Columbia
Illinois
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Kiwanis Club of Columbia
History
The Kiwanis Club of Columbia, Illinois was chartered in September 1992. The Charter President was Margo Sutter-Knaust. Some of the charter members are Dewan Prashad, Pat McDermott and Doc Rodenberg. The meetings were originally scheduled as lunch meetings. That time slot wasn't working out very well so we tried meeting for breakfast. A short time later, it was decided that dinner meetings would work out the best.
In Feb. 1993, the club held it's first of many fundraisers. This event was the Spring Fling Dinner Dance and was a large success. In May 1993, the first annual golf tournament was held in Columbia Golf Course and raised over $1,000.00 which was donated to D.A.R.E. and other Columbia High School programs. August 1993, we sold ice cream at the Columbia Daze celebration and donated $250 to both local grade schools for computer equipment.
1994 saw more members adding to the club and more fundraisers happening. In January 1994, the Terrific Kids Program began at Immaculate Conception (ICS) and Parkview schools. It later expanded into the Columbia Middle School (CMS). This program has been a large success in all schools. Other events soon followed: Spring Break Dance at Columbia High School (CHS), "After Prom Party", 2nd annual golf tournment, volleyball tournament, costume dance, Trivia night, Bowling for Kids, Kids Night Out, plus many others.
Our sponsored youth has done very well. We currently have one Builder's Club (Immaculate Conception School) and one Key Club (Columbia High School).
Some of the service projects we have sponsored are: Khoury Leagues, construction of the Walking Bridge at Oerter Soccer Park, "Outdoor Classroom" construction project at Waterloo High School, Adopt-a-Highway project (joined together with the Columbia High Key Club), Ronald McDonald House, Loving Touch Crisis Pregnancy Center, prom events at Columbia and Waterloo High Schools, Waterloo Handicapped Kids Picnic, student educational trips, student school competition trips, Christmas grants to local families, toy drive, and D.A.R.E. funding. Other ways we have helped our local schools are: helped to fund a new computer lab for schools, helped to purchase playground equipment for the new playground at Parkview Elementary, purchased a learning weather station for Immaculate Conception School. (ICS), helped fund the new Robotics Program at Columbia Middle School (CMS), purchased a $1,000 bass drum for CMS band, and spent many hours helping chaperone and assist in school events.
Annual events include: Bowling for Kids, Golf Tournament, Fishing Derby, Circus (every 1.5 years), Trivia Night, Old Newsboy's Day, and Spastic Paralysis Research Foundation bowl-a-thon.
We are a not-for-profit service organization and have grown to 40 members strong. You can be a member of the fastest growing community service clubs in the area.
The Kiwanis Club of Columbia, Illinois was chartered in September 1992. The Charter President was Margo Sutter-Knaust. Some of the charter members are Dewan Prashad, Pat McDermott and Doc Rodenberg. The meetings were originally scheduled as lunch meetings. That time slot wasn't working out very well so we tried meeting for breakfast. A short time later, it was decided that dinner meetings would work out the best.
In Feb. 1993, the club held it's first of many fundraisers. This event was the Spring Fling Dinner Dance and was a large success. In May 1993, the first annual golf tournament was held in Columbia Golf Course and raised over $1,000.00 which was donated to D.A.R.E. and other Columbia High School programs. August 1993, we sold ice cream at the Columbia Daze celebration and donated $250 to both local grade schools for computer equipment.
1994 saw more members adding to the club and more fundraisers happening. In January 1994, the Terrific Kids Program began at Immaculate Conception (ICS) and Parkview schools. It later expanded into the Columbia Middle School (CMS). This program has been a large success in all schools. Other events soon followed: Spring Break Dance at Columbia High School (CHS), "After Prom Party", 2nd annual golf tournment, volleyball tournament, costume dance, Trivia night, Bowling for Kids, Kids Night Out, plus many others.
Our sponsored youth has done very well. We currently have one Builder's Club (Immaculate Conception School) and one Key Club (Columbia High School).
Some of the service projects we have sponsored are: Khoury Leagues, construction of the Walking Bridge at Oerter Soccer Park, "Outdoor Classroom" construction project at Waterloo High School, Adopt-a-Highway project (joined together with the Columbia High Key Club), Ronald McDonald House, Loving Touch Crisis Pregnancy Center, prom events at Columbia and Waterloo High Schools, Waterloo Handicapped Kids Picnic, student educational trips, student school competition trips, Christmas grants to local families, toy drive, and D.A.R.E. funding. Other ways we have helped our local schools are: helped to fund a new computer lab for schools, helped to purchase playground equipment for the new playground at Parkview Elementary, purchased a learning weather station for Immaculate Conception School. (ICS), helped fund the new Robotics Program at Columbia Middle School (CMS), purchased a $1,000 bass drum for CMS band, and spent many hours helping chaperone and assist in school events.
Annual events include: Bowling for Kids, Golf Tournament, Fishing Derby, Circus (every 1.5 years), Trivia Night, Old Newsboy's Day, and Spastic Paralysis Research Foundation bowl-a-thon.
We are a not-for-profit service organization and have grown to 40 members strong. You can be a member of the fastest growing community service clubs in the area.