La Jolla Kiwanis gives back to community

La Jolla Kiwanis announced last week they “managed to raise a blockbuster $190,000, primarily from the exceptionally successful La Jolla Half Marathon,” and will give it back to the community.

Club President Wil Johnson said, “Giving support to so many organizations that reach thousands of people is the best reason to belong to La Jolla Kiwanis. We can do more as a group than any one individual can do by themselves.”

For the first quarter, the club donated to Mt. Soledad Memorial Association, La Jolla Parks and Recreation for their Halloween event and the La Jolla Town Council for the Christmas Parade, Christmas lights and watering plants along Girard.

In keeping with its mission of changing the world one child and one community at a time, La Jolla Kiwanis also continues to provide funding to the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts.

When it comes to international aid, La Jolla Kiwanis gives to the Casa de Los Pobres, Sisters of Mercy and the Tijuana Orphanage, all in Tijuana. A new organization to receive funding is the Central Asia Institute which promotes peace through community-based education, especially for girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In addition, Project Sierra and Military Outreach were both provided grants.

If you are interested in joining the La Jolla Kiwanis, contact Trenton Bonner, membership chairman, or Megan McAlister, secretary, at (858) 454-6512 or come to one of the meetings at noon Fridays at the La Jolla Presbyterian Church community room.