What Why How
"Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time."- Defining statement of Kiwanis International
What we do
We support the needs of our community's children and youth through multi-faceted service and advocacy.
We build a community of members dedicated to Kiwanis programs and service through an expanded community.
How we do it
We read stories to children in Lincoln Public Schools, paint furniture, raise money at pancake feeds and golf tournaments, serve pizza to drug court graduates, plant trees, build trails, assemble exhibits, serve as zoo train conductors, plaster, do carpentry, pick up trash on highways and trails, work with 4-H groups, Key Clubs, and Junior Achievement, mentor children through Big Brother and Sister, provide scholarships, volunteer at Teddy Bear Cottage, the Children's Zoo, the Children's Museum, Camp Kindle and the Lighthouse. These are but examples of the scope of our activities.
We meet every week to hear excellent speakers on topics ranging from local focus to national issues and to share a meal in fellowship. We find out ways to serve by joining the committees that do the kind of work we enjoy the most.
We acknowledge our members' happy occasions and sorrows. We are a family who works together to serve the children and youth of Lincoln.
We meet and work with other Kiwanians through interclub meetings, through the Nebraska/Iowa Kiwanis District, and through Kiwanis International. We share the same focus and commitments to serve.
Why we do it
We want to do our best to make Lincoln, Nebraska a place where all our children can have healthy, happy childhoods and know they are valued members of their city, state and county. We want all children to have the desire and ability as adults to be concerned, educated, altruistic and active citizens. We appreciate the ways Kiwanis brings together men and women of may different backgrounds to serve the children of Lincoln by putting ideals into practice. We know that by working with other Kiwanians around the world, we will share and build on ideas and serve more children. We support the objects of Kiwanis International: to provide a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities. To give primacy to human and spiritual values, observe the Golden Rule in all human relationships, develop and serviceable citizenship through precept and example, promote higher social, business and professional standards, cooperate to create and maintains sound public opinion and high idealism in the service of righteousness, justice, patriotism and good will.