Focus for Kiwanis is on children

BY LISA MEHRING • FOR THE BEACON

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090912/WINDSORBEACON01/90910032

Fort Collins, Colorado

There are several service clubs in Windsor but the Kiwanis Club has made it a goal to help the youth in the community.

Kiwanis is an international club dedicated to serving children.

The local club holds a number of fundraisers and events throughout the year to benefit children.

Bob Chamberlin, a Kiwanis Club member, explains a couple of the events.

“The Christmas Holiday Home Tour is one of our major fundraisers,” he said. “We also hold a 5K Father’s Day race and we’ve provided a book to all kindergartners in the Windsor Schools during the last few years.

“That’s the focus of the Kiwanis,” Chamberlin added, “to support children and older kids.”

Caroline Figal, another Kiwanis Club member, agreed.

“It’s a very active group,” she said. “We’re very involved with the youth in the community.”

The next event the Kiwanis are preparing for is their annual Christmas Holiday Home Tour on Dec. 6.

“Basically, we’ll have an open house,” Chamberlin said. “We’ll try to have five or seven homes for people to visit, where people would be able to look at the decorations for Christmas.” All of the proceeds from the event will be used to help fund college scholarships the Kiwanis hands out every year, he explained.

In 2009, the Kiwanis Club gave out three $1,000 college scholarships to deserving students with good grades, who are active in the community and need money for college, Chamberlin said.

To be successful in giving out these scholarships, the Kiwanis Club is always looking for volunteers to participate in their events particularly the Christmas Home Tour event.

“Basically, the Windsor Kiwanis needs your help to get homes for the (Christmas) Holiday Home Tour,” Chamberlin said.