Founded in 1915 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Kiwanis International is a thriving organization of service and community-minded men and women who support children and young adults worldwide. More than 600,000 members in more than 13,000 Kiwanis clubs in 79 countries make their mark by responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address worldwide issues.

Kiwanis clubs assist children and young adults, the aging, and the needy; improve communities; and encourage international understanding. Kiwanis clubs sponsor youth organizations for young men and women. K-Kids in elementary schools, Builders Club in junior high and middle schools, Key Club in high schools, Circle K at the collegiate level, and Kiwanis Junior clubs for young adults in Europe teach future world leaders the importance of helping others. With its inception in 1990, Young Children: Priority One is a continuing service program supported by thousands of Kiwanis clubs, focusing on the needs of young children. The Kiwanis-family service initiative—in partnership with UNICEF — has virtually eliminated the world’s leading cause of preventable mental retardation, iodine deficiency.

The West Virginia District of Kiwanis International includes more than 50 local clubs. The primary fund-raising focus of the West Virginia Kiwanis family, for the third consecutive year, will be the Children’s Miracle Network. All money raised for CMN goes directly to WVU Children’s Hospital. Children’s Hospital is a lifeline of medical and emotional support to thousands of children across West Virginia and in neighboring states.

Purpose: To improve the quality of life for children and families in our communities, our West Virginia District, and worldwide.

Mission: As a thriving organization of men, women and youth, we are dedicated to serving the families and the children of the West Virginia District and the world by improving the quality of life. Being committed to this mission calls us to live by the following Objects of Kiwanis:

• To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.
• To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
• To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards.
• To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.
• To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.
• To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism, which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and good will.

Our Vision: We shall be state's premier service organization engaging adult and youth volunteers to improve the quality of life worldwide.

To receive club membership information, complete the Membership Interest Form at Kiwanis International.