[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 20, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E957-E958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  BRADENTON KIWANIS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VERN BUCHANAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 2022

  Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Bradenton 
Kiwanis Club for 100 years of service to children and the community as 
a whole.
  Originally chartered as the Manatee River Kiwanis Club on August 22, 
1922, by Kiwanis International, the club later changed its name to the 
Bradenton Kiwanis Club. For the past century, the club's members have 
been community leaders working together to make a

[[Page E958]]

positive difference by identifying and meeting the needs of local youth 
and Manatee County.
  In the early years, the club established a Christmas Charity Fund for 
underprivileged children and began supporting Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 
and other programs for children.
  The Club also brought the Manatee County and DeSoto County 
Commissions together to build a paved, 50-mile road between Bradenton 
and Arcadia.
  During the Great Depression, the Club established, funded, and 
operated a Health Camp for underprivileged children.
  During the height of the depression, to promote tourism and improve 
the local economy, the Club worked with the City of Bradenton to 
establish, fund, and operate the Bradenton Trailer Park, which was one 
of the largest trailer parks in the world until it was sold in 1997.
  In 1947, the Club established and funded the Boys Club of Manatee 
County and continues to support it.
  In 1990, the Bradenton Kiwanis Foundation was established, and when 
it received the net proceeds from the sale of the trailer park, it 
continued to use the interest income to donate to local nonprofit 
organizations who provide for children and the disadvantaged. The 
foundation has contributed nearly $7 million to improve the lives of 
Bradenton's young people, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of 
Manatee, K-Kids, Builders Clubs, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the 
YMCA, Kids Against Hunger, Salvation Army, Headstart, Meals on Wheels, 
the Salvation Army and others.
  The Club has further demonstrated its commitment to children and the 
community by building parks, partnering with Habitat for Humanity to 
build houses, supporting the Bishop Museum, partnering with the Manatee 
County Chamber of Commerce to establish a leadership program, launching 
the College & Career Resource Center at Manatee Memorial High School, 
participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters' student mentoring program 
and funding numerous scholarship programs.
  The club has also contributed to capital campaigns to support the 
construction of a new Bradenton Civic Center, a Girl Scout House, the 
Anna Maria Island Community center, Manatee Performing Arts Center and 
to purchase land for the Boys Club, United Way, and YMCA.
  On behalf of the people of Florida's 16th District, I congratulate 
the Bradenton Kiwanis Club on their 100th anniversary and applaud its 
members for the positive impact they have had on the community.

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