Completed Projects

Projects, Programs and Initiatives Conducted, Supported

or Sponsored in Recent Years

Worldwide.

Annual contributions are made to the Kiwanis International Foundation to enable Kiwanis International to have a positive impact in the lives of people affected by natural disasters, poverty and disease around the world.

The club and its individual members have contributed almost $30,000 to the Kiwanis International Worldwide Service Project. It is estimated by Kiwanis International that 600,000 children were saved from the scourge of Iodine Deficiency Disorders as a result of this contribution.

Regional.

Annual contributions to the Carolinas District Foundation have enabled the district foundation to support district wide projects that were beyond the scope of one individual club.

One of the most visible projects is the Kiwanis Family Care Center at Mission Hospital. This center is part of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit opened in 2003. Spearheaded by the Kiwanis Club of Asheville, Kiwanians from across North and South Carolina combined to contribute $360,000 to build the Family Care Center.

The Health Adventure district project is a $12 million dollar project that will feature a world class interactive health and science center and discovery park right here in Asheville. The district Kiwanis goal will be to raise between $200 and $300 thousand dollars.

Current local projects.

Begun in 1999, the Backpack Project has served over 500 children a year. With strong corporate support from the Mission Foundation, much needed school supplies have been distributed to disadvantaged children in our area. In August 2007, some 650 back packs filled with school supplies were assembled and distributed to deserving children identified by ABCCM, Salvation Army, the Slavic community, and St. James Church.

Since the mid 1980's, we have partnered with Emma Elementary School and its Parent Teacher Organization to sponsor a Terrific Kids program. Terrific Kids is a student recognition program that promotes character development, positive self-esteem and perseverance.

Each year our club organizes a chess tournament for local school children from grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. The tournament, usually held in early January, is going into its 18th year. Some 100 kids compete for over 50 trophies. Learning to play chess can have a major positive influence on academic performance.

Our club provides advisors for the Ira Jones chess club. The chess club, with around 20 young kids, meets every week during most of the school year.

We support a Key Club at Roberson High School. We understand the value of teaching the meaning of service to our youth, and recognize those values we instill today help build a better and brighter future for us all.

Since 1946, this club has sponsored the Kiwanis-4-H Beef and Dairy Calf Chains by providing high quality beef and dairy calves to 4-H members who care for them and later return a heifer calf to the chain for another member. In addition, cash incentives are provided members who show the animals at the North Carolina Mountain State Fair.

In 2001, we began awarding scholarships to deserving young scholars. Since that time, 22 students have received $22,000 toward their college education.

Since 1997, our club has participated in the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP), an adaptation of the historic Marshall Plan Technical Assistance Program. PEP brings non-English-speaking Russian manufacturers and business owners to the United States to receive management training in American firms and plants. Our club has hosted four such delegations and will host a fifth in 2007. Each PEP Delegation consists of about ten delegates plus two bilingual support staff.

In 2004, we began awarding bicycles to selected school children with a perfect attendance record and no tardiness. The program provides incentives for enhanced student performance in Asheville elementary schools.

Each year we distribute flowers to individuals in assisted living facilities.

Every year, our club contributes over 100 hours as bell ringers for Salvation Army during the Christmas season. The club has been recognized for three years for collecting the most money for this project when compared with other civic clubs.

Every year, in cooperation with ABCCM and the Salvation Army, we provide dinner and a shopping trip for 15-20 homeless families at Christmas. Children are taken shopping for Christmas presents.

We facilitate regular weekly contributions of hot food to the Salvation Army's Emergency Lodge (Center of Hope) for homeless and hungry.

Past Projects.

A shipment of relief supplies was gathered from clubs in Division 1 and the Black Mountain-Swannanoa club and delivered to the Senior Citizen Center in Greenville, NC for victims of Hurricane Floyd.

Cash awards were provided for community development clubs in Buncombe County as incentives for improvement in the WNC Community Development Program.

We invested $15,000 to upgrade Lakewood Park and for purchasing toddler's play equipment for the first and only toddler's park in Asheville. This project received the first place service award in the Carolinas District during the 1998-99 administrative year.

We sponsored a little league baseball team in the Venable Athletic Association by providing uniforms and equipment.

We sponsored a week long residence camp experience for special groups of Boy Scouts.

We contributed a computer, washing machine, money and volunteer hours to the special education class at Enka Middle School.

We provided volunteers for finger printing children at Children's Health and Safety Fair at Asheville Mall.

The club was one of several sponsors of Kids Fun Fest in Asheville.

Kiwanis has been one of several sponsors of "Children First" in Asheville-Buncombe County.

The club purchased textbook materials for the Salvation Army's alcoholic rehabilitation and substance abuse program.