About Kiwanis

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.

Kiwanis was founded in Detroit, Michigan, on January 21, 1915, as "The Benevolent Order of Brothers." Its purpose was the mutual exchange of preferred treatment in professional and business dealings. Within a year, the name had been changed to "Kiwanis," taken from an Indian term "Nun Keewanis," which roughly translates as "Self Expression". The purpose of the organization became community service, a purpose from which Kiwanis has never deviated.

In 1916, Kiwanis entered Canada, becoming international. In 1961, the first Kiwanis club in Europe was established in Vienna. International extension has continued and today Kiwanis serves the needs of 77 countries around the world with over 326,000 members.

Kiwanians are engaged in education, government, banking, marketing, agriculture, international trade, non-profit organizations and many other fields. They are corporate officers, managers, small business owners, and professionals. They are young individuals embarking on careers, successful executives, and active retirees.

A Kiwanian is an individual of good character who adheres to the standards of good conduct in a community and believes in and subscribes to the six Objects of Kiwanis International:

To give primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than to the material values of life.

To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.

To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards.

To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.

To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.

To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.