The Bradenton Kiwanis Club has been making a major impact on our community since 1922. This week, during their annual awards ceremony, they presented eight local organizations with grants totaling $197,614.
The grants, which ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, were awarded for special projects that required funding above and beyond what the organizations were able to raise themselves. This year’s recipients and projects were as follows:
- Beyond the Spectrum Inc. – the purchase of communication technology for non-verbal students and the technology needed to complete Interactive Smartboards.
- Boy Scouts of America (Southwest Florida Council) – the building of an aquatics boat launch and purchase kayaks and canoes.
- Easter Seals of Southwest Florida – re-keying of doors and replacing door hardware to make their facility safer.
- Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida – purchase of an archery shade and ice machine and the building of a disc golf course.
- Manatee Sunrise Kiwanis Foundation – funds provided will cover a portion of the cost to purchase a warehouse in which to store program supplies, in particular, those for the Kids Against Hunger program.
- PACE Center for Girls Inc. – contribution to a capital campaign for building renovations and the addition of 10,000 square feet.
- Salvation Army of Bradenton – summer day camp supplies for underprivileged children.
- State College of Florida Foundation – the purchase of one pediatric HAL five-year-old medical simulator and accessories.
Each grant recipient underwent a rigorous review process that included substantiating the positive effects that the project would have on the youth in our community.
An additional $10,000 was also donated to the President’s Fund in support of the Azinger Family Compassion Center which is scheduled to be built in Palmetto in the near future.
Each year, the charitable committee of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club accepts grant submissions from nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. The number of applicants that are chosen depends on the amount that is requested and the total amount available to give out during the current year.
The grants are funded by the Bradenton Kiwanis Foundation, which was created in 1990 following the sale of the Bradenton Trailer Park. (You can read more about this interesting piece of history here). Since that time, they’ve donated more than $8,198,878 in the form of grants and scholarships which have touched the lives of people in every corner of Manatee County.
The Bradenton Kiwanis Club is currently accepting new members! They meet every Tuesday at 12:15 pm at Kiwanis Hall, located on the second floor of the Manatee Performing Arts Center (502 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205). You can check out their website to learn more about the organization and email info@bradentonkiwanis.org for more information or to visit a meeting!
