In May 2025, the District Board gave final approval to pursue a $250,000 fundraising campaign to finance a thorough renovation of the Kiwanis Cottage at the Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina. Having served admirably for over 60 years, the Kiwanis Cottage has become dated and not reflective of a current home environment. This campaign is designed to remedy that condition and bring the Cottage back to life…so it feels more like a home.
“Home is truly where the heart resides, but children at Boys & Girls Homes too often remember home as a place of heartbreak instead. This special Carolinas District campaign to renovate the Kiwanis Cottage into a true home-like setting will be transformational to both the cottage and the children. Inside a newly renovated Kiwanis Cottage, children will feel safer and more secure in an inviting home, widening their idea of what it means to call a place home.” Marc Murphy, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Homes of NC, Inc.
Consistent with the vision of management at the Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina and efforts which have been made by other civic organizations in their cottages, we want to make the Kiwanis Cottage feel less like an institutional setting, and more like a home with amenities consistent with today’s standards. Click on the button below to view the campaign brochure which provides examples of the changes to be made in the cottage and photos of some rooms as there are today, and as they might appear following the renovation.
Funds raised in excess of the cost of the renovations will be used 100% to benefit the residents of the Kiwanis Cottage. We anticipate use of any excess funds towards the purchase of a van to transport our residents for activities such as school or field trips, doctor appointments and dental visits. In addition, a furniture replacement fund may be established so our Cottage remains in excellent condition for years to come.
All gifts are welcome and important to this effort, and they are to be made to the Carolinas District Kiwanis Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization recognized by both the State of North Carolina and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (it is a federal 501(c)3 organization).
The Carolinas District Kiwanis Foundation has established a fellowship specifically to provide recognition for this important campaign: The Kiwanis Cottage Fellowship will be awarded for each gift of at least $1,200 to the donor or someone designated by the donor.
Kiwanis Clubs making gifts equaling at least $50 per member (based on October 1, 2024 membership) will be recognized by the District as Club Sponsors of the campaign. Model Club recognition will be awarded to Kiwanis Clubs making gifts of at least $150 per member. (Individual Kiwanis Club member gifts will be considered for these recognitions.)
We are encouraging Kiwanis Clubs in the District and their members to make a gift to the Campaign to support the youth who will reside in the Kiwanis Cottage for decades to come. Gifts can be made using PayPal, credit cards or by check.
The Kiwanis Cottage began serving as a home for children in 1964. Since then, hundreds of youth have lived in the Cottage, experienced the care and compassion of Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina, and moved on to successful and full lives. As examples of those success stories, we recorded videos of two of the first residents of the Kiwanis Cottage, Gary Faircloth and Ken Blackwell. To see those videos, click on the link below.
📻 Monday Membership Minute — and this one is for Dolly. 💙
We lost a legend last week. Dolly Parton passed away Tuesday in Nashville at 80 years old — and the world is a little less shiny.
But her legacy? That's as loud as ever.
Most people know Dolly for her music. Fewer know that in 1995, inspired by her father's inability to read, she started the Imagination Library — a program that has now delivered more than 300 million free books to children from birth to age five across five countries.
And across the Carolinas, Kiwanis clubs are among the local partners making that program possible in their communities. 📚
In her family's statement, they asked that donations in Dolly's memory go to the Imagination Library. That tells you everything about what mattered most to her. Not the awards. The children.
If your club isn't yet partnered with the Imagination Library — this week is the week to look into it. Visit imaginationlibrary.com to learn more.
Dolly gave away her love for eighty years without keeping score.
📻 Monday Membership Minute — fresh off District Convention in Greensboro. 💙
Two moments from this weekend I’ve been thinking about.
First — Greensboro Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter, a proud member of the Greensboro Kiwanis Club, spoke about resilience. What it looks like when a community faces hard things and chooses, every time, to get back up. Sound familiar? It should. That's what healthy Kiwanis clubs do every single day.
Second — McKenzie O'Quinn and her husband Neal, members of the Kiwanis Club of Lee County, shared the story of Good and Glory — an organization born out of their daughter's pediatric cancer diagnosis. Good and Glory designs custom t-shirts for families facing life-altering pediatric diagnoses, telling their stories and directing proceeds back to the families who need it most. Check them out at goodandglory.co 🔗
McKenzie modeled what it looks like to take the hardest thing that ever happened to you and give it away in service of someone else.
That's resilience. That's Kiwanis.
And as I said in my farewell address this weekend — give away your love. The communities we serve are counting on the delivery. 🚛
10-4, Carolinas. What an honor this year has been. 💙
Campaign for the Kiwanis Cottage
In May 2025, the District Board gave final approval to pursue a $250,000 fundraising campaign to finance a thorough renovation of the Kiwanis Cottage at the Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina. Having served admirably for over 60 years, the Kiwanis Cottage has become dated and not reflective of a current home environment. This campaign is designed to remedy that condition and bring the Cottage back to life…so it feels more like a home.
