Many individuals join Kiwanis clubs specifically because we are an international
organization with a global mission-that lofty goal of changing
the world one child and one community at a time. To this
point, with a few notable exceptions, our Capital District
clubs seem to have focused on local efforts directed toward
helping our own children and communities. This is commendable,
but it does not address the incredible needs of children
worldwide...Accordingly,
our District Committee on International Understanding has
decided to pursue a new approach
to achieving our global mission. We have selected Africa because its needs are great and most of us know extremely
little about this part of the world...Chester,
VA Club and the Curtis Elementary Playground Equipment
Project
by Phil Crow
There was a dedication
ceremony held October 3, 2008 at Curtis Elementary
for their new playground equipment and safety fencing.
(Pictured left: Ms.Tina Seal, project coordinator,
cuts the ribbon. Pictured right: happy students!) Total
money raised was about $40,000. In her opening remarks
to the
attendees,
Ms.
Seal mentioned
only one organization - Chester Kiwanis. This may be
because our support went beyond our $500 check in January/February
2008. Ms. Seal first contacted the Kiwanis Club of
Chester during Ron Gray's term as President (2006).
At that time we provided no money, but Dave directed
her to several corporations that might provide funds.
Curtis applied to all of them. One was Hamburger Helper
which was giving out grants, up to $25,000. Applicants
could post a description of their project on the Helping
Hands Across America's webpage, people could vote on
it, and Hamburger Helper funded the winners. Several
Chester Kiwanis club members visited the website and
voted for Curtis but they did not win. By January 2008,
they had raised about $20,000 but they needed to raise
the remaining $20,000 by July 1, 2008 or they would
lose a $5,000 award they received from Nickelodeon
(yes, the cable channel which had started their fundraising
process.) The new playground equipment has been in
use since school started this year. Most of these items
are not visible from the main road. An important addition
was safety fencing to control how kids can leave the
playground when going to their buses. There is no question
that this project would never have come about without
the persistent and continuing support of Kiwanian Dave
Elsworth.
