Kiwanis Club of Hilliard, Ohio – Caring For Hilliard’s Kids

Welcome to Kiwanis Club of Hilliard. Founded in 1965, the Kiwanis Club of Hilliard is committed to improving the lives of Hilliard’s youth. We are an eclectic mix of ages, genders, occupations, backgrounds and interests. We are all passionate about making our community and the world a better place for children so they can thrive. We are devoted to serving the children in our local community and also children all across the country and worldwide through unique and innovative service projects and fundraising initiatives.

What is Kiwanis?

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of Hilliard is dedicated to serving the local community through various service and fundraising projects. Our club has been in service to our community for more than 50 years. We are part of Kiwanis International, an organization serving children for more than 100 years. Check out this video to learn more about the efforts undertaken by Kiwanis.

Interested in learning more? Please contact us or apply to join our Kiwanis club here

What Does the Name “Kiwanis” Mean?
The name “Kiwanis” stems from an expression of the Native American Indian tribe that lived in the Detroit area, the area where Kiwanis was founded. The original phrase in the Otchipew language was “Nun Kee-wanis.” It means “self expression,” or “to express one’s self.” It was shortened and modified to become “Kiwanis.”

What are Kiwanis’ Goals?
Throughout the years, the motto, “We build,” is what Kiwanis has advanced and has become widely recognized. The purpose of Kiwanis is to provide service to youth and the elderly, to the community and to the nation. The objectives of Kiwanis are to:

• Give primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than to the material values of life.
• Encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
• Promote the adoption and application of higher social, business and professional standards.
• Develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship.
• Provide, through this Club, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service and to build a better community.
• Cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism, which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.

More recently, the motto was changed to “Serving the Children of the World,” which better describes a major effort of most Kiwanis clubs.

What is the History of Kiwanis?
Kiwanis was founded in Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 21, 1915. The first Kiwanian was a merchant tailor named Joseph Prance. The original name was “The Benevolent Order of Brothers,” and its purpose was the mutual exchange of preferred treatment in professional and business dealings. Within a year, the name was changed to “Kiwanis,” and, since the original purpose lacked the power to attract and hold members, the purpose of the organization became “community service,” a concept from which Kiwanis has never deviated.

In 1916, a Kiwanis club was formed in Canada (Hamilton, Ontario), and Kiwanis became an “international” service organization. In 1962, a Kiwanis Club was formed in Mexico, breaking the long-standing tradition of serving only in the U.S. and Canada. In 1989, women were welcomed to join Kiwanis Clubs.

What is Kiwanis Today?
Today, there are more than 200,000 men and women in greater than 8,000 Kiwanis Clubs serving the needs of people in 85 nations and geographic areas around the world. Kiwanis is part of a 20th century phenomenon. The “service club movement,” as it has been termed, is one of North America’s most important contributions to today’s culture. In fact, in 2023, the service club movement is bigger, more accepted and more desired than ever before in its history.

For more information, see Kiwanis International.