For 100 years, it’s been all about the children.
The Kiwanis Club of Dade City is celebrating its centennial anniversary, as a service organization dedicated to helping children in need in the community. The club does everything from providing school supplies and clothing, to supplying food and gifts around the holiday season. It even provides the club’s trademark donation — eyeglasses — to those who need them, but can’t afford them.
While its membership may be lower than desired or even as high as some of its fellow 14 sister chapters in the Nature Coast branch, the Dade City club strives to help every child that needs assistance it can — making sure they provide needed supplies and attention.
“Everything is for the children — we don’t do anything unless it’s for kids,” said longtime member and former Kiwanis Dade City president Mike Moorman. “That’s the whole point of Kiwanis: to help them grow and become adults. The K in the name should stand for kids because that’s what we do.
“And, honestly,” he added, “and this is just how I feel, but I know a lot of members do, too, but no kid should be deprived of getting something for Christmas.
“That should be our motto.”
The Kiwanis Club of Dade City was founded in 1923, with the first president being Alfred Francis “Frank” Price, whose name is now honored at Price Park on Meridian Avenue. The group has been significant in Dade City history, according to author and historian Madonna Wise.
It has been “involved in everything. The new highway through town, recruiting an early extension agent, building of roads, benevolent projects of all types and aspects of the culture, and even entertainment of the town,” according to Wise.
Over its century-long existence, the Dade City club and its members have focused on helping the community’s children.
“Because we only give back to kids, we don’t get involved in anything political or anything else,” Moorman said. “We just worry about the kids, so all money raised goes to the kids. We don’t take anything from the group and we pay for all our other stuff out of our own pockets.”
Moorman figures the Kiwanis Club has helped every school in Dade City, and partners closely with Pasco High, as well. But their big push throughout the years has always been the club’s free eyeglasses program.
Partnering with local optometrist Dr. Bradley Smurr, the group — which now works in collaboration with Pasco County on this project — raises money to get children eye exams and possible glasses, if they can’t afford it.
Club president Kristie Dimarakis says one of its members, Mike Carr, was a recipient of glasses as a kid, and now is passionate to keep this program alive.
“Since most members are Dade City natives or lifelong residents, it sometimes comes full circle,” Dimarakis added. “Especially, like (Mike Carr) where Kiwanis impacted his life. I think you see a lot of that — if it impacted their lives, now they want to give back.”
“Oh, it’s so rewarding or we wouldn’t be here,” said another former president John Swyers.
“We don’t meet the kids, we’re just told what they need or how we can help them,” he added. “From 1923 to now, 100 years later, that’s been a lot of money and clothing, gifts and eyeglasses. I’m not sure it is even quantifiable just how much we’ve collected and raised in 100 years, but it’s a lot and it’s been just for the kids.”
Moving forward after the 100th anniversary celebration, Dimarakis is focused on increasing membership and keeping it steady.
“My grandfather was a president of Kiwanis club in Georgia, and had more than 100 members,” she said. “We always want more people to join and help out and keep this club going for another 100 years!”
“It does take a lot of dedication,” added Penny Morrill, another former president. “It takes a lot of passion, but then you don’t even realize how long you’ve been with Kiwanis. I was surprised when it was our 75th anniversary!”
Dimarakis and company know it can be tough to be part of Kiwanis, as the club meets Tuesdays at noon, making it tough for those who work to make meetings. Additionally, Morrill pointed out many companies no longer sponsor (i.e., pay the membership fees) employees to be in Kiwanis.
“That used to be a big selling point, a big point of pride,” she added, “but really, everyone here wants to help kids in this area. Many don’t realize the kids in Dade City are very poverty-stricken. Kiwanis is a great way to help them, if you can.”
Despite some membership hardships, this Kiwanis club has had some notable members, many of whom are now senior members — in that they support the club, but are not active participants.
Those of notoriety include Price; Roy Hardy, who got the trail nearby named after him; and former Mayor W. Glenn Lester, who also has a park named after him. There’s also Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning and Florida’s 13th Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, both of whom were former club presidents.
Dimarakis welcomes any new member, either to expand or bring some youth to the club. Either way, expect this Kiwanis club to continue helping kids for another 100 years.
“I’m focused on the celebration right now, but after that, it’s about what’s next for the club,” she said. “Do we get more members? Do we get younger? What do we plan for projects? What are we going to do next year for the kids? … We probably need to go younger to stay alive, but that’s also not going to stop Kiwanis from helping the kids and families in (the Dade City) area.”
Dade City Kiwanis Club
Details: The Kiwanis Club of Dade City is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The service organization is dedicated to serving children through scholarships, school supplies, clothing and even eyeglasses for those that can’t afford them. Several former presidents and members of the club have been honored by Dade City, including Alfred Francis “Frank” Price, Roy Hardy and Wilton Simpson. The club is always actively looking for new members. Its 100th anniversary celebration is set for Jan. 18 at the Garden Club in Dade City.
Info: Visit the group’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/KiwanisDadeCity/, or email .
Published December 13, 2023
