We love our volunteers…you hear every nonprofit organization say it, but what does it mean? More than 32 years ago, Kiwanis Family House was started by volunteers—Kiwanians from Divisions 7 and 44 in the Sacramento area. Then, for many years, it was entirely run by volunteers, with no paid hourly staff until moving into the current house, ten years ago. But even with paid staff, there are still many ways in which volunteers make a huge difference even today. The Board of Directors of Kiwanis Family House is an all-volunteer … [Read more...]
Director’s Letter – July 2016
What truths have constituted the Kiwanis Family House legacy for the past 32 years? Serving families dealing with serious illness or injury. Offering a temporary home away from home. Housing guests from more than 30 countries and from every state in the U.S. Family members located within five minutes of their hospitalized loved ones. Saving families while the medical professionals save lives. Rallying hundreds of Kiwanis clubs and Service Leadership Partners in support of one awesome, ongoing program. Certainly, there are … [Read more...]
Director’s Letter – June 2016
As I write this, we are a week away from our trip to Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the 2016 Kiwanis International Convention. Once again, Kiwanis Family House will staff an exhibit booth in the convention’s great hall. This year, we are most excited that convention staff has produced a brief video segment promoting Kiwanis Family House which will be shown to the international audience at one or more of the general sessions. This will be unprecedented recognition for us. This rare opportunity to enjoy a high convention profile comes on the … [Read more...]
Attention Save Mart Shoppers – S.H.A.R.E.S. Cards Are No Longer Valid!
Save Mart Supermarkets recently announced that it has partnered with eScrip to manage its S.H.A.R.E.S. charitable giving program. The new Shares powered by eScrip program continues the company’s legacy of giving up to 3% of shoppers’ eligible purchases to local, community-based organizations. What this means to you is that the S.H.A.R.E.S. card you now have in your wallet, which you use to give money back to Kiwanis Family House, will no longer be valid beginning April 1, 2016. But, it’s simple to keep giving back to Kiwanis Family House … [Read more...]
Sandra Gantt’s Story
We first met Sandra Gantt during the 2012 holiday season, shortly after she was diagnosed with leukemia. Sandra was in the last trimester of her pregnancy. Doctors at UC Davis Medical Center carefully coordinated her cancer and prenatal care. A healthy daughter, Karissa, was born on December 27, 2012. The family remained at Kiwanis Family House through the end of January 2013. After two years in remission, Sandra’s leukemia returned. Calendar year 2015 has seen her in and out of UC Davis Medical Center for blood transfusions and … [Read more...]
Ankit Bhuta’s Story
Ankit Bhuta came to the U.S. from Mumbai, India to attend flight school. After passing his courses, he needed hours on his flight log, a quest that took him to Stockton, California. On September 7, 2015, Ankit was riding on the back of a motorcycle being driven by one of his classmates. The classmate decided to race a Porsche 911 on a two-lane road. As their speed increased to 100 miles-per-hour, Ankit felt his helmet slide toward the top of his head. As he reached up to secure the helmet, he slipped off the back of the motorcycle, landing … [Read more...]
New Board Meeting Schedule Announced
The Kiwanis Family House Board of Directors has announced a new board meeting schedule for the 2015-2016 term. Until further notice, the board shall meet every other month (odd months: January, March, May, July, September, and November) as well as in the month of June following the Kiwanis Family House Annual Meeting. Except for June, all meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Kiwanis Family House, unless otherwise announced. Board committee meeting schedules have been updated as well, as … [Read more...]
New Kiwanis Family House Donation Opportunity Announced
Buying a home? Refinancing? Kiwanian Jon Kaempfer of California Capital Mortgage Company has announced that he will donate 50% of his net commission at the close of escrow to Kiwanis Family House for any of our supporters who finance or refinance a mortgage through him, and mention Kiwanis. The flyer with all information can be downloaded here. … [Read more...]
Fordham University Kiwanis Becomes 98th Sponsor Club!
We have exciting news! In May, the Kiwanis Club of Fordham University, Bronx, New York, became the 98th Sponsor Club of the Kiwanis Family House! This news is exciting for several reasons. First, we are now only TWO clubs away from hitting the magic number "100" during Kiwanis International's 100th year. Second, the Fordham University Club is the FIRST Kiwanis Family House sponsor club from outside the California-Nevada-Hawaii District, demonstrating the true international reach of our House. And finally, we are excited because Fordham … [Read more...]
PRESS RELEASE – Kiwanis Family House Participates in BIG Day of Giving
***For Immediate Release*** SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, April 26, 2015 – For the second year in a row, the Kiwanis Family House will participate in an exciting regional event involving more than 400 local nonprofit organizations, the BIG Day of Giving. The BIG Day of Giving is an online networking and giving event that provides nonprofit organizations such as the Kiwanis Family House with the opportunity to gain exposure and start relationships with new donors, and for the people in the Sacramento region and beyond to come together to … [Read more...]