Service

As one of the three tenets, service is a fundamental element of Circle K International. Collectively, Circle K members perform more than 1 million hours of service on their campuses and in their communities annually. Without service, Circle K International would be just another campus activity. Through service, college students are making the world a better place.

As a sponsored program of Kiwanis International, Circle K International shares the focus of serving the children of the world. In support of this effort, the Circle K International service initiative is Focusing on the Future: Children. This initiative encourages members to address the issues facing children ages 6-13 and to find solutions through service for addressing these issues.

Service Initiative

The Service Initiative of Circle K International was designed to educate all Circle K members about the problems and issues that face children worldwide, ages six to 13. Through personal interaction and public awareness, we will enable children to develop the skills and ideals necessary to be successful.
Click here to download the SI booklet.

Service Learning

Here you will find helpful materials for Service Learning projects.

• Planting a Seed for Service Learning - Seeds for Success

America's Promise

The Service Initiative of CKI was designed to educate all Circle K members about the problems and issues facing children ages six to 13 worldwide. "Focusing on the Future: Children," is the focal point of the service initiative, and each year there will be a different emphasis.

Beginning April 1, there will be three rotating emphasis areas: "Health and Safety Issues: On Call for the Future;" "After-school Programs: Turn off TV, Turn on to Life;" and "Educating Children: Open a Book, Show them the World." After careful consideration, the International Service Committee and sta ff decided one of the most appropriate service partners would be an organization that shares these focuses: America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth.
 
America's Promise is a collaborative network that builds upon the collective power of communities to help fulfill five promises for every person: ongoing relationships with caring adults, safe places with structured activities, a healthy start, marketable skills, and opportunities to give back. Its mission is to mobilize people from every sector of American life to build the character and competence of our nation's youth by fulfilling these promises.

Founded after the Presidents' Summit for America's Future, which brought US Presidents Clinton, Bush, Carter, and Ford-with First Lady Nancy Reagan representing her husband-to Philadelphia in 1977, America's Promise challenged the nation to make youth a national priority. Its call to action included a commitment on the part of the nation to fulfill the five promises.
 
America's Promise has created a diverse and growing alliance of more than 400 national organizations, called Partners, as well as more than 400 efforts involving community and state partners across the nation, all united to fulfill the five promises.

A Power of Five learning kit is available to help you as you make plans for how your club will fulfill its role in the Service Initiative and, hopefully, its partnership with America's Promise. The kit is a service-learning tool that engages 11- to 14-year-olds in discussion and service around the five promises framework of America's Promise. Each Power of Five kit includes:

• A four-page guide for educators and group leaders.
• Five reproducible activity sheets to use with youth.
• Thirty 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" take-home messages for parents.
• One four-color classroom poster (22" x 28").
• Response card for follow-up evaluation.
  
  For additional information or to request a Power of Five kit, Click here to e-mail. Include your name, organization, mailing address and the number of packets needed.
  
  America's Promise Web site also gives you the opportunity to search many of their other partners' Web sites and participate in Best Practices databases. The links on its Web site gives best practices for community-based youth development programs. When you visit America's Promise's Web site, you can sign up to receive e-mail tips.
  
  Circle K International and America's Promise make wonderful partners, especially is light of how our Service Initiative aligns with the five promises. America's Promise provides us with group of student lead lea ders to present programs to fellow students and all kinds of ideas that complement and expand on those found in Kiwanis family. This partnership will add to the many benefits of CKI membership and to the depth of project information available to members. If you have any questions about America's Promise or the Partnership please contact  Elizabeth Warren, Service Programming Manager.  

March of Dimes Help give every baby a healthy start!

Every day 1 in 8 babies born in the U.S. arrives too soon. Premature birth can happen to any pregnant woman, and no one knows why. It is a serious, common and costly problem. Circle K members, along with the Kiwanis International Family and youth volunteers (link to http://www.marchofdimes.com/youth) across the country, are helping to support the March of Dimes in their fight against premature birth. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, prematurity and infant mortality.

WalkAmerica is the March of Dimes largest fund raiser and typically takes place in late April. Visit walkamerica.org to sign up online and find the date and location in your area. On the site, you can register as a new or returning walker. Make sure you register as a Circle K team! If you have any questions, contact your local March of Dimes chapter. Find your local chapter by visiting marchofdimes.com/youth and entering your ZIP code in the box at the top of the page. Want to find out more ways to volunteer and support the March of Dimes? Visit marchofdimes.com/youth for all the resources you may need, and call the nearest office for local opportunities!

UNICEF

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, was created after World War II to provide emergency aid to children in Europe and Asia who faced widespread famine and disease. Today, we work in more than 150 countries and territories – supported entirely with voluntary contributions.

Across the globe -- wherever vulnerable children are struggling to survive -- UNICEF is there, with medicine, with vaccines, with clean water, with nutrition. Whatever vital help struggling children need, UNICEF will supply. Over the years, UNICEF has saved more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's mission through education, advocacy, and fundraising in the United States.

In August 2005 at the Circle K International Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, the international board of trustees passed a resolution supporting UNICEF. UNICEF is delighted to partner with Circle K. Circle K’s three tenets: service, leadership and fellowship can all be achieved by participating in UNICEF service projects. There are many ways to support UNICEF with service!