OCPS Recognizes our Club

Tonight our club was recognized by the Board Members of Orange County Public Schools. This is what the Board Members said about us:

Many people know Rotary for their efforts to fight polio and Lions Club for their fight against blindness. How many of you knew that Kiwanis' motto was to serve the children of the world one child and one community at a time? Kiwanis of East Orange County serves the children of Orange County in remarkable ways.

We sponsor 18 different "Service Leadership Clubs" in Orange County: K-Kids in elementary school, Builders Club in middle school, Key Club in high school, and CKI in college in Orange County. Think of each Service Leadership club as a small Kiwanis club at each school, but the volunteer projects are organized by the students and their teachers.

Kiwanis supports students in Orange County with the projects that they plan at their schools and in their communities, such as school supply drives, beautification projects, and much more. Currently many of the schools are participating with our second annual Ton o Tuna Drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank.

In addition to service, the Kiwanis Club of East Orange County fosters leadership and provides financial support to the 18 clubs that we sponsor. Key Club members have the opportunity to attend statewide and even international conventions where they develop their service leadership skills and network with students from all over the world who have a similar interest in volunteering. Members of our clubs at all levels also have the opportunity to become club officers and learn how to run meetings and plan events.

Kiwanis of East Orange County wants to spread the world of how great Orange County students and parents are. Many of you may have seen other parents driving around with "My Child is a Terrific Kid" bumper stickers on their cars. Each year, we recognize over 1,500 students with the Terrrific Kids program, which is a recognition program that promotes character development, self-esteem, and perseverance.

Not only do we support the students in Orange County, but we also support the teachers. Every year, Kiwanis of East Orange County also recognizes 160 teachers as "Teachers of the Month" with a restaurant Gift Certificate and bowling pass for their dedication to the lives of children.

The Kiwanis Club of East Orange County is proud to be changing the lives of the children of Orange County, one child and one community at a time.