History of the Kiwanis Cal-Nev-Ha Foundation
[This history is also available in a "printer friendly" PDF format.]
Kiwanis' Golden Anniversary Year of 1965 dawned with great enthusiasm and well laid plans for a banner year of achievement, but an unexpected disaster resulted in a lasting accomplishment not even thought of at the time. Early in January, the Klamath River in Northern California, swollen from heavy rains, wiped out the town of Klamath. The devastation was complete and every member of the Kiwanis club lost his home or business, or both. Many Kiwanians and Kiwanis clubs reacted quickly with financial aid and Past Governor Frank Harmon assisted by channeling funds through the Kiwanis Club of Burbank Foundation.
This tragedy gave the impetus to establish a District Foundation. District Governor William A. Dunlap appointed Vincent Scott, Chairman of the District Laws and Regulations Committee, to take the necessary legal steps. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were approved first by the Kiwanis International Board and then by our District Trustees at its regular meeting on September 19, 1965. The incorporation papers were signed by the Secretary of State of California on November 5, 1965. At this meeting, our Trustees elected the Directors of the Foundation in accordance with its bylaws. All were, of course, Kiwanians, and several were automatically named by virtue of their currently held District Offices.
The first meeting of the new Board was held in conjunction with the Mid-Winter Conference in Santa Monica in January 1966. William A. Dunlap presided, as the bylaws provided that the Foundation President was the Immediate Past Governor. Matt P. Lynn, Jr., Immediate Past Lt. Governor of Division 19, was elected Secretary and the business was devoted to establishing policies and rules for receipt and disbursement of donations.
The minutes record one item of interest in retrospect: "The matter of administrative expense was brought up and inasmuch as there is no money in the Foundation at present, it was agreed between Dunlap and Flynn that expenses would be met in some undetermined manner, not of interest to the Directors."
During 1967, a fundraising program for mentally retarded children was started in which a portion of the funds was directed to the Foundation and the balance to the clubs involved. Little money was raised, but the promotional work was substantial and as only a few clubs participated, the project was dropped in 1969. The Foundation continued to be active, but no significant progress was made until 1971 when Foundation President Mark Alexander appealed for financial help from the clubs to provide heart surgery for a young Mexican girl whose life was saved. Skilled surgeons performed the operation without fee and all other costs were paid from Foundation funds.
The next Foundation President, Reed R. Harris, devoted personal attention to creating suitable forms of recognition to supplement the fundraising program established earlier under President Glenn H. Stockbridge. During this year, Lt. Governor Stewart L. Rosen of Placerville presented the possibility of the Foundation acquiring Sugarloaf Camp in El Dorado County as a gift from the owners. President Reed and District Governor Philip B. Robinson inspected the property and were impressed with its location, facilities and future possibilities.
The campsite was a forested tract of 105 acres surrounded by the El Dorado National Forest and consisted of five small lakes, tent houses for 200 campers, additional quarters for dining and administrative staff, an adequate water supply and a waste disposal plant, making it an ideal summer camp. However, at an average elevation of 5,000 feet, it is in snow country and not usable during the winter months.
The Foundation Directors were favorable to the acquisition if there were no legal entanglements and the matter was turned over the Past International President Harold M. "Hi" Heimbaugh, Counselor to the Foundation. Much credit is due to "Hi" for his attention to this transaction and the ultimate acquisition of the property, renamed Camp Kiwanis.
Philip B. Robinson, President during 1973-74, gave unstintingly of his time in acquainting clubs with the valuable assistance available to them through the facilities of the Foundation. Participation by clubs and individual members increased substantially, making possible the support of several meritorious programs such as The Guiding Hands, a San Diego project assisting handicapped children; Division 12's Camperships in cooperation with the Crippled Children's Society; the Boy Scout program for retarded boys in conjunction with the Century City Kiwanis Club; and the District Committee on Youth Services and the Hardy Heart Program for needy youth.
