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2007 Basketball Jamboree Tip-Off Luncheon Held October 10th
Des Moines Kiwanis (Downtown) welcomed players, coaches and school administrators to its annual Tip Off luncheon for the 60th Annual Basketball Jamboree. Featured speakers included Amy Stephens, Drake Women’s Basketball coach, and Michael Whalen, chairman of the board of Wildwood Hills Ranch.

This year’s daylong event will be held Saturday, Nov. 17 at Drake University’s Knapp Center. The event starts at 8:00 a.m. with the National Anthem and wraps up around 9:30 p.m. CIML high schools taking part in both the boys and girls division this year are: Ames, Ankeny, Dowling Catholic, East, Fort Dodge, Hoover, Indianola, Johnston, Lincoln, Marshalltown, Mason City, North High, Ottumwa, Roosevelt, Southeast Polk, Urbandale, Valley and Waukee.

The Annual Basketball Jamboree is organized by the Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny and Westside Kiwanis Clubs, along with participating McDonald’s® Restaurants.

Where the Money Has Gone
The event, has benefited numerous Central Iowa organizations over the years such as Ronald McDonald House Charities, House of Mercy, YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Easter Seals, Amanda the Panda, Children and Families of Iowa, Drake Head Start, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire USA, and more than 20 others.

This year’s major corporate sponsors include Iowa Health Systems, West Bancorporation Foundation, Inc., Wolin Mechanical-Electrical Contractors; The Graham Group, Inc.; Machine Shed Restaurants, La’James International College, the Des Moines Register, the Des Moines Radio Group, and Central Iowa McDonald's restaurants.

Ronald McDonald House Charities, the primary benefactor of the Jamboree proceeds, receives matching funds from McDonalds Corporation. In recent years, Ronald McDonald House Last year’s proceeds went to Wildwood Hills Ranch to build a new outdoor equestrian ring for the camp for at-risk kids. Previous proceeds benefited the purchase of the “Smiles on Wheels” mobile dental clinic and a bus for transporting residents from a local at risk children's residence, Orchard Place.

Where the Money Will Go This Year?
Des Moines Kiwanis Clubs are committed to building a Miracle League Field somewhere in the metro Des Moines area next spring. This Field will allow area kids with disabilities to play baseball. After all, “every kid deserves to play baseball.” The special baseball field is a rubberized obstruction-free field allowing wheelchairs and other aids to travel unencumbered. Cost is expected to be nearly $500,000.

Check out the pictures from this year's Tip-Off Luncheon.

Kiwanis Clubs Present $24,000 to Wildwood Hills Ranch

Downtown Kiwanis President, Steve Scott (right), presents the check to Mike Whalen (left), and Wildwood Hills Ranch Executive Director, Mary Lou Garcia

Members of Downtown Kiwanis honored and recognized on March 7th the many officials and corporate sponsors who have been so important in our Basketball Jamboree. President Steve Scott explained the background of the Jamboree and how we distribute the money received through the Jamboree. We are pleased that Iowa Health Systems has agreed to a six-year commitment at the $2,500 level with a $15,000 payment up front to the Jamboree. Another long-time partnership is with Ronald McDonald Charities—where RMC will again match our contribution.

2007 marked our 59th Jamboree, and we are currently, along with members of the Westside, West Des Moines, and Ankeny clubs, working on the 60th Jamboree for next year.

Together we made a payment of $24,000 to Wildwood Hills Ranch--an organization with a 400-acre ranch that furnishes a camping experience to children who are at risk and need a helping hand. Mike Whalen, founder and board member, and Mary Lou Garcia, Executive Director, accepted the check on behalf of Wildwood Hills Ranch. Mr. Whalen made a short presentation as to what the Ranch means to him personally and to see how important it is to the boys and girls who come to the Ranch. Wildwood, in its sixth year of operation, is truly making a difference in the lives of kids and we’re glad to be even a small part of this difference.

Kiwanians CAN and DO make a difference…

Kiwanis Recognize Top Area Graduating Seniors
In what has become an annual tradition, the Kiwanis Club of Des Moines (Downtown) recognized the top academic graduating seniors from seven area high schools on May 2nd.

