The Kiwanis International Foundation awards the world service medal annually to an individual, organization, or agency that enhances the quality of life for a significant number of people in a substantial way. Contributions to this endowment help underwrite the annual grant of US$10,000 given by Kiwanis International Foundation to the Kiwanis World Service Medal recipient for the advancement of his or her cause.

2007 World Service Medal Recipient
Karen Scheeringa, Hearts In Motion



In 1990, Karen Scheeringa was a single mother who began helping one child who needed medical treatment unavailable in the child’s native country. Today she is founder and director of Hearts In Motion, whose volunteer missions provide medical and dental treatment for children and communities in the U.S., Central and South America, and now India. Last year, 17 teams performed dental, plastic, and orthopedic surgeries, ran OB/GYN and general health clinics, and worked with hospitals to improve their healthcare systems. She also obtains sponsorships to bring children to the United States for treatment that can’t be provided in their native lands. In the past 15 years she has also adopted nine children from other countries, orphans with medical problems or other special needs.

Past World Service Medal winners include:

1985--Giuseppe Maggi, MD, Dr. Maggi Humanitarian Institution
1986--Nancy Reagan, "Just Say No" anti-drug-abuse campaign
1987--Terry Waite, Church of England
1988--Murray Dryden, Sleeping Children Around the World
1989--Harriet Van Meter, International Book Project
1990--William V. Dolan, MD, Esperança Inc.
1991--Yvonne Fedderson and Sara O'Meara Sigholtz, Childhelp USA/International
1992--Jaime Jaramillo Escheverry, Children of the Andes Foundation
1993--Audrey Hepburn, United Nations Children's Fund
1994--Ron Post, Northwest Medical Teams International
1995--Rosalynn Carter and Betty Bumpers, Every Child By Two
1996--Mother Teresa, Missionaries of Charity
1997--Lewis G. Zirkle Jr., Northwest Orthopaedic Associates
1998--Louise Brissette, Les Enfants de l'Amour
1999--William and Kathy Magee, Operation Smile
2000--Bertha "Grandma" Holt, Holt International Children's Services
2001--Roger Moore, United Nations Children's Fund
2002--Binh Rybacki, Children of Peace
2003--Christel DeHaan, Christel House
2004--Craig Kielburger, Free the Children
2005--Fr. Pedro Opeka, Akamasoa