Grants benefit children—from head to toe

At its first meeting of the 2007-08 year, the Kiwanis International Foundation Board of Trustees awarded nearly $125,000 in grants to Kiwanis projects in local communities. As in previous grants, funds were awarded to a variety of projects and programs that are Kiwanis-family related, serve young children, and are national or international in scope.

Funding for these grants comes from a myriad of giving options, including the Foundation’s Annual Club Gift Campaign, the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, and other programs. Among those awarded grants during the recent October meeting:

The Golden K, Aurora, Illinois, Kiwanis club. Funds earmarked for Hope in Motion, a project of the Hope Wall School, which serves more than 300 children with special needs ranging from mild to severe and profound. Hope in Motion project will provide these children a safe playground area that accommodates their physical needs and is accessible to their equipment.  The accessible playscape can potentially solve many individual developmental needs and help students attain their Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals at the Hope Wall School by improving social and emotional interaction, meeting fine and gross motor therapy goals, and developing communication through play-based therapy.

The Kiwanis Club of Des Plaines, Illinois. Grant will be used to continue the club’s shoe/boot project. For the past six years, the Des Plaines club has provided shoes or boots to local elementary school children, at no cost to their families. The club has provided shoes or boots to more than 600 children.

The Kiwanis Club of Jeremie, Haiti. The Jeremie club sought funds to send 100 children to elementary school. This grant will help by providing teachers, a daily meal, and school uniforms.

The Kiwanis Club of Waynesboro, Virginia. The Kiwanis Club of Waynesboro and the Capital District Foundation support the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic in providing preventative, restorative, extractive oral health care and educational services.  This grant will make it possible to provide dental services to an additional 2,000 children annually.