Kiwanis International is a service organization whose mission is "Serving the Children of the World". The organization was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan and is now based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Its original purpose was to exchange business between members and to serve the poor. This debate was resolved in 1919 when the organization adopted a service mission. The organization was for men-only until 1987.

Membership in the organization peaked in 1990 with 326,527, but has since declined to under 300,000 in 2000. The average age of members is 57 years old. Average size of the 13,000 clubs is 34 members. the organization has chapters in 89 countries.

The Objects of Kiwanis are:

  • To give primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than the material values of life.
  • To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
  • To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards.
  • To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.
  • To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.
  • To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill.
(Source: http://www.kiwanis.org/membership/ )

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