Kiwanis Name
The name “Kiwanis” means “we trade” or “we share our talents.” It was coined from an American Indian expression, Nunc Kee-wanis.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.  The Kiwanis Club of Seminole Breakfast is a group of men and women who are passionate about giving back to the community.

The Kiwanis Club of Seminole, Breakfast was organized on November 29,1978 and chartered on January 26, 1979, with 27 members representing a diverse cross section of professions within the local business community. Our club's first official meeting under its new charter was held at the former Chief Charley's Restaurant in Seminole, Florida. The founding members' mission of community service has not changed, and we continue to meet weekly on Tuesday mornings from 7:15 to 8:15 am. Today, our club is one of six Kiwanis clubs located in South Pinellas County which currently comprise Division 13 in the Florida District of Kiwanis. We are members of Kiwanis International comprised of clubs like ours located throughout the United States and some 80 foreign countries.  Our mission statement:  Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.

Kiwanis Club of Seminole Breakfast is a group of volunteers who through various service projects meet the Kiwanis International mission.  It is our belief that volunteer service helps change children and the community in which we live. The Kiwanis Club of Seminole Breakfast projects include serving dinner to the homeless, mentoring disadvantaged youth, increase literacy by reading to and providing children free books, help develop young leaders with our sponsorship of a K-Club, supporting the teenage parenting program, assist the Salvation Army with their annual Holiday bell ringing, support Special Olympics,  and many more worthy causes promoting our community youth.

Our major community projects include:

Pre-School Reading Program - we have scheduled reading dates and provide books to pre-school age kids to promote "learning to read". To date, we have given away over 50,000 books; read to over 2,000 children; provided books to over 100 organizations. Thirty-plus year Kiwanian and retired public school principal Mack Graves began our club's Pre-School Reading Program in 1997 by going to local schools, churches and clubs collecting used books and redistributing them to area preschools.  Today we collect new & used children books and give them to young children in our community under our club’s “Reading is Fun-damental” project.   This is a Kiwanis Major Emphasis project and its primary focus is to encourage reading in children 1-5 years of age.

Family Fun Fishing - we provide manpower and financial support in partnerships with Sweetbay Supermarkets of Seminole, Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, Pinellas County Parks and Recreation. Over 500 children have participated in the program.

Teen Parenting Program - we support this program by providing needed baby supplies and graduation awards.

Special Olympics - We prepare and provide lunches for participants at regional compitition events.

Dinner To The Homeless - the fourth Tuesday of the month our club helps serve dinners to those without a home.

Mentoring/Tutoring - we proide financial support to James Frezell, a local educator, to improve basic skill levels of teens so they may achieve graduation.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing

B.U.G Program (Bring Up Grades). Our most recent project in 2011 the Kiwanis Breakfast Club club sponsors a BUG program at Oakhurst Elementary School. Bring Up Grades, or BUG is a national Kiwanis initiative designed to provide recognition to students who raise their grades to an acceptable range, and maintain or continue to raise them from one grading period to the next. Recognition includes being placed on the school's BUG Honor Roll; a  food-themed party; and presentation of certificates, buttons, and other giveaways. Our club plans BUG recognition events, provides awards, and establishes partnerships with local community businesses to secure support for the program. Sponsoring businesses have the option of providing coupons, giveaways, or food for BUG parties.

K-Kids - is a member of the Kiwanis International family for elementary school students (ages six-12). K-Kids is a "student-led" community-service club, which operates under school regulations and draws its members from the student body.  The Kiwanis Seminole Breakfast Club sponsors Oakhurst Elementary School with the cooperation of Principal Nanci B. Wilson. The K-Kids' motto is "We Build," and its objectives are:  To provide opportunities for working together in service to school and community; To develop leadership potential; To foster and develop strong moral character; and To encourage loyalty to school, community, and nation.

                              K-Kids May 2010

               

                             2008 K-Kids                                                                                  2009 K-Kids

See www.kkids.org