For the past 40 years, the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana has been committed to making a difference in the lives of thousands of South Florida families annually through service projects and fundraising initiatives, including the Carnaval Miami festivities. With Carnaval Miami 2015 in the books, the club is proud to announce that it is gearing up for it’s annual summer community programs and services to benefit underserved children. Projects to be supported include youth sports programs, scholarship project, a summer camp for undeserved children and a back-to-school backpack program to help provide children with the tools they need to succeed throughout the year.
“Our club continues to grow the impact it has had in our community for generations, creating a lasting legacy throughout the past 40 years,” said Jerry Fernandez, president-elect of the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana. “These programs have a longstanding history of being life-changing resources for thousands of South Florida families in the communities we serve.”
The proceeds from this year’s Carnaval Miami events will benefit the following programs:
- Foundation Scholarship Project – Since 1987, the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation’s Scholarship Project has helped more than 350 Hispanic students realize their dreams of receiving a college education within any public university in the state of Florida. More than 50 college students are currently enrolled in the program, with 10 new scholarships to be awarded to qualified applicants in 2015.
- Healthy Kids Summer Camp – For the past 24 years, the club has provided more than 5,000 low-income families a safe haven for their children during the summer months, offering a free, an all-inclusive summer camp program for kids ages 7-13. This year, the club will welcome 200 new campers at Miami’s Lummus Park.
- Back-To-School Project – Every August for the past 24 years, back-to-school has taken on a new meaning for the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, providing more than 65,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to students in need. More than 6,000 students will receive the supplies they need to succeed this school year.
- Youth Basketball League – An initiative and inaugural project of the club’s founding members. The program has provided mentoring and coaching to more than 8,000 kids since its inception, with 200 new participants enrolled in the program 2015.
“All of our programs, including Carnaval Miami, would not be possible without our generous corporate sponsors, members and volunteers who have helped us further our mission to give back to the community and make a difference in the lives of thousands of South Florida children and their families throughout the past four decades,” added Fernandez.
About the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana
The Kiwanis Club of Little Havana is an affiliate of Kiwanis International, a worldwide organization of volunteers dedicated to serving children in their communities. Formed in 1975, it is the oldest Latin, continuously meeting club in the United States and is committed to making a difference in the lives of thousands of South Florida families annually through service projects and fundraising initiatives. Club members volunteer thousands of hours each year to strengthen their community through yearly activities, including holiday giving, scholarship grants, back-to-school programs and the internationally recognized Calle Ocho Festival, including the various events of Carnaval Miami. For more information about the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, please visit www.kiwanislittlehavana.
