District Foundation

I usually write this article to update you on the state of the New York District Kiwanis Foundation and especially what's going on at Kamp Kiwanis.

However since Oct. 29, 2012, we have been consumed with nothing other than the relief effort for victims of Super Storm Sandy. I want to tell you about the Herculean efforts that have been put forth by New York District Kiwanians to help out the victims of this devastating storm.

I want to tell you about one particular Kiwanian who has put his life on hold and in jeopardy to help out in any way he could to bring relief to those devastated areas.

Distinguished Past Governor Mike Malark mobilized a relief effort within days of the storm. He contacted clubs throughout the District that had supplies to donate, rented a truck and went around the district collecting those supplies and then headed down to the areas affected by storm Sandy.

He didn't do this once or twice, this man made more than 12 trips to all of the Sandy-affected areas, and is probably on the road as you read this article.

Kamp Executive Director Rebecca Lopez accompanied him on many of those trips.

Other humanitarian efforts are those of The South Shore Club in the Metropolitan Division with the help of Staten Island Borough President Molinari. They fed more than 650 Sandy victims for Thanksgiving; the borough president provided the school auditorium and transportation, and the South Shore Kiwanis Club provided all of the turkey dinners.

Lt. Governor of the Metropolitan Division, Forbes Irvine, set up a tent in the Midland Beach area and has fed anywhere from 250 to 450 people a day for almost three months. That location has also been a drop-off point for supplies and many of the people in the area have been able to pick up much needed supplies.

Joe Mure, a member of the Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge Kiwanis Club, has a fund raiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation every year at his home in Breezy Point. He was recently featured in an article in the October Kiwanis magazine. His home was devastated by Sandy but he decided that he would do the annual "Little North Pole" fund raiser anyway, with the proceeds going to the Sandy victims in his area. The Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge Club funded the event and the "Little North Pole" was a tremendous success not just for the money raised, but all the children in the area and from other devastated areas were able to enjoy a little Christmas joy.

Governor-Elect Joe Aiello and many of the Queens West division Kiwanians whose division covers Howard Beach and the Rockaways has been picking up and delivering much needed food and supplies to those affected. Dennis Rosa from the Bronx-Westchester South Division has been making many trips to affected areas delivering much needed supplies. Distinguished Past Governor Dave Rothman, who is also a victim of Sandy, has been organizing drop-off locations and relief effort to those in the Long Island area affected. I am sure that there are many more Kiwanians that are out there doing what they can to help their neighbors and I wish that I had all their names for me to thank on behalf of our District and our Foundation.

There is another group of people that I would like to say thank you to. First, to all the individuals and divisions from the New York District that not only donated money, but went out of their way to put together food and supplies for pickup so that it can be delivered to the victims. It seems that the New York Kiwanians are always there to help and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

I would also like to thank the Kiwanians around the country and around the world that have so generously sent in monetary donations to our relief effort.

Donations have been coming in from individuals, clubs, divisions and districts around the world. I would like to say a special thank you to the following: The District of Swizerland-Lechtenstein; San Jose Kiwanis Club, San Jose Calif.; San Jose Kiwanis Club Foundation, San Jose, Calif.; Chaffee-Sardinia Kiwanis Club, Terry and Debra Kurtz of Long Beach Miss.; Indiana District Kiwanis Foundation, Donald Ciota, Ridgefield, Conn., Thomas Arthur Downey, San Francisco, Calif; Simi Valley Kiwanis Club, Simi Valley, Calif; Kiwanis Club of Ottawa Foundation, Ottawa, Ontario; Kiwanis Club of Ottawa, West Ottawa, Ontario; Daniel and Debra Trotter, Slidell, La.; The Kellers, Covington, La.; Thomas Scheib, Covington, La.; Wendell and Carolyn Aldrich, Covington, La.; Kiwanis Club of Greater Covington, La.; Kiwanis Club of Camellia City, Slidell, La.; Kiwanis Club of Northshore, Mandeville, La.; Kiwanis Club of Pontchartrain, New Orleans La.
As you can see we have truly been overwhelmed by the response from around the country and around the world.

I write this article to tell you that I am honored and proud to be a Kiwanian, not just a New York District Kiwanian, but a member of an organization that truly exemplifies the principles on which it was based on, service to those who are in need.

Column Posted on Web Site January 22, 2013