About Us

Kiwanis was organized in 1915 and became International in 1919. The Kiwanis Club of Jacksonville (Downtown Kiwanis) was chartered in May 1951 by Kiwanis International. The Kiwanis family reaches around the world in 98 countries and in all of the United States.  Our club operates under bylaws approved by Kiwanis International.

Our current Major Fundraising Projects are: Collecting tickets at the  Greater Jacksonville Fair in November. An Annual Charity Golf Tournament in September,  and a Spring Charity Garage Sale each May.

Our average yearly contribution to selected youth organizations and other well-deserving entities is in excess of $12,000.00.  Past Foundation Grant recipients have included: Safe Harbor Boys Home, Project SOS, Young Life, Inc, Alden Road Exceptional Center, 4H Duval County, MaliVai Washington Foundation, Youth Leadership Jacksonville, The Clarke School for Hearing & Speech, Knots for Kids, The SAVE Program @ SS Middle School, The First Tee, The DePaul School, Horse Sense & Sensitivity, The Greater Jacksonville Fair Educational Scholarship Program and The PineCastle Inc.

We currently sponsor three (3) Key Clubs - Bishop Kenny High School, Episcopal High School and,  our newest - Oak Leaf High School.  Furthering Educational Scholarships are awarded to  Key Club members that apply.  These Scholarship Awards of $1000+ are presented in an annual competition and selected winners are based on the applicants  academic achievements combined with their community support projects and accomplishments.

We also are the proud sponsor an Aktion Club and a BUGS Program.  The PineCastle Center is our Aktion Club. (Currently the only Aktion Club actively sponsored in the First Coast area.)  Our BUGS (Building Up Grades) program sponsorship encompasses the entire student body of Arlington Elementary School.

Our support of these entities and the many  FUN projects that allow us to help the youth in our community bring us together each week.  Our teamwork, support from local business sponsors and our individual efforts are bringing about positive results through the many yout programs we support here on the First Coast.  Constantly we strive - in our small but energetic way - to improve the lives and educational growth possibilites for children and young adults.