History of the La Cañada Kiwanis Club
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La Cañada Kiwanis Club was founded October 3, 1948. Early meetings were
held in Rudy’s Cafe, the Thursday club, Chef's Inn, La Cañada
Country Club, and Brookside Restaurant. Since 1985 they have been
meeting in Van de Kamp Hall Descanso Gardens. Currently the
membership is 100, consisting of business and professional men and
women, active or retired
Some of the earliest activities included annual community fairs on the vacant land at Foothill and Indianola. Proceeds from these were donated to the budding YMCA as a major contribution towards their first swimming pool.
In 1960 they embarked on their first Travelogue Series, still their main fund raiser. This is an annual series, of six travel films narrated in person by their producers, currently presented in the High School Auditorium.
In 1969 the club under President Don Ziehl spear-headed the idea of a La Cañada Rose Float and has been a major contributor ever since. Annually they hold a Rabies Clinic, a Fiesta Days Barbecue, a special program welcoming the new teachers in our schools, and a program honoring the Rose queen and Court.
This club sponsors two Key Clubs, at Flintridge Prep and La Cañada High School. These clubs give the youth the opportunity to practice good citizenship and community service. The Kiwanis Club also sponsors a Builders Club and a K-Kids Club, which are equivalent to Key Clubs in the Middle and Elementary Schools respectively.
In 1993 this club sponsored the La Cañada AM club to accommodate residents who favor a morning meeting time. They meet Wednesday mornings in the Verdugo Hills Hospital Cafeteria.
This club initiated a annual Soapbox Derby race for the community in 2000 and has sponsored an Annual All-American - Greater Los Angeles Championship Soap Box Derby until 2009. Children from ages 8 to 17 race Soapbox Derby each May.
Starting in 2000, the La Cañada Kiwanis club initiated its main fundraiser of the year, the Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting event, which is held in Memorial Park each September.
The La Cañada Kiwanis club supports Habitat for Humanity, the La Cañada Tournament of roses, annual La Cañada Memorial day activities, a Fiesta Days Barbecue, a program welcoming new teachers in the La Cañada Schools, and a program honoring the Tournament of Roses Rose queen and Court, In addition, this club annually supports a Rabies Clinic, a disadvantaged school literacy program and other community events.
A Brief History of Kiwanis
iwanis
was founded January 21, 1915 In Detroit Michigan by a group of men
who merely wanted to trade with each other Hence their motto
"We trade". They soon realized how narrow was their
vision and changed to "We Build", Their motto is now
"Serving the Children of the World". In 1921 the first club was formed in California which,
together with Nevada and Hawaii has become the most populous
district of all Kiwanis.
In
1982 Kiwanis became truly "International" with its first
foreign club, Vienna. Since then it has become established in 70
nations, six continents, and a total membership of over 600,000,
including the sponsored youth. In 1987 a momentous step was taken,
allowing women to be members, one of whom, Teri Newman,
was the
Governor of the California District.
The first Key Club was formed in California in 1947. This was an organization at the high school level to give students the opportunity to gain leadership ability, community service ,and good citizenship. It was followed in 1955 with "Circle K" clubs in colleges, with "Builders Clubs" in Middle Schools, and "K-Kids" in the elementary schools.
The following "Objects of Kiwanis" were adopted in 1924 and remain unchanged ever since:
To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than the material values of life.
To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule In all human relationships.
To promote the adoption and application of higher social, business, and professional standards.
To develop by precept and example a more Intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship.
To provide through Kiwanis Clubs a more practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.
To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the Increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and good-will.
The Ed Moulton Endowment Fund is a permanent and expanding source of funding for charitable projects of the La Cañada Kiwanis Foundation. The fund was established to provide a reliable, sustainable and increasingly significant source of funding. It was created in 2001, conceived and established by the late Rev. Philip Anderson and several other La Cañada Kiwanians. The Fund was named for the late Ed Moulton, who for over fifty years as a member of the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada did enthusiastically embody and promote the charitable vision and values of Kiwanis.
With their gifts to the Fund, donors support the work of the Foundation well into the future. Gifts come from members of the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada, members of the community, and businesses. You may wish to provide a one time gift, a repeating gift, or a legacy gift. You can also make a memorial or honorary gift. The La Cañada Kiwanis Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Special recognition is given to donors who provide gifts totaling $1000 or more within in a five year period. These donors are considered Ed Moulton Colleagues, and their names are inscribed on the Ed Moulton Endowment Fund Plaque.