The image of the Foundation continued to improve with Sidney J. Smith as President, when the organizational structure was altered to provide more direct and efficient administration required by its increased activity. The Bylaws were amended to provide for a Board of nine Directors, who must be Past District Officers, and now elect the President from this number.
Philip B. Robinson was again elected President in 1975-76, and continued to increase the effectiveness and scope of service support. During his second term, the Nathan Hale Award was created and was to be awarded to a young person under the age of 26 for exceptional acts of citizenship responsibility. The criteria for the Nathan Hale Award was later changed to recognize all individuals, regardless of their age. In the mid 1980's, the Nathan Hale program received permanent funding as a result of a bequest from Past International President Harold M. "Hi" Heimbaugh. Also during this time, Past International President Don Rice left a gift in his will which was used to fund the Foundation's Family of the Year Award. Both of these recognition programs have created visibility for the nominating Kiwanis clubs and the Foundation.
Throughout much of the remainder of the 1970's and into the early 1980's, the Kiwanis Cal-Nev-Ha Foundation Board of Directors focused on developing Camp Kiwanis. Hundreds of volunteer hours and significant financial resources were dedicated to improve the facility as well as secure appropriate staffing. Many youth groups frequented the camp and enjoyed the facilities. However, due to the expense to operate and maintain the camp, the Foundation's Board of Directors made a difficult decision and sold the facility to a private party in 1984. This drew to conclusion one of the most challenging ventures of the Foundation's early history.
During the same period, another significant development was taking place within the Foundation. During Dr. Ken Forror's term as District Governor (1979-80), an idea to create a Sponsored Youth Scholarship program began to take form. At the 60th Annual District Convention, a resolution was presented at the House of Delegates to create the "Sponsored Youth Scholarship Fund." The resolution passed. Following convention, one of Dr. Forror's Lt. Governors, Ted A. Gibbs, approached the Foundation with a proposal. The Foundation Board of Directors reviewed the proposal and in 1981, under the presidency of Richard Vineyard, accepted the responsibility to be the trustees of the Sponsored Youth Scholarship Fund. The commitment of Dr. Forror and the Foundation leadership to this new program marked another watershed in both the Foundation's and District's History.
In the ensuing years, the Sponsored Youth Scholarship Fund attracted new donors and began to distribute scholarship awards to members of the Circle K, Key Club and KIWIN'S (Keywanettes). The Board of Directors, working with Dr. Forror and other dedicated Kiwanians, created a committee of the board appropriately named the Cal-Nev-Ha Foundation's Dr. Kenneth C. Forror Sponsored Youth Scholarship Fund Committee. The committee developed the mechanisms to judge the applications for scholarships and developed additional fundraising activities to help build the fund balance of the permanently restricted scholarship endowment. The growth of the fund was assisted by generous contributions from Kiwanis clubs and members with designated donations. In the later part of the 1980's, the committee created the Kenneth C. Forror Sponsored Youth Scholarship Fund "Century Club" program. This successful fundraising effort attracted more Kiwanians to become involved with the growth of the scholarship fund.
Dr. Ken Forror, whose vision and passion for the young people involved in our Sponsored Organizations, passed away in November of 1997. His legacy has been one of building the future leaders of our communities and our nation through the recognition of and support of the members of the Sponsored Organizations.
Another aspect of the Foundation's involvement with our Sponsored Organizations has been in the form of support for leadership training for the Governors, Lt. Governors and appointed board members of Circle K, Key Club and KIWIN'S. This support has enabled these talented young people to work with committed Kiwanians to gain the skills to run meetings, conduct service projects and fundraising projects. The support of the SOAP (Sponsored Organizations and Programs) Leadership Training was championed by Richard Prada, District Governor (1988-89), and by several Foundation Presidents in the mid 1980's.