“Home is truly where the heart resides, but children at Boys & Girls Homes too often remember home as a place of heartbreak instead.
This special Carolinas District campaign to renovate the Kiwanis Cottage into a true home-like setting will be transformational to both the cottage and the children.
Inside a newly renovated Kiwanis Cottage, children will feel safer and more secure in an inviting home, widening their idea of what it means to call a place home.”
Marc Murphy, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Homes of NC, Inc.
Consistent with the vision of management at the Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina and efforts which have been made by other civic organizations in their cottages, we want to make the Kiwanis Cottage feel less like an institutional setting, and more like a home with amenities consistent with today’s standards. Click on the button below to view the campaign brochure which provides examples of the changes to be made in the cottage and photos of some rooms as there are today, and as they might appear following the renovation.
Funds raised in excess of the cost of the renovations will be used 100% to benefit the residents of the Kiwanis Cottage. We anticipate use of any excess funds towards the purchase of a van to transport our residents for activities such as school or field trips, doctor appointments and dental visits. In addition, a furniture replacement fund may be established so our Cottage remains in excellent condition for years to come.
All gifts are welcome and important to this effort, and they are to be made to the Carolinas District Kiwanis Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization recognized by both the State of North Carolina and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (it is a federal 501(c)3 organization).
The Carolinas District Kiwanis Foundation has established a fellowship specifically to provide recognition for this important campaign: The Kiwanis Cottage Fellowship will be awarded for each gift of at least $1,200 to the donor or someone designated by the donor.
Kiwanis Clubs making gifts equaling at least $50 per member (based on October 1, 2024 membership) will be recognized by the District as Club Sponsors of the campaign. Model Club recognition will be awarded to Kiwanis Clubs making gifts of at least $150 per member. (Individual Kiwanis Club member gifts will be considered for these recognitions.)
We are encouraging Kiwanis Clubs in the District and their members to make a gift to the Campaign to support the youth who will reside in the Kiwanis Cottage for decades to come. Gifts can be made using PayPal, credit cards or by check.
The Kiwanis Cottage began serving as a home for children in 1964. Since then, hundreds of youth have lived in the Cottage, experienced the care and compassion of Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina, and moved on to successful and full lives. As examples of those success stories, we recorded videos of two of the first residents of the Kiwanis Cottage, Gary Faircloth and Ken Blackwell. To see those videos, click on the link below.
Construction Status:
Contruction work on the Cottage began in August 2025. To see some current photos of the construction work being done, click below:
Campaign Status:
Facebook Posts
📻 Monday Membership Minute — and this one is for Dolly. 💙
We lost a legend last week. Dolly Parton passed away Tuesday in Nashville at 80 years old — and the world is a little less shiny.
But her legacy? That's as loud as ever.
Most people know Dolly for her music. Fewer know that in 1995, inspired by her father's inability to read, she started the Imagination Library — a program that has now delivered more than 300 million free books to children from birth to age five across five countries.
And across the Carolinas, Kiwanis clubs are among the local partners making that program possible in their communities. 📚
In her family's statement, they asked that donations in Dolly's memory go to the Imagination Library. That tells you everything about what mattered most to her. Not the awards. The children.
If your club isn't yet partnered with the Imagination Library — this week is the week to look into it. Visit imaginationlibrary.com to learn more.
Dolly gave away her love for eighty years without keeping score.
That's the Kiwanis way too. 💙
Rest easy, Dolly.
#MondayMembershipMinute #KiwanisFamily #MembershipMatters #CarolinasKiwanis #DollyParton #ImaginationLibrary ... See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
📻 Monday Membership Minute — fresh off District Convention in Greensboro. 💙
Two moments from this weekend I’ve been thinking about.
First — Greensboro Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter, a proud member of the Greensboro Kiwanis Club, spoke about resilience. What it looks like when a community faces hard things and chooses, every time, to get back up. Sound familiar? It should. That's what healthy Kiwanis clubs do every single day.
Second — McKenzie O'Quinn and her husband Neal, members of the Kiwanis Club of Lee County, shared the story of Good and Glory — an organization born out of their daughter's pediatric cancer diagnosis. Good and Glory designs custom t-shirts for families facing life-altering pediatric diagnoses, telling their stories and directing proceeds back to the families who need it most. Check them out at goodandglory.co 🔗
McKenzie modeled what it looks like to take the hardest thing that ever happened to you and give it away in service of someone else.
That's resilience. That's Kiwanis.
And as I said in my farewell address this weekend — give away your love. The communities we serve are counting on the delivery. 🚛
10-4, Carolinas. What an honor this year has been. 💙
#MondayMembershipMinute #KiwanisFamily #MembershipMatters #CarolinasKiwanis #GoodAndGlory ... See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Upcoming events
Sorry, nothing found.