When a Kiwanis club cosponsors a K-Kids club, it joins forces with another Kiwanis family club — usually Key Club or Circle K International — to provide meaningful support and guidance. Together, these clubs collaborate to meet the sponsorship requirements outlined in the K-Kids Petition for Charter, ensuring a strong foundation for young leaders to grow and thrive.
Here’s what sponsoring clubs do and how they can work together:
- Assign volunteers. The Kiwanis club appoints a member to serve as the K-Kids Kiwanis advisor. The cosponsoring Key Club or CKI club also appoints a contact person. The Kiwanis advisor (and other volunteers 18 years or older) must complete Youth Protection Training before working with the K-Kids club.
- Fund the K-Kids club. After paying the initial chartering fee, the Kiwanis club allocates money in its budget to support the K-Kids club, including paying its annual renewal fee. Some cosponsoring Key Clubs and CKI clubs pay a portion of the charter and annual fees. Throughout the year, cosponsoring clubs can help with activity and service project expenses, as well as snacks for meetings.
- Create a plan and calendar. It’s time to get to work and have fun! The Kiwanis advisor and Key Club/CKI representative should meet with the K-Kids faculty advisor at the beginning of the year. Discuss how and when they will assist with K-Kids service, training, ceremonies or other projects, such as this year’s Global Service Project, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, K-Kids Week and K-Kids contests and awards. Use the K-Kids Advisor Guide to learn how to offer support.
- Invite K-Kids members and parents to service events. Include the K-Kids members in a cosponsoring club’s service projects, when age-appropriate, or start a new one with a Kiwanis International partner. For example, build a Little Free Library or grow a community garden with help from KidsGardening.
When Kiwanis family members collaborate, they offer the best possible experiences for the K-Kids they sponsor. And because more Kiwanis volunteers are involved, K-Kids meetings and service activities receive additional support.