Kiwanis Club of Elgin accepting funding requests
For one hundred years, the Kiwanis Club of Elgin has raised money to help fund Elgin area organizations that serve the children of the area.
The club has no paid staff and is composed entirely of civic-minded volunteers. The club is not able to meet every need, nor do we have huge amounts of money at our disposal.
This is particularly true this year given the limits the pandemic has placed on the club's fundraising activities.
In normal years, the club raises benevolence funds through direct contributions and through four annual fundraisers: Kiwanis Peanut Day in the fall, a 50/50 raffle in the spring, running the beer tent at the annual Elgin Fox Trot, and a barbecue in August.
This year, the club was able to conduct only two events: the barbecue Aug. 22 and the Peanuts/Gummi Bear sales in September.
Requests for funding should clearly identify the specific program to be supported, how that program will be helpful to children in the Elgin area, the nature and mission of the organization, and the amount of proposed funding from the Kiwanis Club of Elgin. The following criteria should be kept in mind:
• The specific program to be funded should benefit children.
• For programs that have a suitable client base, they are more inclined to benefit organizations that encourage their clients to help at one of the fundraisers, such as the annual barbecue held every August.
• They will consider organizations who have representation in the club membership as well as those who encourage their staff or volunteers to help at one of the club fundraisers.
• The club will be positively disposed toward organizations that can help with the club fundraising in other ways, such as buying tickets for the 50/50 raffle or buying cartons of Kiwanis peanuts.
The club will ask recipients to display a small amount of Kiwanis information in, for example, a reception area, if possible.
The deadline for submission is Friday, Dec. 11.
Distribution of funds will be Tuesday, Jan. 26.
For more information, visit www.elgin.kiwanisone.org or email elginkiwanisbenevolence@gmail.com. Your "Request for Consideration" statement may be sent via email to elginkiwanisbenevolence@gmail.com or by U.S. mail to: Kiwanis Club of Elgin, P.O. Box 5262, Elgin IL 60121-5262, Attention: Benevolence.