KProjects

Fundraising Projects of the Kiwanis Club of Ames, Iowa

Kiwanis conducts fundraising projects that invite members of our communities to join us in meeting the needs of young people locally and throughout the world. The Kiwanis Club of Ames proudly sponsors a wide variety of facilities and activities that serve the needs of young people in our community. Worldwide, the entire Kiwanis family is committed to eliminating the devastating effects of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), the world's leading preventable cause of mental retardation. More than 1.5 billion people are at risk of suffering IDD because they do not receive enough iodine in their diets. But, because of Kiwanis efforts, many parents how have been affected by IDD are able to watch their children grow up healthy and reach their full physical and mental potential. The results of the IDD program will benefit every future generation.

Kiwanis Pancake Days

Pancake Days, held each year in early March, is a much-anticipated event in Ames. Members of the club, as well as members of Golden K, Circle K, Key Club, and the Town and Country Kiwanis Club, pitch in to serve about 3,000 hungry persons each year! Pancakes, sausages, coffee, milk, orange juice....it's a great meal and a great way to help the children of Ames.

Sweet Corn Sales

We grow, pick, and then sell sweet corn during the summer months. We also distribute recipes for preparing delicious meals with sweet corn! One of the highlights of our Friday luncheons during this time is freshly baked corn bread served with honey butter prepared by our terrific hosts at the Basil Restaurant.

Apple Sales

The folks at Black's Center Grove Orchard grow the apples and we pick, process, and sell them. Jonathan, Red Delicious, Gold Delicious, Chieftain, and other varieties for eating and cooking are an easy sell during the fall season when people look forward to fresh apples.

Kiwanis Club Auction

A fall foliage outing on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad followed by a beef stew dinner, riding in a combine on the Tjernagel farm in central Iowa, a week at a lake home in Minnesota, and many other exciting getaways, needed services, arts and crafts, and other items are up for grabs to the highest bidder at our annual Kiwanis Club Auction.

Gumball Sales

Many merchants throughout Ames contribute to Kiwanis by finding a space at their business for our gumball machines. Those dimes add up and help us help others in our community.

Golf Tournament

The Kiwanis Club of Ames enjoys sponsoring a golfing tournament for Kiwanians statewide. Low handicappers and duffers alike have fun, compete, and raise money for Kiwanis projects.

Service Projects of the Kiwanis Club of Ames, Iowa

Service projects often are linked to the Kiwanis program, "Young Children: Priority One." This initiative places continuing focus on the needs of children in pediatric trauma, safety, child care, early development, infant health, nutrition, and parenting skills.

Service projects also can address other needs within the community, such as working to stop substance abuse, helping the elderly, promoting literacy, supporting youth sports, responding to disasters, and supporting specific persons in need.

Special Olympics

Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. The first Special Olympics U.S. National Summer Games will be held in Ames in 2006! The Kiwanis Club has for many years provided volunteers for Special Olympics and we are looking forward to this outstanding event.

American Cancer Society Relay for Life

The Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs of the American Cancer Society. During the event, teams of people gather at ISU's Lied Recreation Center and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times. The Kiwanis Club sponsors a team and provides volunteers at the event.

Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. The Kiwanis Club of Ames is honored to provide volunteers to help build HFHI homes in Ames.

Food Shelf

Members of the Kiwanis Club gather at the Cub Foods Store for a day of bagging groceries and soliciting donations for the Mid-Iowa Community Action Food Shelf project. We have a great time, raise money, and collect a lot of food for the Ames Food Shelf.

Community Projects Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ames, Iowa

The Kiwanis Club is proud to sponsor many facilities and activities that benefit children in the Ames area. We have made financial awards to:

Ames Youth Sports Complex,
Boys and Girls Club of Ames,
Ames/ISU Ice Arena,
Octagon Center for the Arts,
Youth and Shelter Services,
Ada Hayden Heritage Park,
Lloyd Kurtz Park,
Ames Education Foundation,
Assault Care Center Extending Service and Support,
Ames Little League,
Ames Girl's Softball,
Beloit Children's Home,
Ames High School,
Ames Middle School,
Friends of Ames Swimming,
ACTORS,
Emergency Residence Project,
Ames Community Preschool Playhouse,
Story County 4-H Program,
City of Ames Skateboard Complex,
Hugh O'Brien Youth Seminar,
Ames Minor Hockey Association,
and many other wonderful activities and organizations.

Photographs from Some Recent Projects

National Order of the Arrow, 2004

We helped serve about 4,800 persons each day for the week that scouts from the National Order of the Arrow visited Iowa State University.

Ada Hayden Heritage Park

We cleared land and planted trees and shrubs at the new Ada Hayden Heritage Park.

Lloyd Kurtz Park

We purchased and planted 25 trees and 60 shrubs at Lloyd Kurtz Park. The neighbors so appreciated our contributions they stopped by to help!

Deck For ACCESS

With excellent leadership by Frank Schill and Denny Jones, we built a deck for the women and children at the ACCESS shelter.

Sweet Corn Sales

We pick, process, and sell sweet corn. Iowa food at its very best!

Heartland Senior Services

We helped serve guests at Heartland Senior Services Center at Thanksgiving.

International Service

We helped sponsor a trip by Ames High School students to build a school in Tororo, Uganda.