Kiwanis and its Service Leadership Programs boast a membership of more than 550,000 men, women and youth in nearly 16,000 clubs in more than 80 countries and geographic areas. Kids need Kiwanis!
Members of Kiwanis and its Service Leadership Programs volunteer more than 19 million hours and invest more than $100 million in their communities around the world.
Iodine Deficiency Disorders
Kiwanis International has raised and leveraged more than US$100 million toward the elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), the leading preventable cause of mental and developmental disabilities in the world. UNICEF heralded the effort that began in 1994 as one of the most successful health initiatives ever. Kiwanis International continues to advocate for optimal iodine nutrition and to raise money and fund projects that offer children a chance to live healthier, happier and more productive lines.
Eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus
Maternal and neonatal tetanus is deadly. And it’s painful – preventing even the comfort of a mother’s touch. There’s an additional tragedy: MNT is preventable. And yet, millions have died from this disease because of poverty and unsafe birthing practices.
Kiwanis International has been fighting maternal and neonatal tetanus since 2010. We have raised money for lifesaving vaccines, health education, safe birth environments and more — all for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations. Millions of women can now give birth without fear of their babies dying from this horrible disease.
Kiwanis International is proud of the role we’ve played, but we’re not done. Kiwanis remains committed to raising money and funding efforts to save and protect mothers and babies in the 12 countries where maternal and neonatal tetanus remain a threat.