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Distinguished Club Award
2007 - 2008
2008 Award Recipient
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Information
We
help kids. The funds raised from our volunteer efforts supports
a variety of good causes that help the children of our community
and throughout the world.
For example, in 2005, we raised nearly $15,000 that we contributed
to the Ronald McDonald
Charities where our money was matched two-for-one. Due to this
generous contribution, the toddlers at the House
of Mercy have a new specialized outdoor playground, which they
have never had! Proceeds from our 2006 Basketball
Jamboree were again matched by Ronald McDonald Charities, with
over $24,000 going to the Wildwood
Hills Ranch to refurbish the equestrian grounds. Wildwood Hills
is a camp-like experience for at-risk kids that optimizes its success
on one-on-one relationships with horses and the outdoors. Proceeds
from our 2007 Basketball Jamboree, again matched by Ronald McDonald
Charities, will benefit our own Miracle
League Field project--a special non-obstructed rubberized baseball
field that allows kids with disabilities to play league-type baseball
just like kids who don't have disabilities!
Other
activities that receive our time and money include:
- Funding
summer Campships for needy kids
- Reading
to ESL kindergartners and providing new library books to Greenwood
Elementary School
- Pediatric
trauma kits for EMT units in various rural Iowa areas
- Kinder
Drama at The Des Moines Playhouse
- Red
Barrel Food Pantry Program
- And
many more
What's
in it for you? It's been said volunteering service is the price
we pay for the privilege of being on this earth. Our Kiwanis Club
is a great way to serve.
Here
are just a few of the reasons given by our members:
- "The
weekly meeting is an oasis from the craziness of the week. I look
forward to seeing familiar faces and talking about something other
than what is going on at the office."
- "This
is a chance to give back to the community and make a difference."
- "I
like the networking aspect of the club."
- "This
is a great service club... but it isn't all about service - it's
also about camaraderie."
- "The
programs are great - they keep me current on what's going on in
Des Moines."
Speaking
of great programs, here's just a sample of some of our quality speakers
at recent meetings:
| Rick Clark |
Manager, City of Des Moines |
| David Velinga |
CEO, Mercy Hospital |
| Suku Radia |
CFO, Meredith Corporation |
| Martha Willits |
CEO, Greater Des Moines Partnership |
| Charlie
Wittmack |
Mt.
Everest Climber |
| Dr.
Tom Davis |
Former
Drake Men's Basketball Coach |
| Greg
Edwards |
President,
Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau |
| Lee
Kline |
WHO
News Broadcaster |
| Greg
McDermott |
UNI
Men's Basketball Coach |
| Frank
Cownie |
Mayor
of Des Moines |
| E.J.
Giovanetti |
Polk
County Supervisor |
| Dr.
Rizwan Shah |
Director,
Child Abuse Treatment Center, Blank Hospital |
| Colonel
Robert King |
Public
Affairs Officer, Iowa National Guard |
| Mary
Kramer |
U.S.
Ambassador to Barbados, Retired |
| Dr.
David Roe |
President,
Central College |
| Preston
Daniels |
Former
Mayor of Des Moines |
Learn
more about the long and celebrated history
of Des Moines Kiwanis.
Meetings
We meet every Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. at AllPlay
Des Moines, just south of Wells Fargo Arena at 615 3rd Street.
Membership
Interested
in joining us? Take a peek at our Membership
page to learn a bit more about being a member of Des Monies Kiwanis.
The benefits are many...
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