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Our club’s community service
Our club’s community service
If you want to make a difference in the lives of children, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Jonesboro is just the place for you. “Serving the Children of the World” is the motto of Kiwanis International, and our local civic and service organization strives to live up to that standard.
Kiwanians use their time, energy and resources to benefit the community, especially its children. Since 1955 we’ve given about $240,000 in scholarships to area high school graduates to attend Arkansas State University. In 2022 that meant three $2,500 grants year to entering freshmen.
The club annually makes contributions and-or participates in a wide range of community organizations and activities, including the Micro-Society Room Parents and Backpack programs, the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, United Way, CityYouth Ministries, the Jonesboro Church Health Center, Family Crisis Center, Goodfellows and the Food Bank.
To raise money for these and other causes, we’ve sponsored the Ralph “Pop” Stricklin Pancake Day for 82 years — the most well-known and popular event of its kind in Northeast Arkansas. Because of the pandemic the Pancake Day in 2021 was canceled, but instead the club sponsored an appreciation luncheon for City of Jonesboro employees.
Individual members of the club also volunteer, both individually and in groups, countless hours of service to various organizations and community efforts.
Weekly luncheon meetings are held on Wednesdays featuring a wide variety of programs. Recent programs have featured new District Highway Engineer Brad Smithee, State Rep. Dwight Tosh, ASU Athletic Director Jeff Purinton, ASU basketball coaches Bryan Hodgson and Destinee Rogers, Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott, Mayor Harold Copenhaver and artist Kevin Kresse, creator of the Johnny Cash sculpture in the U.S. Capitol. The club toured ASU athletic facilities. In election years we often sponsor mini-debates in the campaigns for major political offices.
Kiwanis sponsors organizations for high school students.
History of Kiwanis in Jonesboro
History of Kiwanis in Jonesboro
The Kiwanis Club of Jonesboro was organized during the Great Depression, and its charter was presented on Aug. 1, 1935.
Hotel Noble, which was on Jackson Street between Main and Union streets, was the original meeting location.
The club started Pancake Day as its first fund-raiser in 1940. In the early years all supplies were donated, and tickets were 50 cents apiece. Over the years Pancake Day has been held in various locations, including the Catholic Hall, the old Masonic Building, Wyatt’s Cafeteria in Indian Mall, the old Craighead County Fairgrounds, Forest Home Church of the Nazarene and now the First Presbyterian Church.
The club has chartered Key Clubs at Jonesboro High School in 1947, Nettleton in 1971 and Valley View in 1996.
In 1987 Kiwanis International admitted women members. The first woman to join the Jonesboro club was Becky Boxx (now Thompson) in 1989. The first woman to serve as president was Cindy Thyer in 2001-02.
Membership in this club
Membership in this club
We always welcome prospective members who would like to share in the club’s activities, efforts and mission. We invite you to attend a meeting to get a sample of Kiwanis. Contact any member to make arrangements.
Our club has a diverse membership, which includes bankers, attorneys, judges, journalists, educators, a health-care executive, insurance agents, an architect, a barber, college professors, retired doctors, businessmen and women and several retirees.
Monthly dues are $19.25, and meals are $10.50 per week. Members are billed monthly, and many employers of members consider Kiwanis Club to be a good business expense. Corporate memberships are available, allowing a company to sponsor a regular membership.
To obtain more information about membership, detach and fill out the form below, and a club representative will contact you with more information.
Kiwanis International
Kiwanis International
Founded in 1915 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Kiwanis International has about 450,000 family members in about 82 countries. They make their mark by responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address worldwide issues. Through these efforts Kiwanis truly is “Serving the Children of the World.”
Kiwanis plays a special role in developing future generations of leaders. K-Kids clubs at the elementary school level, Builders Clubs in middle school and junior highs, Key Clubs in high schools, and Circle K clubs at the collegiate level all are Kiwanis organizations that teach community service and leadership skills to young people. Aktion Clubs are made up of adults with mental and physical disabilities who enthusiastically perform service to help others.
To request further information, download this form.
Info request form 2.pdfPage updated
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