District Projects

Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute (KPTI):
KPTI was formed in 1981 as a partnership between the New England Kiwanis Family and the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center.  KPTI is the first pediatric trauma center in the world to provide medical care for injured children, medical research of pediatric trauma, and injury prevention programs for children and families.

The Pittsburg Key Club has raised money to be donated to KPTI and participates at the local Bicycle Rodeo safety event each year. We have also provide Key Clubby Bears to local emergency services so that they may give them to children who are sick or injured.

Learn more about KPTI here.

Camp Sunshine:
Camp Sunshine supports children with life threatening illnesses and their families.  Families with a child diagnosed with diseases such as cancer, kidney disease, lupus, solid organ transplants, and other life threatening illness attend one of the week-long camps.  The focus is on alleviating the strain that a life threatening illness takes not only on the sick child but also on other family members.  Families have an opportunity to rebuild their relationships together and meet other families facing similar challenges.  Camp is free of charge to families and staffed by volunteers. You can learn more about the programs at Camp Sunshine here.

Children of Peace International (COPI):
COPI is a humanitarian organization dedicated to helping the people of Vietnam develop the ability to help themselves.  Through two annual medical missions and the financial and material support of orphangaes, hospitals, and clinics, COPI offers hope and help to those in need.  The children of Vietnam are those most in need of help in a developing country still mired by poverty.  COPI provides care for orphans, education, healthcare, and social assitance.  The New England District of Key Clubs built a school with COPI in Vietnam that provides vital education and services to a rural community that otherwise has nothing.  More recently, we have provided funding to support the school and fund the construction of an addition to the building.

COPI founder Binh Rybacki left Vietnam with her family at the age of 18, just before Siagon fell to the communist troops. In 1993 she returned to Vietnam for the first time and because of the conditions she found there her and her husband began COPI to help improve the lives of children there. Binh has attended several New England District events to keep us updated on the work of COPI.

Learn more about COPI here.

ELIMINATE project:
The Kiwanis global campaign for children, The Eliminate Project: Kiwanis eliminating maternal/neonatal tetanus aims to eliminate MNT from the face of the Earth. In partnership with UNICEF, the Kiwanis Family is eliminating a disease that kills one baby every nine minutes. The Kiwanis Family and UNICEF are targeting the poorest, most underserved women and children in the world, paving the way for other interventions that will boost maternal health and child survival. Hand-in-hand, the Kiwanis Family and UNICEF are changing the world.
Every year Pittsburg Key Club organizes the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF event for the Pittsburg area. For the last several years funds from this have benefited ELIMINATE. Additional we have hosted several dances with all proceeds going towards this cause. Learn more about ELIMINATE from the Kiwanis family website here.