Macomb County, celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, can thank the Mount Clemens Kiwanis Club for contributing to the rich history of the area from the county seat for about half of those years.
“This is our 97th year as a Kiwanis club,” Michael Cudworth, club president, said. “The things I love most about it are our rich history, and our members’ enthusiastic spirit.”
The Mount Clemens Kiwanis Club Foundation’s annual fundraiser takes “A Cruise Around the Motor City” on Feb. 15 to celebrate the car companies that built the region.
The sixth annual Winterfest event, from 6-10 p.m. at Tina’s Country House, 50828 North Avenue, Macomb, showcases many local restaurants and caterers, breweries and wineries, raffles, Motown music and mingling. Tickets are $45 per person. Contact Mike Sarcheck at 313-706-8011 or mikesarcheck@comcast.net.
“We thank people for supporting us,” Cudworth said. “People come out who want to help children and support our community and have a nice evening with fun and good camaraderie.”
Although the Kiwanis organization focuses on children’s charities, the fundraiser proceeds also will be used to help the Macomb County Historical Society Crocker House Museum, the Selfridge Air Museum, the Packard Motor Car Foundation, the historic Anton Art Center, and the Wolcott Mill Children’s Day. The club supports the Goodfellows and The Salvation Army, which have been around for more than a century.
Cudworth joined Kiwanis as an adult because, although Kiwanis clubs don’t normally sponsor sports teams, a club in his hometown paid for the jerseys on his baseball team and that made an impression on him.
“Kiwanis is instrumental in helping youth. When I became an adult, I wanted to join for that reason,” he said.
A few of the organizations the club supports are Wigs-4-Kids, Care House, the Mount Clemens Santa Parade, Macomb Literacy Project’s Read To Me Rosco! Program, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Noble Odyssey Foundation, gift cards for Teens in Foster Care, and two annual $1,000 scholarships to local high school seniors.
Dorie Vazquez-Nolan, executive director of Care House -- a haven for children victimized by sexual or physical abuse, or who witness violence -- joined the club at a recent meeting and thanked members for a $1,000 donation.
Care House opened in 1996 as a children’s advocacy center providing forensic interviews in safe, comfortable surroundings. Victimized children do not need to recount and relive abuse by repeating interviews.
Instead, a team with a detective, Child Protective Services worker, and Assistant Prosecutor, watches one narrative conducted by a trained forensic interviewer, from closed circuit television. The children receive counseling, therapy and family advocacy, things that fit into Kiwanis goals for helping children.
Phil Gilchrist is a member and director of the Anton Art Center. He was grateful for a $1,000 donation.
The ART! Macomb serves young people in the area by donating time and resources to preserving art in schools. Gilchrist feels the efforts have been very successful and they are seeing art and music becoming a bigger part of the learning process in schools.
Club members are very hands-on and interact with other community groups. Kiwanians work at the City of Mount Clemens downtown bike rodeo (this year, on May 12.) The club gives away free bicycle helmets to children ages 3–10 and introduces children to members of the Mount Clemens Fire Department, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department and Macomb County Explorers.
The October Spooktacular trunk-or-treat, sponsored by the Mount Clemens Optimist Club, drew 2,600 children. A cake walk was a component of that where Kiwanians donated 110 individual baked goods that brought in $400 for the club.
Stephen Saph Jr. from the Optimist Club, recently spoke to Kiwanis members about his club’s Little Free Libraries project. Optimists provide books for children to encourage reading.
“These Little Free Libraries, with the support of the city and school district, will be mounted in parks and playgrounds throughout the area,” Kiwanian Theresa Randolph said. “The only rule for borrowing a book is ‘there is no rule.’ Books can be returned or kept. Take, share, leave.”
Book donations can be dropped off at the Nickel & Saph office, 44 Macomb Place in downtown Mount Clemens.
Kiwanis members serve meals monthly at the local Salvation Army facility and work The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign at a Walmart store on several December Saturdays. They participate in the state’s highway cleanup project and bring classic cars to the city’s annual Santa Parade.
Among the many raffles on Feb. 15 is a donated ring valued at $3,400, a money tree of cash and scratch-off lottery tickets, Rosco The Clown (also a club member) Santa and pizza parties, a “top-shelf liquor” package, three-month family membership to the Macomb YMCA, baskets of items that appeal to men or women, fishing trips, an entertainment center with 65-inch television, golf and sports packages, a Mackinac Island trip, and a prize called “Backyard BBQ Bundle.”
The club welcomes sponsorships and program ads in the amounts of $300 to $3,000. Contact Jill Johnson, club secretary, at 586-469-3555. Johnson collects gift cards for foster teens, year-round.
The club also generates funds from holiday nut sales, and interest from two trusts that make grants to local charitable causes and benefits from the 24th annual “Pancake Breakfast and Famous Bake Sale,” 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. March 25 at Trinity Lutheran Church. 38900 Harper Ave., Clinton Township.
Super Bowl party benefits groups
Several service clubs benefit from a Super Bowl party at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 at DeCarlo’s Banquet Center, 6016 E. 10 Mile Road, Warren. The community projects of the Warren Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, Warren Rotary Club and Alhambra Michigan Council of Caravans are included in the event. Bear Lake Camp, a project of the Lions Clubs of Michigan, is a beneficiary. Tickets are $25 (table of 10 is $235). Call Jack Becher at 586-206-8971. TVs and other raffles and a buffet meal through halftime are featured.
Kiwanis hosts speaker from women’s protection group
The Shorewood Kiwanis Club hosts a business networking and social awareness event at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Watermark Grille, 24420 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, about Women At Risk International, an organization that provides safe places to heal from abuse, trafficking and exploitation. Admission is $10 which includes a beverage and light fare. The restaurant donates 10 percent of the cost of diners’ meals to WAR International. See facebook.com/womenatrisk/ or call Karen Biafora at 586-350-5219 for information.
Lioness club holds pasta dinner Feb. 18
The Sterling Heights Lioness Club sponsors a pasta dinner, 4-7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Sterling Heights Lions Club clubhouse, 12828 Canal Road. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Contact Robin Highfield at rhighfi@aol.com.
Send service club and veterans news to: Linda May at lindamay@ameritech.net. Or mail c/o The Macomb Daily, 19176 Hall Road, Clinton Township MI 48038. Phone 586-791-8116.
