Kiwanis Club of East San Jose, CA Serving the Children of the World www.kiwanisesj.org About Us Contact Us Favorite Links

Expectations: Strengthen Kiwanis of East San Jose Visibility in the community by sponsoring more projects and sponsored clubs. Encourage club members to volunteer in more community service events and activities. When out in the community as a club, the usage of our Kiwanis shirt and pin. Regular attendance at club meetings - 100% attendance as your goal. The following counts as attendance: attendance at a  meting of any other Kiwanis club (interclub), attendance at a meeting of  Board of Directors on the 4th Wednesday of each month (evening  meeting). Other opportunities also exist such as Key Club meetings. A time commitment to Community Service projects and  Fundraising. Sponsorship of a new member at least once a  year. Accepting and being responsible to a committee, which you select or to which you might be  appointed.

Membership is very affordable - ALL PROCEEDS go to service projects and our scholarship program. Costs: Annual Dues of $180, $6 for each meal at our club lunch meetings, 'Happy & Sads' fines, as well as other optional events such as interclubs (costs vary).


Kiwanis International | Kiwanis California-Nevada-Hawaii
Founded in 1915 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Kiwanis International is a thriving organization of service and community-minded individuals who support children and young adults around the world. More than 500,000 Kiwanis-family members in more than 80 countries make their mark by responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address worldwide issues.

Through these efforts, Kiwanis International truly is "Serving the Children of the World."

B. Our club has been providing aid to students of east side school districts for many years with a number of programs. However, our main emphasis for the past 35 years has been providing ÒTurn Around ScholarshipsÓ to at least one graduating senior student of each of the eleven high schools, as well as the continuation schools of the East Side Union High School District. ESUHSD is one of the largest in Northern California. Please see description below for details of our scholarship program.

2. East San Jose Kiwanis "Turn Around" Scholarship Program

A. This is a scholarship that it is offered to the twelve high schools of the ESUHSD plus the continuation school(s). Every year the principal of each school selects one student who will be the recipient of the scholarship. When funds were available, we have occasionally been able to sponsor two scholarships at each school.

B. The principal is requested to select a graduating senior who is planning to go on to college. However, that student must be one who has overcome some hardship or obstacle in his/her four years of high school. In most situations, the student had a difficult time getting good grades, fell behind in graduation requirements, but was able to "turn around" and he/she is now graduating. Normally, none of the students selected would be eligible to receive other scholarships because of their poor scholastic start in high school.

C. A scholarship luncheon program is held in May, to which each school recipient is invited. Either the principal of the school, a counselor or teacher, and the parents of the recipient are also invited to the luncheon. Each recipient is introduced by the principal or another influential staff member in the student's life. The recipient is given an opportunity to share his/her experience, describing the hardship or obstacle that they had to overcome to graduate, as well as what or who made the difference in helping them succeed.

D. Every year these scholarship recipients share stories that deeply touch their audience. These include students who were ex-gang members; homeless students; students who had to overcome a life threatening illness or injury; students from dysfunctional families; students who became teen-age parents; students victimized by abuse. In each situation there has been someone special who made a difference in getting these students to turn around, gave them hope, and encouraged them to finish high school. Often, this significant person has encouraged them to set a goal of continuing their education by attending college or a technical school.

E. These scholarships appear to be the biggest recognition, and in many cases the only recognition, these students receive for their effort. There is no question that these scholarships serve as encouragement to these students to go on with their education and accomplish bigger goals. At the end of one of these scholarship programs there are very few dry eyes in the audience. The members of ESJK feel very proud and thankful for the opportunity of giving these students encouragement and assistance for achieving their educational goals.

3 Funding our Service Projects

A. As community volunteers, our non-profit service club has been able to perform numerous service projects without administrative overhead for almost 50 years. In the past, funding for our various projects has been by club fundraisers such as carnivals, wine and cheese tastings, casino nights, etc. In addition, for our Turn Around Scholarship Program, we have received donations from individuals, families, other Kiwanis clubs, and foundations.

B. All of our "service project" funds are used to support community service activities, mostly to our youth. Our club has a separate "administrative" account, funded by our own members, for club activities. "Outside," or publicly solicited funds are never used for these purposes.

4. Membership