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In 1936, the Kiwanis Club of Pullman, Washington, established "Circle K House" at Washington State College, which was rented to young men who needed assistance to attend college. For ten years the "Circle K House" became affiliated with a Greek letter organization, although it continued to be sponsored by the Pullman Kiwanis Club.
Eleven years later in 1947, Circle K transitioned from a fraternity to a service-oriented organization. That year, during September, the first Circle K club similar to our present day organization, was charted at Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois.
In 1949, two more clubs were organized, including one in Canada, making Circle K International. There were 147 Circle K clubs in 1955, when Circle K was officially recognized as a sponsored organization of Kiwanis International.
- 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.
- LEADERSHIP
Through the mission and vision of the organization, Circle K International is dedicated to the realization of mankind’s potential. The potential of Circle K International lies in its ability to positively influence members of society who are facing ultimate personal decisions and those who will one day create the vision of mankind for generations to come. Leadership opportunities afford Circle K members the resources and tools needed to become active citizens. Circle K’ers can assume leadership responsibilities at all levels of the organization and through various experiential training conferences.
- Fellowship
If there is one thing that Circle K’ers know best, it is fellowship. Whether they are planning a car wash, visiting shut-ins, reading to three-year-olds or conducting business, Circle K members across the globe take time to meet and welcome new people. With each element and aspect of Circle K International, members experience fellowship and develop life-long relationships with fellow collegians, advisors, Kiwanians and citizens in their communities. Whether a Circle K’er is mentoring a child, networking with a businessman, or bowling with members, that Circle K’er is developing social skills, meeting new people and strengthening relationships.
International is a service organization whose members are dedicated to improving their schools and communities. virtually any unanswered need is a potential opportunity for Circle K commitment and dedication.
The Circle K International Service Initiative, Focusing on the Future: Children, was designed to involve all Circle K members in projects that address the problems and issues that face children world wide, ages 6-13. Through personal interaction and public awareness, Circle K members are enabling children to develop the skills and ideals necessary to be successful.
In addition, the program enables Circle K International to collaborate with its Kiwanis-family counterparts in the largest fund-raising campaign in the history of Kiwanis International--the Kiwanis Worldwide Service Project. The Kiwanis Worldwide Service Project joins the Kiwanis family of serve organizations with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in a program to virtually eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) throughout the world. Circle K clubs have raised more that $523,000, which will protect about 2.5 million children from IDD, their leading preventable cause of mental retardation.
While the Kiwanis-family has reach its goal of US $75 million in cash and pledges, more than 41 million infants worldwide are born each year unprotected from teh effects of IDD. Kiwanis is committed to the cause and will raise an additional US $3 million to virtually rid the world of IDD by the year 2005.
In 1936, the Kiwanis Club of Pullman, Washington, established "Circle K House" at Washington State College, which was rented to young men who needed assistance to attend college. For ten years the "Circle K House" became affiliated with a Greek letter organization, although it continued to be sponsored by the Pullman Kiwanis Club.
Eleven years later in 1947, Circle K transitioned from a fraternity to a service-oriented organization. That year, during September, the first Circle K club similar to our present day organization, was charted at Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois.
In 1949, two more clubs were organized, including one in Canada, making Circle K International. There were 147 Circle K clubs in 1955, when Circle K was officially recognized as a sponsored organization of Kiwanis International.
I pledge to uphold the objects of Circle K International, to foster compassion and goodwill towards others through service and leadership, to develop my abilities and the abilities of all people, and to dedicate myself to the realization of mankind's potential.