From the traditional merry-go-round and Ferris wheel to the gut-wrenching rides reserved for the most adventurous of carnival goers, the annual Kiwanis Club of Concord’s Spring Fair has something for everyone.
In just four days, the fair will kick-off its 62nd season with a wide array of indulgent foods, family-friendly games and, of course, its beloved rides. The fair is the Kiwanis Club’s largest fundraiser, and it brings in an average profit of $12,000 to $15,000, all of which is reinvested in the community.
The Kiwanis are members of an international service organization, which started a Concord branch in 1924. To Kiwanis, building community means investing in the next generation: children.
“Being a member means you get an opportunity to do something for a common cause. Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, atheist or devout Jew, man or woman, it doesn’t matter; young children are our number one priority,” said Ken Georgevits, a Concord Kiwanian for 35 years.
For example, just last week, the club awarded 11 book scholarships to area students during a special lunch event in the city. About $5,000 was gifted to high school students and graduates to further their education.
The Kiwanis Club also helps the elderly and other residents in need by providing them with eye care, clothing and other basic necessities. The group has good relations with school nurses, too, so that if a child is in need of a good pair of boots or winter coat, for example, a Concord Kiwanian can lend a hand. That person can gift up to $50 without having to ask the full body for approval to expend the funds, Georgevits said.
One of the largest investments the club has made is to the Salvation Army’s McKenna House in Concord, which provides year-round emergency shelter and client-centered services to the homeless. The club has also given thousands of dollars to the Capital Region Food Program, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that collects and distributes about 100 tons of food annually.
Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 in Detroit. A century later, it has more than 600,000 members in more than 80 countries, including in high school Key Clubs where students engage in community service projects. Kiwanis hosts nearly 150,000 service projects each year.
“The only requirement for being a club member is that you care about making your community better,” Georgevits said. “Our motto is building better communities, one child at a time.”
In addition to local causes, Concord’s 32-member club invests some of its fair profits in child development and treatment on a national and global level, including by donating to the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute, a level one pediatric trauma center in Boston.
As thousands of local people make their way to the Everett Arena on Loudon Road, beginning Thursday night, Kiwanians will hope for clear skies and sunshine throughout the four-day event. Georgevits noted the weather often dictates how much money is raised and, therefore, how much the club can give back.
(Alyssa Dandrea can be reached at 369-3319, adandrea@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @_ADandrea.)