In 1984, the Foundation created the Club Grant Program, which was a direct grant making effort to provide resource to Kiwanis clubs to assist them with start-up funds for service projects. Initially, the Club Grant program responded to requests from clubs for projects that covered the gamut of community needs. Many clubs were able to use the Foundation's grant to leverage other funds from local businesses and individual donors.
Continuing on the theme of helping and recognizing young people, the Foundation initiated another program that was brought to the District by Michael R. Pent, Foundation President, 1984-85. The program was discovered in the Southwest District of Kiwanis International, and was titled the "Hope of America" leadership recognition program. The intention of the Hope of America program was to recognize students in elementary, middle and high school for leadership and service. President Pent thought the program had such merit he presented it to the Cal-Nev-Ha Foundation Board for consideration. The board unanimously approved the program and the first students were recognized with "Hope of America" plaques.
In 1985, the Board of Directors established the William A. Dunlap Fellowship, in honor of the Founder of the District Foundation, Bill Dunlap. To say his life was dedicated to Kiwanis is an understatement. His efforts to create the Foundation to assist Kiwanis clubs in the Cal-Nev-Ha District have left an indelible mark. Bill's tremendous legacy inspired the Board of Directors under the leadership of Michael Pent to create the Dunlap Fellow program. The first contributor to the program was E. Birney Leland, a past member of the Board of Directors and close friend of Bill Dunlap. In 1988-89, Foundation President John Roberto proposed a pin and medallion and hand colored certificate to be presented to Dunlap recipients. In later years, the certificate was replaced with an engraved plaque.
While serving as President in 1988-89, John Roberto established another significant fundraising program for the District Foundation. The program's title was the "Kiwanian of the Year," and provided an opportunity for clubs to recognize a member for service. This program started off slow with regards to levels of participation by the clubs. In 1993, the "Kiwanian of the Year" was renamed the "Distinguished Service Award" and began to be presented at the Governor's Official Visit.
Also during John Roberto's term, the board approved a change in the Bylaws that expanded the board from nine to twelve members. Another change to the Bylaws enabled the Foundation to extend the term the president could serve from one to two years.
In October 1989, Northern California suffered a major disaster as a result of the Loma Prieta earthquake. The Foundation immediately established a permanent Disaster Relief Fund and directed contributions from Kiwanis clubs and members to respond to the relief effort. President Dan Stinemates directed Robert Jolly, Past Governor 1987-88, to process the request for earthquake assistance and coordinate the effort with Governor Bob Wikoff.
James G. "Greg" Mason served as President from 1990-92. During his term, the Foundation began to look for a new area of service to focus the efforts of the organization that would increase the visibility to the members and Kiwanis clubs in the District. President Greg requested Past President Dan Stinemates research a program of the Kiwanis New England District Foundation. The Pediatric Trauma Care Institute sponsored by the New England Kiwanis Foundation was working on the issue of accidents involving children. Dan Stinemates brought back to the Board of Directors the facts and figures of the program.
As a result of the research carried on by Dan Stinemates during President Greg Mason's year, President Pete Horton (1992-94) appointed a special committee chaired by Foundation Vice-President Robert Erikson to explore how a similar program could be created in the Cal-Nev-Ha District. This special committee's work resulted in the early stages of what has now become the major focus of the Kiwanis Cal-Nev-Ha Foundation, our Pediatric Trauma Prevention Program. At the 1994 District Convention in Reno, a resolution was passed making the Pediatric Trauma Program the major focus of the Cal-Nev-Ha Foundation.
In 1993, the Board of Directors altered the Bylaws once again to expand the size of the board from twelve to sixteen. Another significant development occurred during the early 1990's when the Foundation hired a full-time staff person to help the Foundation achieve growth and to initiate the Pediatric Trauma Program. The Foundation hired a director of development to increase and improve the fundraising efforts of the organization. This individual was charged with helping to develop partnerships with Children's Hospitals, similar to the New England model. In 1994-95, partnerships were formed with three hospitals: Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital and Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego.
