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History of the Kiwanis (www.kiwanis.org)
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. 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! Our Membership
- Over 8,000 clubs in 96 countries
- Over 260,000 adult members
- Over 320,000 youth
Our Mission
To serve children of the world.
Our Service Each year, clubs:
- Sponsor nearly 150,000 service projects.
- Raise more than $107 million.
Kiwanis clubs have: Contributed more than $80 million toward the global elimination
of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), the leading preventable cause of mental retardation.
The first Kiwanis club was organized in Detroit, Michigan. The group received a charter from the
state of Michigan on January 21, 1915, and this is regarded as the birth date of Kiwanis. The first
clubs were organized to promote the exchange of business among the members. However, even before the
Detroit club received its state charter, the members were distributing Christmas baskets to the poor.
A lively debate ensued between those who supported community service as the Kiwanis mission and those
who supported the exchange of business. By 1919, the service advocates won the debate.
Kiwanis became international with the organization of the Kiwanis club of
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1916. Kiwanis limited its membership to the United States and
Canada until 1962, when worldwide expansion was approved. Since then, Kiwanis has spread to all
inhabited continents of the globe. The primary focus of the Kiwanis Organization is to
provide assistance to the children of the world which is captured in our motto "Serving the
Children of the World".
The Kiwanis Club of Gorham, Maine
In 2006, a number of local businesses including Key Bank, Edward Jones, Pine Crest Inn, All State
Insurance Agency and others banded together with the assistance of the Kiwanis clubs of southern
Maine and formed the Kiwanis Club of Gorham, Maine. In 2007, our Charter was finalized and the
membership grew rapidly to more than 25 businesses. Currently, with more than 2,500 members in
Maine and 16,000 in New England and New York, the Kiwanis is well positioned as a growing force
in the effort to assist children's causes.
In 2007, the Kiwanis Club of Gorham, Maine launched Operation Holiday Cheer which quickly was
adopted by most of the Kiwanis Clubs throughout the state. "I believe that the sacrifices being
made by our troops and their families, particularly during the holidays, is worthy of our deep
appreciation and recognition," said Marc Badeau, President of the Kiwanis Club and Chairman of
Operation Holiday Cheer. "This is not a "needs-based" program but is our way to allow the people
of the New England and New York to honor the children of these military families and show support
for their courageous parents that unconditionally offer their lives for our safety and freedom"
says Badeau.
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