Awards & Recognition

Often the work of our Kiwanis members goes unnoticed.
Volunteers who give a part of themselves.
They invest their time, energy & skills to make a difference in their communities.
Their willingness to give their time & service is greatly appreciated.
Below are the awards & recognition that our members have received for their contributions.

Fox 47 News Report on the Book Vending Machine Project for Donley Elementary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2VwMhagFIk

The club and community members met Jan. 31 at Coral Gables restaurant to discuss plans to help combat the literacy issue in mid-Michigan.
The event hosted WKAR Director of Education Robin Pizzo, screened the film “Building the Reading Brain” and discussed Kiwanis’ new “signature project” of placing book vending machines in all East Lansing elementary schools and the middle schools.
East Lansing Insider wrote a terrific story!
https://eastlansinginfo.news/book-vending-machine-project-meant-to-boost-reading-literacy/

One Ambulance At A Time

Listen to his story on Channel 10 when he spoke at the Kiwanis of East Lansing meeting November 14th, 2023.

https://www.wilx.com/2023/11/14/east-lansing-man-talks-about-ukraine-war-experience/

East Lansing Kiwanis receive award

On September 23, 2021, at the annual Drive Change Breakfast, held at the Lansing Country Club, our club received the Above & Beyond Award from the Davies Project in recognition of our partnership to provide snacks to children, parents, and drivers involved in the Davies Project.

Thanks from the Davies Project (12/24/2020)

Over the past year, our club has packaged and delivered food packs, donated children’s books and toys to the Davies Project.
We were gratified to receive the following note from them:

Note of thanks from E. Lansing Public Schools:

From: Glenn Mitcham <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Mar 1, 2021 at 9:23 AM
Subject: Thank You East Lansing Kiwanis!
To: B Hollstein <[email protected]>
Cc: Dori Leyko <[email protected]>

Good Morning Barb!

I just wanted to take a minute to say a heartfelt thank you to you and your team for all the work you did to deliver meals to our East Lansing Public School Families over the past six months! East Lansing Kiwanis stepped up at a critical time to provide a critical service to our families. Through rain, snow, heat and even an occasional nice day you guys were constant, reliable and sincere.

ELPS was better these past six month because of the way you all stepped in to fill a gap. Thank you for being there.

Sincerely,
Glenn Mitcham, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, East Lansing Public Schools

East Lansing Kiwanis celebrates its 70th anniversary

Seventy years ago, on November 11, 1949, Armistice Day, the Kiwanis Club of East Lansing was chartered. In the subsequent seven decades, this club has contributed in many ways to the wellbeing of children of the local community, including child nutrition, literacy, fitness, and education. To celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the club, a banquet was held on the evening of November 11, 2019, at the MSU University Club. A proclamation from the Michigan legislature congratulating the club was presented by one of its members, Rep. Julie Brixie.  Checks representing grants from the East Lansing Kiwanis Foundation to the Bailey Community Association and Rebuilding America—TriCounty were presented to representatives of those organizations. Special guests included officials of Kiwanis of Michigan (Executive Director Greg Smith and Lt. Gov. Tom Perkins), officers from the service leadership clubs sponsored by the local Kiwanis—the MSU Circle K Club and the Key Club of East Lansing High School. Past officers of the club were recognized, including eleven former club presidents, and incoming officers were inducted. A book showing highlights of the club’s long history of service to the community was also unveiled. Much of the important service to the community is the result of the dedication and sacrifice of service clubs like the Kiwanis, making this a fitting occasion for celebration.

East Lansing Kiwanis recognized as a Today Club

Thank you for your club’s support of the Kiwanis Children’s Fund. Your gift changes the lives of children around the world. Your club’s support qualifies you as a Blue-Level Today Club for the 2017-18 year, because your club’s unrestricted gifts last year averaged at least US$10 per member.

Think of the smiles and laughter your gift made possible. The children in need getting nutritious food. Infants protected against a deadly disease. All because your club made a gift.

Next month, you’ll receive a banner patch that I hope you’ll proudly display at club meetings. In the meantime, I hope you’ll also upload this digital patch to your website and social media and let other Kiwanis clubs know about the impact you make on children worldwide.

Again, we sincerely thank you for your club’s support. Kids need Kiwanis. And your club’s gift helps us reach those who need us most. Thank you.

High School Students of the Month Honored

April 22, 2019 (East Lansing, MI).  On Monday, April 22, 2019, at the East Lansing High School, the Kiwanis Club of East Lansing sponsored an award ceremony for eight students recognized as Students of the Month during the past school year. Each student was selected by a different department of the faculty (such as math, visual arts, and so forth). A teacher from each department introduced their selected students and described some of their accomplishments. Each student was also able to introduce family members who were present for the ceremony. A commemorative certificate from the State Legislature was presented to each awardee by Dan Opsommer, Chief of Staff for State Rep. Julie Brixie.

The awardees were:
•    September 2018: Katarina Rothhorn
•    October 2018: Benno Staszewski
•    November 2018: Shaingyi Lin
•    December 2018: Anaiis Rios-Kasoga
•    January 2019: Teema Mohammad
•    February 2019 Shaingyi Lin
•    March 2018: Lillian Kakela
•    April 2019: Hunter Hambleton
•    May 2019: Ana Comstock