We had a great time last month at the University District Food Bank dinner and auction together with four members of the UW Circle K club!
More than 400 people attended this fun event for a critically important cause, raising nearly $500,000 to help feed families and individuals in NE Seattle. About 25% of the food bank’s customers are unhoused and 20% are children. Due to the rising cost of food, the food bank is 80% busier than it was two years ago. This means it also costs more to meet that demand…nearly $1.5 million this year.
In 1982, a local minister held meetings with the community, churches, social service agencies, civic groups and local businesses to meet a growing need for food bank services. University District Kiwanis was one of the first financial supporters and the food bank opened its doors on May 4, 1983 with a donated home refrigerator and $100 monthly budget to buy food to supplement donations. By 1986, it was the fifth busiest food bank in Seattle. Today, they serve over 250,000 individuals annually through satellite pantries, home delivery, weekend food packs for school-age kids, connections to community resources and a rooftop farm.
We’re thankful to Lisa O’Dell from REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade) for sharing at our October 8, 2024 meeting about the work REST is doing to support victims of human trafficking in our area.
Over 2,000 women, men, and children are exploited in King County, and over half are experiencing homelessness or in unstable housing. Last year, nearly 650 people reached out to REST for services, hoping to find their path out of the sex trade. REST helps survivors to increase their safety and move toward healing, stability, and economic independence through a variety of support services including emergency housing, mental health and substance use services, housing assistance, outreach and advocacy.
We were so moved by this challenging work and attended the “Night of REST” fundraiser event the following week. You can get involved by inviting Lisa to speak with your group, attending an information session or donating to help expand capacity. Learn more at https://iwantrest.com
In September, our Board gathered for its annual retreat. The purpose of this meeting is to create space outside of regular monthly meetings to look ahead to the coming fiscal year – revisiting our mission statement to ensure it continues to accurately reflect our intentions, reviewing our accomplishments and opportunities for improvement and aligning on a plan to continue providing financial support to various non-profit organizations in the coming year. Lunch after was open to the general membership. We’re grateful to be part of a team which is caring, constructive and committed to making a positive impact in our community and world. Thank you Kim for hosting this event!
It was great meeting the Teen Feed leadership team this week! We were happy to be able to provide a donation to support their work to meet the basic needs of homeless and at-risk youth who don’t have stable family support by providing nightly meals, street outreach and connections to secure housing, employment and education. Learn about volunteering or donating at teenfeed.org.
University District Kiwanis members were honored to attend The Healing Center’s “Gather for Good” event last week to support and celebrate their work connecting people of all ages who have experienced the death of a loved one, and providing community and support during their healing journey.
In September, we cheered on Judy Callahan as she received the Kiwanis Everyday Hero Award in recognition of her work to co-found and lead the nonprofit Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children (NWSDHH).
As a public school special education teacher, Judy envisioned a nurturing and stimulating learning environment for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and dedicated herself to raising funds, recruiting staff and enrolling students, until this dream was realized.
NWSDHH now partners with 20+ school districts and provides services for kids from birth to middle school.
Judy also serves as the advisor to UW Circle K student service club, supporting their leadership development and service in our community.
Congratulations Judy on your many achievements and thank you for sharing your boundless positivity and enthusiasm to lift up everyone around you!
We’re grateful to our newest member Jessica Hespelt from Seattle CHADD Chapter (and 2016 Kiwanis Key Club Advisor of the Year!) for joining our September 10, 2024 membership meeting to share the work Seattle CHADD is doing to support children and adults with ADHD.
Seattle CHADD is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources, education, and advocacy for individuals of all ages with ADHD. Their mission is to create a supportive community where individuals with ADHD can thrive and reach their full potential.
They currently host 3-4 meetings each month and are raising funds to launch the first Spanish-speaking ADHD support group in the U.S. You can watch webinar recordings with ADHD experts, join the mailing list and view the schedule for upcoming support meetings at https://seattlechadd.com/
We are proud to support the Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Program of Seattle (KCCP-S) whose singular purpose is funding research and training to end childhood cancer, ensuring a brighter, healthier future for children everywhere. Â
Everything starts with a dream. The Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Program of Seattle (KCCP-S), founded in 2019, dreamed of a world free from childhood cancer. They believed that achieving this dream was possible and they acted. Their three-step formula—dream, believe, act—guides their mission to have a world free of childhood cancer.
KCCP-S is convinced that research is the path to victory in the fight against childhood cancer, and 100% of the funds they raise support Seattle Children’s Hospital pediatric cancer research fellowships in alliance with University of Washington Medical Center and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Learn more about the program here.
Why this work is so important:
Cancer is the #1 disease-related cause of death for children and adolescents, but there’s no single cure – there are more than 12 major types of pediatric cancer and over 100 subtypes. (1,3)
Every year, 400,000 children world-wide are diagnosed with cancer and 100,000 die. For children aged 0-14, the average age of diagnosis is 6 years old. (1,7)
There’s a huge discrepancy in survival rates around the world. In high-income countries, more than 80% of children with cancer are cured, elsewhere survival rates drop below 30%. (6)
Some cancer treatment side effects cause more harm to children than adults, as they affect a child’s developing organs, and survivors suffer secondary health risks. Childhood cancer survivors have a 15X higher risk of developing congestive heart failure and nearly all survivors have a chronic health problem by age 50. (1,7)
Childhood cancer research funding accounts for only 4% of all federal funding for cancer research. In the past 30 years, only 7 drugs have been approved by the FDA to treat childhood cancer, while 200+ drugs have been approved for adults. (5,7)
On May 18, 2024, we hosted the 46th annual Pitzer/Weeks Vocal Competition at Tagney Jones Hall in the Seattle Opera House. We are grateful to the Seattle Opera, and especially Sara Litchfield, the Associate Director of Youth Learning Programs which includes Teen Vocal Studio, for partnering with us to provide the wonderful space for this year’s concert. Ten local high school students competed for the chance to win one of three vocal coaching scholarships.
