[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 182 (Friday, November 3, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                 HONORING THE KIWANIS CLUB OF SANTA ANA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J. LUIS CORREA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 3, 2023

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate a 
remarkable milestone: the 100th Anniversary Celebration of The Kiwanis 
Club in Santa Ana.
  On October 20, 1920, a group of 77 leading citizens of Santa Ana 
organized the Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana as the seventh Kiwanis Club in 
California. The Club Charter was issued on February 23, 1921.
  In the 1920's and 1930's, the Club focused on supporting various 
youth and community organizations, including the YMCA and Boy Scouts of 
America. Members of the Club worked on the coordinating committees for 
the development of the current Santa Ana College Campus and the YMCA 
building on Sycamore Street, as well as helped to build the Masonic 
temple on that same road.
  In 1954, a focus on scholarships led to the Club's first award to a 
Santa Ana High School student for $500. Due to the generosity of 
members, friends, and bequests, the Foundation scholarship fund has 
grown to over $1 million. Scholarships today are awarded to continuing 
and transferring Santa Ana College students. To date, the Club has 
awarded over $3.6 million in scholarships.
  Notably, Kiwanis International eliminated gender as a qualification 
of membership in 1987. The Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana welcomed its first 
female member shortly thereafter. Santa Ana Kiwanians Doy Henley and 
Cliff Benson took a stand and advocated for the inclusion of women at 
the International Convention in 1979.
  Since 2000, the club has focused on education and support for low-
income families and those with special needs. The Club has evolved with 
the needs of the community and has developed into a group of concerned, 
motivated men and women from diverse ethnic and vocational backgrounds.
  While many similar organizations within the Kiwanis Community and 
other similar organizations have disbanded, the Kiwanis Club of Santa 
Ana is still doing significant work in our community. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in celebrating this wonderful milestone of a 
century of community service.

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