to the High School Music Camp, sponsors projects at many schools and many more service projects. At present the Carmichael Kiwanis Club is cooperating with the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce, the Carmichael Park District, the Sacramento Symphonic Band Association, and other organizations in a project to renovate and expand the Band Shell in Carmichael Park. The Kiwanis clubs in Divisions 7 and 44 support the Kiwanis Family House at the UC Davis Medical Center (UCDMC) in Sacramento, California. The Family House fills that need for families of children with life threatening diseases who need facilities close to the hospital on an hour-to-hour basis. The therapeutic value of keeping families together in times of crisis for these children is very important to their well-being and the family-to family support at this time is very important. There is a small charge per night per family. Each family’s bedroom is supplied with twin beds or a double bed and extra rollaway beds if needed. All residents have full access to a recreation and television room, kitchen facilities, bathroom, showers, and a pay telephone. Families may communicate with the hospital via a direct line.

Kiwanis International also sponsors youth groups at the junior high, high school and college levels. The junior high school clubs are called "Builders Clubs" (after the Kiwanis motto "We Build"); the high school groups are known as "Key Clubs" and the college age groups go by the name of "Circle K" clubs. Carmichael Kiwanis sponsors a Key Club at Foothill High School

"Young Children: Priority One" is an international Kiwanis program that addresses the needs of children ages 1 to 3. As part of this program, Kiwanis has formed a partnership with UNICEF to virtually eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders worldwide. Lack of iodine in a person's diet is the number one cause of preventable mental retardation and causes infant deaths, still births, goiters and various other mental and physical impairments.

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