ISHPEMING – The Greater Ishpeming Pioneer Kiwanis Club recently received the Catalyst Award from the Marquette County Community Foundation at the foundation’s 25th anniversary celebration.
The Pioneer Kiwanis Club consists of 60 members from nine surrounding communities. The men and women in the club, most of whom are retired, average 73 years of age. Service to others has been the club’s driving force since its inception 37 years ago.
Some of the club’s service projects include building wheelchair ramps for area residents, presenting bingo and sing-alongs at area nursing homes, hosting an annual Christmas party for individuals with special needs and their families, manning an aide stations for an Ore-to-Shore Bicycle Race and Noquemenon Ski Race, work bees at Bay Cliff Health Camp, and volunteer for annual clothing and can drives.
The club’s three annual fundraising projects allow it to donate funds to 37 area service organizations, as well as present scholarships to students at three area high schools.