Beaming parents and proud administrators from the various schools, along with Downtown members were undeniably impressed when each student was introduced as event chair Dave Turnball noted their many accomplishments and plans for future education. These area seniors represent the brightest and best from the Des Moines metro area high schools. Rick Nielsen, president of BluePrint for Life, inspired all attendees with his examples of goal setting and need for affirmation from his many visits to inmates in federal and state prison systems around the country. All attendees came away with a “Can Do” spirit.

Front row, left to right: Amol Agarwal, Valley; Elizabeth Aljets, Dowling Catholic; Teresa Pham, Lincoln; Jordan Trachtenberg,, Roosevelt; Akilah Jackson-Rushing, Hoover; Angela Hodges, North; and James Fitzwater, North.

Back row, left to right: Thinh Luong, East; Youran Ye, Valley; Karissa Morton, East; John Collier, Dowling Catholic; Alex Ryan, Lincoln; Shawn Gude, Hoover; and Nathan Dolan, Roosevelt.

The Downtown Kiwanis Club was formed in 1919 and is said to be the oldest Kiwanis Club west of the Mississippi River. It meets weekly on Wednesdays at 11:45 a.m., inPlay/Forte Conference Center, 615 Third Street, Des Moines.

The Kiwanis International Family includes more than 8,000 clubs with more than 600,000 members in nearly 90 nations. This past year, Kiwanis clubs throughout the world donated more than $100 million and over six million volunteer hours for community-service projects worldwide—Serving the Children of the World.

October 4, 2006 Meeting Featured Ben Cohen
If you’re an ice cream fan, you’ve probably over-indulged at one time or another on Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. Ben Cohen (the one on the left in the picture), of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream fame, spoke to the Downtown Des Moines Kiwanis Club during a recent visit to Central Iowa.

Mr. Cohen founded Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities with the aim of creating a new political culture in which money being wasted by the Pentagon could help our nation’s children through better schools and healthcare. Iowans for Sensible Priorities is a part of this larger campaign.

He spoke about the federal budget and how some changes to it could have a huge impact here in Iowa. Imagine learning about the federal budget through Oreo cookies. It was a most memorable presentation!

You can learn more about Mr. Cohen’s organization and what is happening in Iowa by visiting www.SensibleIowans.org.

Meals For Those In Need
Many years ago, it was clear that Des Moines had a growing homeless population and several churches began to “take turns” in providing overnight shelter and meals. As the population grew, so did the complexities of moving this population from location to location, night by night. The churches rented what was the former Jefferson Lines bus terminal near where the Gateway West area is expanding.

Our Club prepared meals in the kitchens of Westminster Presbyterian Church and carted the prepared meals to the downtown facility. This lasted for six months with the lease not being renewed. All of a sudden, the home for the homeless was homeless!

City leaders, led by Bill Knapp, put out the call for immediate help with enough money raised in less than a month (about $500,000) to build a home for the homeless. Construction unions and others donated tools and time; lumber companies helped with raw materials; and soon the new facility, called Churches United, at 205 – 15th Street, in downtown Des Moines, opened to help those in need.

Church members and various groups, including our Downtown Club, continued to respond by preparing and serving meals and other volunteer activities. So a long tradition exists in our Club to help the homeless, with member John Kuhn spearheading our efforts—starting in the early days when a few were homeless, to coordinating the nights at the various churches, to buying the food and preparing meals, to the present day site and the continuing need to help.

So the need continues. Earlier this year it was again our Club’s turn to prepare and serve the supper meal to at least 80 men and women—men and women with no home to go to that evening. Again coordinated by John Kuhn, several Kiwanians served the hot meal--baked ham, baked beans, tossed salad, bread and butter, and cookies and milk and coffee. Wes Greve, Ron Heggen, and Michelle Wall (and John) were on hand to help prepare the meal. Bob Mitchell, Jan Burch, and prospective member Chris Burch helped serve. When it is our turn again, take the time to volunteer. You’ll be glad that you did—and you’ll want to do it again!