Kiwanis Club
of Sunnyside
A local club of Kiwanis International
CELEBRATING 78 YEARS OF SERVICE
14,147
CLUBS ACROSS 85 NATIONS
390MM
DOLLARS RAISED
7.7MM
VOLUNTEER HOURS
WHAT IS KIWANIS
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. One of the largest community-service organizations dedicated primarily to helping the children of the world, with more approximately 445,167 adult and youth members in 7,158 adult clubs and 6,989 youth clubs in 85 NATIONS worldwide. Kiwanis members are ordinary people, performing extraordinary work (stats approx. as of October 2023). Internationally each year, we invest over 7.7 million volunteer hours on various service projects / fundraisers, and raise nearly 390 million dollars (USC) to impact children, families and communities around the world.
SERVICE PROJECTS
Service Leadership Programs
The Kiwanis Club of Sunnyside sponsors Key Clubs at Bard H.S., Frank Sinatra H.S. of the Arts, the Academy of American Studies and a K-Kids program at P.S. 17Q. The Kiwanis Club of Sunnyside also sponsors the only non-school community based Key Club in the world - The Sunnyside Community Key Club.
Sunnyside Kiwanis Flag Day Parade
The Kiwanis Club of Sunnyside organizes and runs an annual Flag Day Parade every June, acknowledging the symbol of our country and fostering citizenship and civic pride in all it represents.
Community Blood Drives
Co-sponsoring / Co-Organizing Community Blood Drives (in partnership with NYBC / local churches)
Annual Benjamin M. Shaw Essay Contest
Annual essay contest with multiple prizes for our local elementary and middle schools; to foster creative writing skills and academic excellence.
First Fridays Social Mixer Events
Held monthly to benefit the local food pantries (past years)
Sunnyside Drum Corps
Long time supporter of, donor to and past sponsor of our neighborhood's 'Ambassadors of Goodwill', the Sunnyside Drum Corps, Inc.
Institutional Assistance
$ 10, 000 donated to Sunnyside Community Services
$ 10,000 Donated to build the Long Island City YMCA
Kamp Kiwanis
Our Summer Kamp Program sends children in need to the New York District's Kamp Kiwanis in Taberg, NY each summer.
And More...
(toy drives, hygiene kits for the undomiciled, school supply filled schoolbags for children in local shelters, health fairs, presentation of leadership and service awards at I.S. 125Q, support for the Disaster Relief efforts, Ronald McDonald House, Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Centers, support for the former Boy Scout Troop 390 (past years), and more!)
THE NAME
“Kiwanis” is a coined word taken from the language of the American Indian tribe which lived in the area where Kiwanis was founded. The original phrase was “Nun Keewanis.” It means “to make oneself known,” or “We gather together for self expression.” or “We trade.” It was shortened and modified to become “Kiwanis.”
THE MOTTO
The original motto was “We Trade” as the organization began to promote business networking but whose members were active in community service. In 1920 the motto was changed to “We Build” as the Kiwanis formally changed its focus and mission to community service and Kiwanis advanced to become widely known throughout the years by it. In 2005, the current motto “Serving the children of the world” was adopted.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTS OF KIWANIS
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To give primacy to the human and spiritual , rather than the material values of life
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To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all Human relationships
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To promote the adoption and application of higher social, business and professional standards
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To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship
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To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service and to build better communities
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To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism, which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill
THE ORGANIZATION
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Kiwanis is a service organization, not a social club, although enduring friendships are created through the Kiwanis spirit of fellowship that comes from mutual effort devoted to great and useful ends
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Kiwanis is often a public forum, but never a political circle. Meeting programs frequently provide platforms for the balanced, and impartial, presentation of public issues of interest to the members - and the community
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Kiwanis makes its activities known. It is not a secret society. There are no private rituals. Public awareness of Kiwanis activities is sought because it increases support for Kiwanis service efforts
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Kiwanis fosters principles of good citizenship and human values - it does not prescribe a way of life for others.
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And finally, the actions of each club are guided by the needs of its own locality. Kiwanis does not impose programs upon its clubs or members.
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We, as Kiwanis club members, put a priority on the needs of children by developing programs for social development, health and safety.
KIWANIS CLUB OF SUNNYSIDE
The members of the Kiwanis Club of Sunnyside work together and achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone. Our focus is to make Sunnyside a better community to live and work and provide a positive impact on the lives of our neighbors.
