Milpitas Kiwanis continues to support underserved youth in variety of ways

The Kiwanis Club of Milpitas currently has 23 members, all local residents, many of whom have been involved as community volunteers in many organizations and projects over time, most, but not all, with the school district.
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Kiwanis International is focused on “serving the children of the world,” and the work that our Club does is part of that mission, according to Ron Lind, Kiwanis Club Secretary.

“I joined Kiwanis because I wanted to make a difference in the community in which I reside,” said Lind, the longest-serving Kiwanis member who has served as the Club President five times over the last 25 years with the Club. “I joined because I found the community-based projects of the Club to be compelling and greatly-needed.”

Some of the different ways Kiwanis has and continues to support the underserved youth in the Milpitas community include:

• Kohl’s (previously Mervyn’s) shopping spree: Approximately $10,000 per year for 24 years for $240,000 dating back to 1999.
• Turnaround Scholarship: Started in 2014 and total contributions to date $136,500.
• Milpitas Reads: Each year Kiwanis selects and provides an age and culturally-appropriate book to each second grade student in the district. Club members and other community members read the book to each second grade class prior to distributing copies to students. The goal is to promote literacy and a love of books.

“MUSD truly appreciates the support our local Kiwanis provides to the MUSD community, especially to our most vulnerable students and families through initiatives such as The Kohl’s shopping spree, Turnaround scholarship and Milpitas Reads program,” said Superintendent Cheryl Jordan.

Milpitas Kiwanis has distributed approximately $400,000 in support over the years to underserved youth in addition to working with Milpitas Food Pantry on volunteer needs, fundraising and the annual Jack Emery food drive and distribution.

“We partner with Kiwanis International on various programs including the Kiwanis Children’s Fund,” Lind added. “We also raised money for a program that builds classrooms in rural areas in South America.”