Our Impact
Locally, the Kiwanis Club of Tampa supports more than 20 programs and charitable organizations. Our nationally recognized “Be Wise – Immunize” event, in partnership with the Hillsborough County Immunization Task Force, provides free shots and physicals for school children, as well as WIC registrations for families.
During the holidays we play “Santa” and hand out gifts to 150 children during our annual Children’s Christmas Party, and in the spring we recognize our student scholarship winners.
But our service is not just limited to children. We lend a hand by building residential accessibility ramps and other construction projects throughout the year. We also spread cheer to local seniors by sponsoring events throughout the year.
Over the last few years, our Tampa Kiwanis Foundation has provided financial support averaging $120,000 per year to charities throughout Tampa Bay. Since its inception in the early 1960’s, the Foundation has contributed more than $2 million to the Tampa / Hillsborough community. This does not include the “in-kind” value of the time of our club member and youth volunteers.
For more about our Foundation and grant opportunities, click here.
View the grant requirements here.
If you are interested in applying for a Tampa Kiwanis Foundation grant please complete the grant application here.
Be Wise Immunize
We believe in helping children stay healthy and making sure they are protected. That’s why our club works with the Hillsborough County Immunization Task Force on the “Be Wise—Immunize” program to issue free immunizations and health physicals to eligible school-aged children. This program does not include sport physicals, Head Start or Child Care.
Services are provided regardless of income level, although the majority of participants come from low-income families. These events also include a mini health fair to help make families aware of the health resources available for low-income residents.
“Be Wise—Immunize” events are busy and rewarding. Our foundation supports two “Be Wise—Immunize” events each year and our club members volunteer to help register and direct families.
Scholarship awards
One of our most rewarding projects is providing scholarships to Hillsborough County high school students in partnership with the Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF). Each year, our club reviews almost 200 applications, selecting winners based on need, outstanding character, high grades, work ethic, and acceptance to a college or university in Florida.
Each year the Kiwanis Club of Tampa hosts its annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon to recognize the scholarship winners.
Historically, these have included:
- Five $3,000 Arthur H. Henderson Memorial Scholarships for students attending any four-year state university.
- Four $3,000 Arthur H. Henderson Memorial HCC Scholarships for students attending Hillsborough Community College (with $1,500 in matching funds from HEF).
- A $3,000 Pete Gilmore Memorial Scholarship for a business or accounting student attending a four-year state university.
During the luncheon, our members meet the scholarship winners, their families, and hear from the counselors, teachers and others who have been influential in the students’ lives. The Tampa Kiwanis Foundation funds the scholarships with proceeds from our annual Scholarship Golf Tournament. Interested students apply for scholarships through HEF, which handles the determination of eligibility and disbursement of funds.
Since 2011 our club directed a portion of these funds to pre-paid scholarships available through HEF. Potential scholarship students will go through a mentoring program that starts as early as middle school and finishes when they graduate from high school. Our members act as mentors for the students while they are in school.
Children’s Christmas Party
Schools are asked to select four deserving students to come to the party, and provide information about the children so our members can act as “Santa Claus”. Our members volunteer to sponsor a child and fulfill their gift wish list. Additionally, the Tampa Kiwanis Foundation provides a new outfit, some school supplies, and a goody bag for each child.
At the party the children enjoy lunch with their sponsor, sing Christmas carols, and Santa Claus makes a special appearance! Our members serve as Santa’s helpers, distributing the gifts to the children.
Construction Projects
The Kiwanis Club of Tampa has a construction committee that builds residential accessibility ramps for people in need. Over the years, club members have built more than 250 ramps.
We also have helped on some construction projects for other nonprofit groups, such as playgrounds, fences, picnic facilities and other improvement projects for The Spring, Bright Horizons, Joshua House, Salesian Youth Center and Easter Seals. Our club also helped renovate facilities that help at-risk or abused children removed from their homes as part of the “Rainbow Rooms” project by providing books, toys and furniture.
Our club also annually participates in Paint Your Heart Out Tampa along with members of our Service Leadership Programs.
Community Grants
Our Foundation annually donates approximately $50,000 in grants to local nonprofits who focus on serving children in Hillsborough County. To date, the Kiwanis Club of Tampa has donated $500,000 back into the local community.
For more about our Foundation and grant opportunities, click here.
View the grant requirements here.
If you are interested in applying for a Tampa Kiwanis Foundation grant please complete the grant application here.
To see all of the grants issued by the Tampa Kiwanis Foundation from 2007-2017 in alphabetical order by organization name click here.
Support OF THE Elderly
Our members provide holiday goodies, refreshments, decorations and encouragement to more than 300 senior citizens at seven senior centers in Hillsborough County: Brandon, Lutz, Plant City, Oaks at Riverview, Ruskin, Westshore and Town and Country.