One of our annual fundraising events is the sale of tickets for Theatre in the Park's original musical comedy production of A Christmas Carol, based on the book by Charles Dickens and adapted for the stage by Ira David Wood III. The critically acclaimed show at Memorial Auditorium has been a seasonal favorite in Raleigh for many years, and is usually sold out by Thanksgiving.

Break out the diamonds. Pull on the denim. It's time to go shopping – for a good cause. The Raleigh Kiwanis Foundation and The Young Advocates of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake County invite you to join us for a casually elegant evening at our annual Denim & Diamonds fundraiser, held in February at Saks Fifth Avenue, Triangle Town Center. The event includes food, music, exclusive silent auction, and shopping.
 

Since 1990, the major annual fundraising event for our Foundation has been the Kiwanis Golf Classic. Proceeds benefit the programs of the Raleigh Kiwanis Foundation. We appreciate all of the players and contributors who help to make the event a success each year.

Another annual fundraiser is our State Fair Booth, where we sell hot dogs and soft drinks. Our booth is staffed by volunteers from our club and our sponsored Key Clubs. Please visit us at the North Carolina State Fair in October!
 

The major continuing service emphasis of Kiwanis International is known as Young Children: Priority One. The program encompasses projects focusing on the special needs of children from prenatal development through age five. Our club is involved in several service projects, described in more detail below, directed at the needs of children.
 

Builders Club is the largest service organization for middle school students, with more than 40,000 members worldwide. It provides opportunities for working together in service to school and community, to develop leadership potential, to foster development of strong moral character, and to encourage loyalty to school, community, and nation. We sponsor the Builders Club at The Franciscan School.
 

Circle K International is a Kiwanis organization devoted to involving college and university students in campus and community service while developing quality leaders and citizens. Emphasis is placed on service, leadership, career development, and fellowship. Circle K members are inspired to better the world through numerous projects on campus, in the community, and on a global scale. We sponsor the NCSU Circle K Club.
 

Key Club International is a Kiwanis organization for high school students that conducts an active program of service in the school and community. Its objectives include the development of initiative, leadership, and good citizenship. It is the largest high school service organization in the world. Our club sponsors Key Clubs at the following schools in Raleigh:

• Athens Drive High School
• Broughton High School
• Saint Mary's School

Aktion Club is an organization for adults living with disabilities who desire to become leaders in the community and provide service to others. We sponsor the Aktion Club of Greater Raleigh.
 

Members of our club help with the annual Fall Festival and put on an annual Christmas party for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake County. Since 1967, the organization has been providing wholesome, leisure-time programs and activities for the young people of Raleigh and surrounding area.  At its five year-round facilities and a summer camp, the clubs promote the development of children, ages 6 to 14, physically, mentally and emotionally. "Fun With A Purpose" is the slogan that best describes the Club's program. Children like action, lots of it, and they find it at the Boys & Girls Clubs. They are provided with many activities where they can have fun, learn some things, and develop self-esteem. The caring adult staff members are committed to helping young children grow into responsible adults.
 

One of the largest projects our Kiwanis Club has ever undertaken was the financing and construction of a Habitat for Humanity house on Spaulding Street in Raleigh during 1996-97. The total cost of $46,800 was paid for with $30,000 in contributions from 115 of our members, $2,000 from an Athens Drive High School Key Club fundraiser, and $14,800 from The Raleigh Kiwanis Foundation. 60 of our members worked on the house along with students from our sponsored Key Clubs and other groups.
 

Our Foster Children's Shoe Program, in partnership with Wake County Human Services and Hudson Belk, provides shoes for Foster Children throughout the year. We also provide funding for Foster Children's Christmas Gifts each year.

One of our club's major commitments since 1986 has been to provide a volunteer daily to help serve at the Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen, located at the Church of The Good Shepherd, 125 Hillsborough Street in downtown Raleigh. The Shepherd's Table has been in operation since 1980 and serves a hot lunch to about 250 people Monday through Friday.
 

Terrific Kids is a Kiwanis program for elementary school students that promotes higher self esteem, positive attitudes, and self discipline. Students receive encouragement and recognition for achieving personal goals in self improvement such as improved behavior, better relationships with peers, better school attendance, and better work habits. We are pleased to sponsor the Terrific Kids program at Partnership Elementary School, since 2007.
 

We raised over $50,000 in 2004-05 to help build a Kiwanis Cabin and provide camperships at Victory Junction Gang Camp. Located on 72 acres of beautiful forest land in Randleman, North Carolina, the summer camp serves children with chronic or life threatening illnesses.

Our club has raised over $100,000 to help eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), the world's leading cause of preventable mental retardation. The Worldwide Service Project is a joint effort between Kiwanis International, Morton International, and UNICEF. Just a spoonful of iodine over a lifetime gives protection from IDD, and it costs only five cents per child.

If you would like to help in the fight against IDD, please use the online donation form to mail with your tax deductible contribution. With a gift of $1,000 you become eligible for a George F. Hixson Fellowship award. Click here to view the contributor list.