The Board of Directors determined the Foundation needed a full time executive director and began the development of the position culminating in staffing the position in April of 1995. The executive director would continue to develop the Pediatric Trauma Program and secure funding from outside sources as well as increase support by the Kiwanis clubs and members in the district.
Simultaneously with the development of the major focus, Pediatric Trauma, the Foundation's SOAP Scholarship Fund, Club Grant Program and SOAP Leadership Training programs were reaching new levels of service and support to the clubs and members in the district.
In 1996, Past Lt. Governor Les McElwain approached the Foundation to propose the creation of a scholarship in memory of his wife Lorretta Barksdale-McElwain. Robert Ebiner, Foundation President, and District Secretary Pete Horton discussed with Les how the scholarship could be created and the process moved forward concluding with a scholarship that would be awarded for the first time in 1997. The Lorretta Barksdale-McElwain scholarship is the largest award given by the Foundation to a high school senior who is a member of Key Club or KIWIN'S.
Ted A. Gibbs served as President from 1998-2000. In October 1999, the President formed an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of the Executive Committee with Phil Aaron and Pete Horton as co-chairmen. This committee was to research and bring to the board recommendations for a proposed building acquisition project. Following the recommendations of this committee, the Board of Directors decided to purchase a building (or land and build their own building) with the intention of offering office space to the Cal-Nev-Ha District.
During Thomas W. "Tom" Millham's term (2000-2002), the board continued the search for the purchase of land and the construction of a building. The board narrowed the search to two geographic areas, Ontario and San Diego. In 2001, the Foundation board adopted First Lady Shirley Vildibill's project, Hope 4 Kids. The program allowed Kiwanis clubs to assist homeless families with children by providing grants for housing costs. The Pediatric Trauma Prevention program expanded with the addition of two more partner hospitals and the creation of a PTP Safety Catalog. Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Foundation asked Kiwanians in our district to raise funds to assist fellow Kiwanians in the New York, Capital and New England Districts. The response was tremendous with over $26,000 raised in four months. Kiwanians also continued to support the Foundation's scholarship fund. For the first time ever, total scholarships to SOAP members exceeded $100,000. And, for the first time in its history, the Foundation honored over 100 new William A. Dunlap recipients in a single year. Over $200,000 was raised in Dunlap contributions between 2000 and 2002.
During Tony Antonelli's term as President, 2002-2004, many significant changes occurred within the Foundation. First, the Foundation created the Partner Hospital Advisory Council. The formation of this group allowed the Foundation to increase and improve communications with each PTP Partner Hospital as well as increase the communication between representatives of each hospital. Also during this time, the Board expanded PTP grants to SOAP clubs and changed the Foundation's bylaws to include SOAP Governors as ex-officio members of the board. The Foundation made its long anticipated purchase of property in Rancho Cucamonga to develop a commercial office building and provide a permanent home for the Kiwanis District Office.
As the Cal-Nev-Ha Foundation enters the new millennium there is reason for celebration and optimism as to the growth of the organization. The dedication of the members of the Board of Directors combined with the commitment of the District Board of Trustees has created a sound basis of support and leadership.
Under the leadership of Jay Quisenberry (2004-2006), the Foundation continued to expand its services to the communities within the Cal-Nev-Ha District. Our Pediatric Trauma Program was enhanced with the addition of the Kiwanis Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship in partnership with Loma Linda University Children's Hospital. The Foundation provided the hospital over $186,000 to train a doctor, Dr. Andrea Thorpe, in pediatric emergency medicine. Our donation allowed the hospital to train an additional doctor in pediatric emergency medicine that year. This second doctor, from Japan, completed his training and returned to Japan where he was the first doctor in that country to receive this training! The Board also approved changes in the club grant program to include the opportunity for multiple clubs working together or entire divisions to apply for grant funds. Working closely with Governors Larry McLeland and Patti Barsotti, new heights were set in William A. Dunlap and Distinguished Service Award participation.
Menu
