It's a wonderful Life!
Little did we realize just how successful the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Program would be at the Albany Medical Center Children's Hospital! K family members have gone from the ill fated duck race in the Hudson River to providing actual cash payments to the hospital totaling more than $480,000. Kiwanis, Circle K, Key and Builders Clubs in the Capital and Van Rensselaer Divisions continue to support this worthwhile project.
Genesis - NE Children's Hospital In Boston - Past International President Anton Kaiser. One cold and snowy Sunday, Tony approached capital district Kiwanians in the hopes of realizing a dream of creating trauma coverage for all of New York State's children.
Founding Chairman KTPC Campaign, E. Kenneth James, a past Lt. Governor from the Van Rensselaer Division, and many other Kiwanians from the Van Rensselaer, Mohawk and Capital Divisions adopted Tony's goal and planned the OVIDE Fund raising Duck Race in Hudson River. On September 11, 1993, more than 15,000 plastic ducks raced down the Hudson River to raise funds for KTPC.
The race spawned many other fund raising efforts for the benefit of KTPC. These included three Black and White Balls, a children's day at the Great Escape Amusement Park in Lake George and many individual club projects. The program has also benefitted from donations arising from Convention basket sales and from the receipt of contributions by our District Governors.
These efforts morphed into the Bells of Life Program. The Bell originator, Dominick DeCecco, Past president of the Delmar Kiwanis Club and past Lt. Governor, approached me with the idea that people would donate $1 to see their name on one of the Bells. What a successful program! In addition, this program has been run for all these years with little or no administrative costs.
Since 1994, It has been an honor and a pleasure for me to have teamed with so many New York District Governors and K Family heroes who have worked so hard to see this program through!
Let's keep the program moving at all locations and associate Pediatric Trauma Coverage with the Kiwanis organization!
Column Posted on Web Site February 3, 2012
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated