Our Story
WHO WE ARE
We’re the Kiwanis Club at Town Center, Virginia Beach. We meet at Bravo in Virginia Beach Town Center. Our club is a mixture of old and new, traditional and expanding, growth and success. We celebrate service minded members from all walks of life.
Our focus is community service, fundraising and supporting activities throughout Hampton Roads. All of our activities are directed towards “children focused” charities that include valuable partners like Special Olympics, Seton House, March of Dimes and many others.
OUR HISTORY
Although Kiwanis is a global organization, the Town Center Kiwanis Club is locally connected. Throughout our history we’ve met at the Virginia Beach FOP and even the Golden Corral! We like food. Then in 2000 we moved to the Hilton Garden Inn at the Virginia Beach Town Center. The change brought the club new energy, and we’ve seen consistent growth in new membership every year since.
In 2005, after 50 years of existence, the Suburban Kiwanis Club decided to combine with us. This was a key move forward for both clubs. The addition of core members from the Suburban club helped expand our “hands on” activities into several charities and greatly added to our continued growth and success.
Growth over the years has brought exciting changes. The Town Center Kiwanis Club has included the first woman in Kiwanis in all of Hampton Roads – Susan Long Molnar, who joined in 1990 and our first female club president – Beverly Kiernan. Our Club has also sought ways to embrace Gen Y professionals, and have found great leadership in these members.
WHAT WE DO
We make fundraising… fun! To continue the our high level of support, fun is a key ingredient of everything we do. Over the years, you may have seen us in smoke filled bingo events or selling kids coloring books. Today you will find us planning and promoting events based on our experience, input from members, and trends that are working.
A great example of our fundraising is the Neptune Festival Beer Pull. Since 1978, our members have enjoyed working the concessions and supporting the festival. In some years, it’s been our largest fundraiser.
Another very successful example of our fundraising is the annual Taste of Town Center 5K run held in honor of Veterans Day. It’s an event we started, that pays tribute to military veterans of Hampton Roads. Hundreds of runners participate in a 5k or 1 mile run/walk. Kids can even participate in our 100 yard Tot Trot. The result is tens of thousands of dollars for local children’s charities every year.
WHERE WE’RE GOING
Through guidance and example, the Town Center Kiwanis Club works to develop future generations of leaders. Every day, we are revitalizing neighborhoods, supporting youth programs, awarding scholarships, and performing countless other projects to help children and their communities.
JOIN US
If you are looking for a way to give back to the community and enjoy the company of like-minded individuals, come visit us on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at noon at the Bravo in at Town Center.