This year’s winner, Lydia Mushkatina, is heading to The Juilliard School to continue her training and will receive $3,000 in vocal coaching.
The two runners up, Trinav Banerjee and Autumn Chociej, will each receive $1,500 toward their continued vocal training.
2024 Pitzer/Weeks Vocal Competition Contestants from left to right: Jay Houseworth-Barba (Bainbridge High School), Namah Daga (Newport High School), Carrie (Jiayu) Huang (The Northwest School), Leila Bauer (South Kitsap High School), Trinav Banerjee (Jackson High School), Woods Jarol (Edmonds Woodway High School), Lydia Mushkatina (Sammamish High School), Haley Montelaro (Newport High School), David Thomas (Edmonds Woodway High School) and Autumn Chociej (Auburn High School)
At the beginning of each year, we send information about the competition to high school choir directors and private coaches in the Greater Seattle area, including the Seattle Opera’s Teen Vocal Studio. The event typically occurs in May of each year. If you would like to be added to our mailing list for this event, please send us a message using our contact form here.
We were honored to attend the 26th annual D.A.D.S Annual Fatherhood Banquet on Father’s Day at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington.
Keynote speaker Darryl Strawberry shared his very personal journey of healing with his abusive, alcoholic and absent father. Several other fathers shared how D.A.D.S. has helped them build, restore and maintain bonds with their children, with life-changing results that will have impacts for generations. We were especially touched by hearing D.A.D.S. “graduates” speak to their ability to earn their way back into their children’s lives, overcoming significant challenges such as incarceration and addiction.
D.A.D.S. helps fathers navigate barriers which separate them from their children and families, to stop cycles of family violence and brokenness, and to become agents of change in their communities.
Marvin and Jeanett Charles founded D.A.D.S in 1998 to apply the lessons they had learned during their own process of recovery and reunification of their family. While being homeless, unemployed and addicted, Marvin and Jeanett had lost several children to foster care and were facing termination of parental rights when a Child Protective Services worker gave them 90 days to get sober, find housing and employment. Today, they live in their own home with three daughters and a son and work with other fathers, one at a time, to overcome the challenges they are experiencing and support them in building a better relationship with, and future for, their children.
This event raised $295,000 for the critical work that D.A.D.S. is doing! We’re proud to be a supporter and invite you to learn more at https://www.aboutdads.org.
Upcoming Events
November 7-9: PNW CKI Summit at Warm Beach Camp
November 8: We Heart Casey Gala 5:30 - 9:00 pm at Ballard Elks
November 12: General Meeting 12:00 - 1:00 on Zoom. **note this meeting moved to Wed* Guest Speaker The Genesis Project
November 15: Assistance League of Seattle Lunch Auction 11:00 - 1:00 at Sunset Club
November 19: Board Meeting 1:30 - 2:30 on Zoom
December 4: Backpack Brigade Gala 5:00 - 9:00 pm at The 101 in Pioneer Square
December 9: General Meeting 12:00 - 1:00 IN PERSON, location and speaker TBD
December 17: Board Meeting 1:30 - 2:30 on Zoom
January 13: General Meeting 12:00 - 1:00 on Zoom
January 21: Board Meeting 1:30 - 2:30 on Zoom
February 6-7: PNW Kiwanis Mid-Winter Conference at Hood River Best Western
February 10: General Meeting 12:00 - 1:00 on Zoom
February 18: Board Meeting 1:30 - 2:30 on Zoom
March 6-8: PNW Key Club District Convention at Portland Marriott
March 10: General Meeting 12:00 - 1:00 on Zoom
March 18: Board Meeting 1:30 - 2:30 on Zoom
March 19: Team Read Luncheon at the Westin Downtown Seattle
in recognition of her work to co-found and lead the nonprofit Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children (NWSDHH). 
Last Updated: November 2, 2025 by jnewton
U District Food Bank raises $500,000
We had a great time last month at the University District Food Bank dinner and auction together with four members of the UW Circle K club!
More than 400 people attended this fun event for a critically important cause, raising nearly $500,000 to help feed families and individuals in NE Seattle. About 25% of the food bank’s customers are unhoused and 20% are children. Due to the rising cost of food, the food bank is 80% busier than it was two years ago. This means it also costs more to meet that demand…nearly $1.5 million this year.
In 1982, a local minister held meetings with the community, churches, social service agencies, civic groups and local businesses to meet a growing need for food bank services. University District Kiwanis was one of the first financial supporters and the food bank opened its doors on May 4, 1983 with a donated home refrigerator and $100 monthly budget to buy food to supplement donations. By 1986, it was the fifth busiest food bank in Seattle. Today, they serve over 250,000 individuals annually through satellite pantries, home delivery, weekend food packs for school-age kids, connections to community resources and a rooftop farm.
Learn how you can help support the food bank at https://www.udistrictfoodbank.org