8 The Queens Courier • kiwanis • june 18, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com kiwanis anniversary Kiwanis celebrates its 100th anniversary BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com/@A_GiudiceReport Kiwanis International is celebrating its 100th anniversary ••• Join your local Kiwanis club! ••• QUEENS WEST Astoria-Long Island City President: Rose Alafogiannis Meets on the fourth Wednesday each month at 7:15 p.m. at Ponticello Restaurant, 46-11 Broadway Founded January 7, 1987 Corona-East Elmhurst President: Steve Stafford Meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays each month at 7 p.m. at Buccaneer Diner 93-07 Astoria Blvd., East Elmhurst Founded March 25, 1989 East Elmhurst-Lefrak City Golden K President: Larinda Hooks Meets on the first Monday each month at 11 a.m. at Elmcor Senior Center 98-19 Astoria Blvd., East Elmhurst Founded June 24, 2013 East River President: Donna Furey Meets on the second Wednesday each month at various locations Founded July 23, 2014 Forest Hills President: Linda Dougherty Meets every first and third Thursdays each month at 12:30 p.m. at various locations Founded August 14, 2009 Glendale President: Ken Voisin Meets every Thursday at 12:45 p.m. at Zum Stammtisch Restaurant 69-46 Myrtle Ave., Glendale Founded September 10, 1953 Howard Beach President: John Spagnuolo Meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Lenny’s Clam Bar, 161-03 Cross Bay Blvd. Founded February 1, 1962 Jackson Heights President: Maureen Allen Call 718-456-0384 for meeting info Founded September 10, 1990 LaGuardia Airport President: Cheryl Jones Meets every Thursday at 1 p.m. at LaGuardia Marriott 102-05 Ditmars Blvd., East Elmhurst Founded December 6, 1940 Lefferts-Liberty President: Linda Guarnieri Meets every first and third Thursday at 7 p.m. at Bruno’s Restaurant 158-22 Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach Founded January 25, 1983 Maspeth President: Michelle Masone Meets every Thursday at 12:15 p.m. at O’Neill’s Restaurant, 64-21 53rd Dr. Founded December 8, 1947 Middle Village President: Al Gentile Meets the first Thursday of the month at 12:15 p.m. at Villa Erasmo Restaurant, 69-61 Juniper Blvd. North Founded September 11, 2011 Ozone Park President: Paul Capocasale Meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Prima Pasta, 161-15B Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach Founded November 4, 1954 Queens Boulevard President: Liselotte Reinprecht Meets every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at Flagship Diner 138-40 Queens Blvd., Briarwood Founded September 29, 1998 Sunnyside President: Carol Masiello Meets every second and fourth Thursday at 6 p.m. at Sidetracks Restaurant 45-12 Queens Blvd. Founded July 9, 1947 Woodside President: Richard Belli Meets on the second Wednesday each month at 7 p.m. at Donovan’s Pub 57-14 Roosevelt Ave. Founded November 28, 1977 Richmond Hill-Woodhaven President: Antoine McCoy Meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Avenue Diner 91-06 Jamaica Ave., Woodhaven Founded March 14, 1927 QUEENS EAST Bayside President: Margaret Mora Meets on the first Wednesday each month at 1 p.m. at Bourbon Street Restaurant, 40-12 Bell Blvd. Founded September 12, 2012 Cambria Heights President: Carl Johnson Meets on the first and third Tuesdays each month at 7:30 p.m. at Cha Rosa Foundation, 228-08 Linden Blvd. Founded September 29, 1970 Flushing President: Linda Ng Meets on the second and fourth Thursdays each month at 7 p.m. at Kinyu Realty Flushing Office, 133-31 39th Ave. Founded September 24, 2004 Hollis President: C. Janet Banks Meets on the second and fourth Tuesday each month at 7 p.m., Mateus Restaurant 222-05 Jamaica Ave., Queens Village Founded December 5, 2001 Jamaica President: Solaine Master Meets on the second and fourth Thursday each month at 7 p.m. at Robert Ross Johnson Center, 172-17 Linden Blvd. Founded May 11, 2006 Golden K Rockaway Boulevard South Ozone Park President: Hyacinth Martin Meets every Thursday at 10 a.m. at Rockaway Senior Center 123-10 143rd St., Jamaica Founded February 10, 1977 Rosedale-Laurelton President: Augusta Van Duzen Meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Little Flower After School 232-08 Merrick Blvd., Laurelton Founded May 18, 2004 St. Albans President: Vivian Glover Meets on the first and third Wednesday each month at 7 p.m. at Roy Wilkins Family Center 177th Street and Baisley Blvd. Founded August 20, 2012 this year. The Kiwanis was founded on Jan. 21, 1915, in Detroit, Michigan. On Nov. 1, 1916, The Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario, was chartered, making Kiwanis an international organization. By 1916, a year after its founding, the Kiwanis had only three clubs with about 500 members; today the Kiwanis has nearly 600,000 members with clubs in 80 nations. Those clubs and members address the unique concerns of their own areas, while tackling larger global issues. Members of the Kiwanis hold around 150,000 service projects, raise approximately $100 million and contribute more than six million hours of service each year. As Kiwanis grew around the world, it grew locally as well. The first club in the New York District was founded in Rochester in 1916. The Queens West Division of the New York District currently has 17 clubs. “Kiwanis, in general, is a lot of work and a commitment to the community, however, what it does is it challenges you…if you want to grow as an individual, it challenges you, it forces you to learn different things,” said JP DiTroia, Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis Queens West. In June 2010, at the 2010 international convention in Las Vegas, Kiwanis pledged to raise $110 million and joined UNICEF to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus from countries still affected by the disease. This cause is known as Project Eliminate. Since Project Eliminate began, the Queens West Division has been steadfast in raising money for this cause through several fundraising events. One such event was the fundraiser wedding they held for the Kiwanis mascot, Kiwally the Koala, where the club raised $5,400 for Project Eliminate. That money went to save over 3,000 babies, according to DiTroia. “We have raised, our division, over $42,000 in four years,” DiTroia said of his club’s progress with Project Eliminate. For donating $1,500, DiTroia received the Centennial Award and pin from the Kiwanis. “I’m thrilled,” DiTroia said of being presented the Centennial Award. “It’s important to me, not just because I got the award, but the importance that I’m showing my fellow Kiwanians that it can be done. The reward in itself is saving the babies, but certainly to be recognized by your peers is the ultimate honor.” The Queens West Division is also involved with many other organizations such as the Heartshare School, the Ronald McDonald House, among others, according to DiTroia. “We raised money, $2,200, for pediatric Lyme disease,” DiTroia added. The Kiwanis continues to add new members and grow both locally and internationally, helping those in need across the globe with its charitable donations. Left to right: JP Di Troia, Lieutenant Governor of Queens West Kiwanis; Kiwally the Koala; Tina Di Troia; and Kiwanna.
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