Kiwanis-Sponsored Organizations
As Kiwanis membership has grown and enthusiasm for its service-based
format has spread, Kiwanis has created additional volunteer opportunities
for people at every stage of life through its sponsored programs.
Circle K is a service club for collegians and has nearly 13,000
members on more than 500 university and college campuses in 13
nations. Circle K was started in Pullman, Washington, and was formally
organized as a service organization in 1947. Its members are committed
to leadership, service, and fellowship.
The oldest Kiwanis sponsored-youth program is Key Club. Seventeen
boys in Sacramento, California, made up the first Key Club in 1925,
and today the organization is active in 20 nations and includes
4,711 clubs and 234,528 members. More than 2 million youth have
enlisted in Key Club since its inception, including many who are
now top government and business leaders.
When middle school and junior high students began to show an interest
in organizing to serve their schools and communities, the Builders
Club program was launched in 1975. With support from Kiwanis clubs,
Key Clubs, and Circle K clubs, the Builders Club network has grown
to include more than 1,500 clubs and 44,000 members in 13 nations.
This organization for elementary school-age students began in
1990 when the first club was formed in North Lauderdale, Florida,
and formally adopted as a sponsored program by Kiwanis in 1998.
Today 16,164 K-Kids in 500 clubs and 11 nations are actively creating
opportunities for community service, leadership development, and
citizenship education.
In October 2000, Kiwanis extended service opportunities to adult
citizens living with developmental disabilities through the formation
of Aktion Clubs. These clubs provide members with opportunities
to develop initiative and leadership, to serve their communities,
to be integrated into society, and to demonstrate the dignity and
value of citizens living with developmental disabilities. To date,
there are more than 2,000 members in 89 clubs.
Kiwanis Junior clubs are recognized in Europe and help to share
the Kiwanis service experience with younger adults, ages 18-35.
Kiwanis Junior became an official program in 1992 and now includes
more than 50 clubs.
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