Becoming a 100K Club is no small feat, especially for a club of 28 members. But that did not intimidate the Kiwanis Club of Toronto. In fact, their total gift to The Eliminate Project reached US$130,000 and helped save or protect more than 72,200 women and their future babies from maternal and neonatal tetanus.
The club, which is now a Legacy Model Club and Platinum Club with a per-member average greater than US$2,000, knew from the beginning they wanted to be part of The Eliminate Project. Deborah Knight, Kiwanis Club of Toronto president, says that the club reminds members that no amount is too small. Read more about what motivates the club members to save lives and support this monumental effort.
1. Tell us how your club first got involved with The Eliminate Project.
Every year The Kiwanis Club of Toronto Foundation supports an international project, usually around US$25,000-$30,000. We had been involved with the Iodine Deficiency Disorder campaign, so when we learned about The Eliminate Project, we definitely wanted to be a part of it. We donated US$100,000 from our club’s foundation. Then the Kiwanis Foundation of Canada added another US$30,000 for a total of US$130,000. We contributed all of that in one year and became a Model Club. We announced this at the 2012 Kiwanis International convention in New Orleans.
2. What advice or encouragement would you offer to other clubs who might be considering a 100K Club commitment?
It’s a big commitment. We found that by spending the time, it connected us more closely to the mission of Kiwanis. That has to be ingrained with people at the beginning and you need to talk about it regularly.
The key is to keep it top of mind. We used all kinds of resources that are online from The Eliminate Project, especially the amazing video, It Starts with You. We did a lot of fundraising and told our members that no amount was too small. We had several interclub meetings to share the story. We didn’t want to just write a check and then forget about it.
3. What has surprised you most about supporting The Eliminate Project?
I’ve been surprised and happy about the enthusiasm that has been generated in the club. We all became Walter Zeller Fellows. When Dr. John Button, 2014-2015 Kiwanis International president, spoke at our club about his trip to see The Eliminate Project in action, he painted a vivid picture for us. The room was in complete silence when he told us about bursting into tears when the women came to receive their shots. It was a big moment. It was a memory for a lifetime. It was so important to have that moment. That’s what makes it real for people.
4. What do you wish other people knew about The Eliminate Project?
I wish people knew that it only takes the price of a cup of coffee to save a baby. We need to remind ourselves that we have so much and that we can help other people. There is hope in the world, and Kiwanis is here to provide that hope.
5. What is a fun fact that you would like people to know about your club?
We only have 28 members, but we are lucky to have a foundation that has been built over the last 50 years. Our club built the Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club several years ago. We continue to support the club, including a US$1 million donation to renovate the building. This is an ongoing commitment, like they are a part of our extended family.
We considered carefully to make sure we could do both – support locally as well as internationally. But whether we are supporting local projects or international ones, we are still helping kids.
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