Kiwanis History

The first Kiwanis club was organized in Detroit,  Michigan by Joseph C. Prance and Allen S. Browne .  The group received a charter from the state of Michigan on January 21, 1915.  The name Kiwanis is derived from a Native American phrase "NunKee-wan-is" meaning "we trade," relating to the business activities of the early members.  Later in 1920,  the motto "We Build" was chosen to represent the important work of the organization as its activities moved more towards community service, especially children.

New Kiwanis clubs sprang up in cities across the country, but there was no central organization, each club maintaining its own independence and record keeping until the first national convention was held in 1916 in Cleveland, Ohio.  A newly elected volunteer president, George Hixson and  secretary Albert Dodge established what little central control then existed.  The organiazation was then known as The National kiwanis Club. Subsequent conventions led to a more structured organization and the first headquarters was established in Chicago in 1918.  The Kiwanis concept soon expanded abroad so that with the establishment of a  Canadian club the Kiwanis became "international." 

Today, Kiwanis is a worldwide service organization of men and women who share the challenge of community and world improvement.  Kiwanis has grown to more than 8,000 clubs in 79 nations, with approximately 600,000 active members.  The Kiwanian gives personal time and money to enhance the local community and in return make business and professional contacts, learn firsthand about local, national, and international issues, and develop leadership skills.

Kiwanis clubs take on humanitarian and civic projects that public authorities are not prepared of able to perform.   A typical club plans hands-on projects focusing on the special needs of the community, such as helping the elderly, promoting literacy, or supporting youth sports.  In addition to attending a club meeting, Kiwanis members volunteer about two hours each month for projects involving children of persons in need.  The Kiwanis family includes organizations for young people such as the K-Kids for elementary school  children, Builders  Clubs at the middle school level, aKtion Clubs for those living with a disability, Kiwanis Junior for young adults in Europe Key Clubs at the high school level, and Circle K Clubs at the college level.

Kiwanis has been especially involved in the needs of young children.  The Young Children: Priority One program addresses the needs of the children through projects in pediatric trauma, safety, child care, early development, infant health, nutrition, and parenting skills.  Under this program, Kiwanis has engaged in its first Worldwide Service Project, teaming up in 1994 with UNICEF to virtually eliminate iodine deficiency disorders by the year 2000.  Today, Kiwanis has adopted a new slogan: Serving the children of the World."

Being a Kiwanis member can be rewarding in many ways.  The greatest gift you could ever give yourself as a person is the gratification in knowing you are contributing your help, time, and efforts to people in and out of you community who are in need.  Raising funds to help the poor, participating in fellowship, and giving something back to your community are the highest levels of self-satisfaction you can ever encounter.

The six permanent Objects of Kiwanis International were approved by Kiwanis club delegates at the 1924 Convention in Denver, Colorado.  Theses Objects represent the basic tenants of the organization.