Carolinas District Kiwanis Foundation

About the Carolinas District Kiwanis Foundation

The Carolinas District Kiwanis Foundation is a significant factor in supporting various services projects and Sponsored Programs in the Carolinas District of Kiwanis International. It endeavors to adopt and develop supportive services, which will capture the imagination and enthusiasm of all Kiwanians in the Carolinas District. It is a vehicle by which ALL Kiwanians can participate in projects which may be too broad or too costly for individual Kiwanis Clubs to handle by themselves.

The purpose of The Carolinas District Kiwanis Foundation is to offer financial assistance to the District, Divisions, and to Clubs to build, aid, foster, and promote the principles, and objects of Kiwanis throughout the Carolinas District. It gives special emphasis and priority to financial assistance for our Sponsored Youth organizations – particularly Builders Club, Key Club, and Circle K. Occasionally, at the occurrence of a disaster, the Foundation may offer some financial assistance to the affected community, usually through another Kiwanis District or nearby Kiwanis Clubs.

In 1974 several Past District Governors, the District Governor, numerous future District Governors, and a few other interested Kiwanians had the vision to organize what very quickly became the Carolinas District Foundation. Seed money came from numerous Carolinas District Kiwanis Clubs; a large share from Clubs in the vicinity of central South Carolina. Incorporation papers were filed with the Secretary of State in North Carolina, and on April 22, 1981, The Carolinas District Foundation, Inc. was issued its “birth certificate.”

From its inception it has enjoyed non-profit, tax-exempt status by both the state of North Carolina and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Growth was slow in the early years: from 1974 to 1981, seven years, the total assets grew to only about $15,000. But thanks to many people, especially to Mildred (Mrs. C. A.) Dillon, the Caring Corner was instituted at the 1982 District Convention in Wilmington, North Carolina. That proved to be the impetus which itself contributed substantially and also drew the attention of many Kiwanians to their Foundation. Since then, major contributors include Kiwanis Clubs, individual Kiwanians, many “just friends” and others.

In 1991 the Executive Committee established the policy that only the earnings from investments – plus designated funds received from any source be “spent.” Today The Carolinas District Kiwanis Foundation, Inc. has assets over $1,000,000. All funds are invested strictly within the guidelines of a written Investment Policy approved by the Executive Committee.

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