Kiwanis helps kids around the world.  Our local club members help our communities, are generous with our time, and are creative with our ideas. We are passionate about making a difference and we have fun along the way. For over a century, Kiwanis has created opportunities for children to be curious, safe and healthy. When you give a child the chance to learn, great things can happen. Kids Need Kiwanis.

In concert with Kiwanis International, the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick and the Kennewick Kiwanis Foundation have made it our Mission to improve the world one child and one community at a time.  

To be a positive influence in our community and our kids – to break the cycle of poverty and foster learning – so children can learn, dream, grow, succeed, and become productive citizens.

The Kennewick Kiwanis Foundation was formed by members of the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick in the late 1990’s, inspired by the leadership of Red Rutherford and Dick Petersen. They enlisted the support of formation Directors Craig Liebler, Bob Marple Jr., Rene Norman, Bob Kelly, and Monte Nail.

The Foundation was initially organized “exclusively for charitable and educational purposes to advance education and the promotion of social welfare to combat juvenile delinquency.” Its Mission Statement was later broadened to include we “assist and support the youth of the greater Kennewick area through scholarships and other services.” All donations made to the Kennewick Kiwanis Foundation are tax deductible.

The Foundation has awarded many $1,000 annual scholarships to high school graduates in our community during its 25 years, with 12 scholarships available for award this year. Some of the scholarships are renewable for multiple academic years. The funds for these scholarships are created through endowment investments, overseen by the Foundation, and established by generous donors. Just this year, the Board approved increasing the value of these multiple year scholarships to $2,000 each. 

Other scholarships come from generous donations to the Foundation. These are $1,000 scholarships, are awarded for a single year, and honor certain individuals that demonstrated outstanding commitment to kids and our community. With the ever rising cost of college, the Foundation’s goal is to increase the value of these scholarships to $2,000 each.

In addition to funding scholarships, the Foundation is partnering with the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick this year to raise $100,000 to establish a new youth playground in our community.

The Endowed Scholarships that are awarded to students for multiple academic years, honor:

• Victor “Red” Rutherford - a past Kennewick Man of the Year, past Tri-Citian of the Year, Kiwanis Hixson Award winner, and a 40+ year member of the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick.
• Donald Anderson - a past Kennewick Man of the Year, Kiwanis Hixson Award winner, and a 40+ year member of the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick.
• George J. Jones - a past Kennewick Man of the Year, past Tri-Citian of the Year, Kiwanis Hixson Award winner, and a 65+ year member of the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick.
• Henry Sauer - father of Kiwanis Club of Kennewick member Hank Sauer. Hank was the longtime President of the Foundation and we greatly appreciated his service.
• Walteen Corson - a long time member of the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick. Her scholarship is targeted for students pursuing a career in agriculture.
• Art Carson – a Kiwanis Hixson Award winner, and a 50+ year member of the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick.
• Bob Woehler - a past Kennewick Man of the Year, a past Lt. Governor of Kiwanis, Kiwanis Hixson Award winner, a 40+ year member of the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick. This scholarship was established by the Club and is designated for a student that attended Amistad Elementary.
• Wayne & Maureen Bell - currently are Kiwanis Club of Kennewick President and Secretary and on the Foundation Board, both awarded the Kiwanis Hixson Award, and Maureen is past Kennewick Woman of the Year. 
• Joan Rude – established in her memory by Pete Rude, member of the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick. This scholarship is targeted for students pursuing a career in healthcare.
• Rick Corson – a past Kennewick Man of The Year and Kiwanis Hixson Award winner. Rick is a long term member of the Kiwanis Club of Kennewick. This scholarship is targeted for students pursuing a career in criminal justice.

Other community leaders that have been honored by the Kennewick Kiwanis Foundation with single year scholarships include: Glynn Wheeler, Doug Holle, Duane Pepiot, Jim French, and Joseph Osborne. For the 2022-2023 academic year, the Foundation is recognizing Leland Haberling and Dean Strawn with scholarships awarded to students in their names

Reach out to KennewickKiwanisFoundation@gmail.com to learn more.