Kiwanis Club of Aurora

FOUNDING OF THE CLUB
The Aurora Kiwanis Club, organized on September 20th and chartered with 52 members on November 24, 1916, was the first club in the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District and the twenty-first club chartered in the world. Since that time, Kiwanis has grown to over 8,500 clubs and membership in excess of 320,000! Kiwanis is in over 90 nations or geographic areas. The Aurora Kiwanis Club currently has approximately 75 members. The total Kiwanis family is over 560,000. The name "Kiwanis" was coined from an expression of the American Indians in the Detroit area. The expression "Nun Kee-wan-nis" meant broadly, "we trade" or "we share our talents." The Kiwanis Club of Aurora is alive to all community projects that are worthwhile, and especially those interests which help to make Aurora an excellent community in which to live. Among these are the scholarship awards presented annually to deserving high school students who plan to continue their education. Today, the club has three major fund raising projects each year, Pancake Day and Placemat Ads in the spring, and Peanut Day in the fall. In addition, we ring bells for the Salvation Army each Christmas Season, support a summer camp for children with disabilities (Camp Forever), and support numerous other worthy community causes. The Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce owes its existence largely to the Aurora Kiwanis club, as we held the first membership drive. Ed Finch was the first Kiwanis President and he was also the first Chamber President in 1921. The local Boy Scout Council was sponsored by this club, and many of its presidents were club members. The first Community Chest (now United Way) was organized by Past President - Harry Chawgo, and many Kiwanians have been officers. The Salvation Army Board was organized by this club and many Kiwanians have served as board members. Kiwanis was the first service club to actively support Good Will Industries in Aurora. One of the first community projects was the raising of funds for the erection of the Juvenile Protective Association Building, the old one having burned. This was carried out successfully and through the years the club enjoyed the annual Christmas party with the children. The Kiwanis Club of Aurora is also proud of its sponsorship of its Sponsored Groups such as the K-Kids, Builders Club, Key Clubs, AKtion Club and Circle K Clubs.