Throwback Thursday: 100 years of Kiwanis in Bowling Green

A Bowling Green civic organization is celebrating its centennial anniversary this
summer. The Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green was founded in 1923 and has grown to
be one of the most charitable organizations in the city, running several community
events throughout the year to raise money for children in need. This week we visit a
century of history of Bowling Green Kiwanis.

Chartered on July 24, 1923, the Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green now boasts over 100
active members. The club is known for its continued support of organizations
helping local children. This club is part of the larger Kiwanis International
organization, with clubs in 80 countries, 150 thousand service projects annually,
and raises about $100 million dollars every year for community improvements.

The Bowling Green Kiwanis Club group meets every Wednesday for lunch at noon,
hosting programming that shares details about community events and
organizations, provides fellowship and a good time to members. The club has
supported many community events, some that have become annual family
traditions in fellowship and sports.

In 1972, the club hosted its first ever Thunderfest around Independence Day. The
club has been hosting Thunderfest at the National Corvette Museum amphitheater
for well over a decade, and that event is the largest July 4th celebration of the year.
In 1998, the first ever All-American Soap Box Derby was hosted by the Kiwanis Club.
This event has grown into a major qualifying event for National Soap Box Derby,
with racers traveling from around the region to compete here, and has spurred
several rally races throughout the year in Bowling Green.

Our local club has half a dozen youth service leadership groups in our high schools
and Western Kentucky University. Through community service partnerships and
fundraising, Kiwanis has been a tremendous help in changing lives of young people
in Bowling Green. There are many other events and projects Kiwanians are involved
in, and our community looks forward to the next 100 years of service.

That’s it for this week, brought to you by Hart County Tourism and the Kentucky
Museum. In Bowling Green, because local matters, Telia Butler, WNKY News 40.