SouthShore club makes a difference, one child at a time
The Kiwanis Club of SouthShore awarded $20,000 in scholarship money last year to 20 graduating high school seniors from East Bay and Lennard high schools.
MARIE NOTARFRANCESCO PHOTO
By LOIS KINDLE
Practically everyone’s heard of the Kiwanis Club of SouthShore but few are aware of its broad range of community services. The 45-member group is part of an international organization established in 1928, and one of the fastest-growing Kiwanis clubs in Florida. It’s currently ranked fourth out of 247 chapters across the state.
“The way we pay it forward is through children,” said Faye Groves, the local chapter’s president for 2016-2017. “Children are priority No. 1 at Kiwanis. We have a program for every age group from birth to college.”
Kiwanis Club of SouthShore president Faye Groves invites area residents to get involved in the club’s projects benefiting children of all ages throughout South Shore. For information, call 727-424-3672.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
On Jan. 31, for example, the service club will present “a mountain of diapers” donated by members (about 1,300) to Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathoilc Mission as part of its Young Children Priority One program, Groves said. This same program also includes a monthly reading series for Head Start and pre-K students at Wimauma Elementary School, which provides a copy of the book for each child to take home to share with his or her family after its read at school.
“We sponsor Terrific Kids, a recognition program for elementary school students in 11 local schools,” said longtime member Connie Lesko.
“It’s aimed at reinforcing positive attributes and building character,” Groves said. “Every child selected is given a bumper sticker, free McDonald’s meal and a giant Tootsie Roll.”
The Terrific Kids program is one of Kiwanis’ three signature efforts and touches about 6,000 kids annually, she added.
“We also support K-Kids, a mini-Kiwanis service organization geared toward elementary school students, and the Builders Club service organization for Eisenhower Middle School students,” she said.
Groves noted her group hopes to start another Builders Club at Beth Shields Middle School by the end of the school year.
The Kiwanis Club of SouthShore named Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Dana Dittmar as its 2016 Citizen of the Year for her continuous volunteer efforts in the community. From left are Susan Montgomery, the club’s president-elect, Dittmar, and Faye Groves, club president.
MARIE NOTARFRANCESCO PHOTO
Kiwanis also sponsors Key Clubs at Lennard and East Bay high schools, which average about 100 active student members apiece, who serve both their schools and communities,” Lesko said.
There’s even a Kiwanis program for college students called Circle K International, which involves them in service projects throughout the community. Efforts are underway to establish chapters at Hillsborough Community College SouthShore and Gannon University.
“Additionally, we get involved with everything else in the community that swims by: The Campaign Against Human Trafficking, the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the ALS Walk and NAMI,” Lesko said.
But that’s not all.
Kiwanis of SouthShore recently donated $1,000 to assist the Lennard High School Robotics and Engineering Program to purchase a trailer for transporting its robotics equipment to competitive events.
Kiwanis Club of SouthShore Key Club members from East Bay and Lennard high schools participate in the 2016 Walk to End Alzheimer’s last September. The teens are involved in a variety of annual community service projects.
MARIE NOTARFRANCESCO PHOTO
Last year, the group gave $20,000 in college scholarships to East Bay and Lennard High School graduates, Groves said. “My goal is to provide at least 21 this year.”
The funding is raised through grants from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Interfaith Council of Sun City Center, Walmart Foundation, Debbie Bates Allstate Insurance and Kiwanis of SouthShore’s annual Sala Halm Memorial Golf Tournament, the club’s second signature event.
This year’s tourney will take place March 18 at Club Renaissance Golf Club, 2121 Pebble Beach Blvd. S., Sun City Center. Sign up before Feb. 17 to receive early-bird pricing of $75 per person or $300 per foursome and a super ticket. After that date, the cost is $85 per person or $340 per foursome.
The registration fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart, greens fees, awards and an after-play dinner. Dinner-only tickets are $20.
Those who didn’t register early, can purchase super tickets for $20 that include lots of prizes, a putting contest, three mulligans and three additional door prize tickets.
Sponsorships are available. For information, call Groves at 727-424-3672 or Tony Petree at 813-579-0290.
“All proceeds will be used for post-graduate and leadership scholarships for local students,” Groves said.
In 2016, Kiwanis of SouthShore introduced a fun afternoon event called Christmas in July to provide groceries, clothing and a toy to about 40 homeless children and their parents. A party was held at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center last summer, and it is slated to become the club’s third signature program.
“This is truly the most dedicated group of people I’ve ever had the honor of serving with,” Lesko said. “It’s a fun group of mixed nuts.”
Kiwanis Club of SouthShore meets at noon the first, second and third Wednesdays of the month at The Plaza Club at Freedom Fairways, 3940 Upper Creek Drive, Sun City Center. The public is invited to attend at any time, but an RSVP is required. Lunch is $12.50.
On the fourth Tuesday of each month, the group’s members (who come from all over South Shore) gather at an area restaurant for an evening social. The next one is at 6 p.m. Jan. 24 at The Sandpiper Grille, 1702 Pebble Beach Blvd. S., Sun City Center. Dining is off the menu. E-mail ifgroves@aol.com for details.
For information on joining the club, visit kiwanissouthshorefl.org or visit its Facebook page. Annual dues are $125.
