About

Kiwanis is a global organization of local clubs whose volunteers and members are dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time. READ MORE>>

Our local Kiwanis Club of River Forest and Oak Park is a self-governed, nonprofit organization that welcomes members of the community like you to join. READ MORE>>

Our club also connects with other clubs nearby and across our district, Illinois-Eastern Iowa District, for innovative ideas. READ MORE>>

Our Values...

The Kiwanis Club of River Forest and Oak Park, Illinois conducts itself in accordance with the values articulated in the "six permanent Objects of Kiwanis International".

    • To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.

    • To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.

    • To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business and professional standards.

    • To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship.

    • To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service and to build better communities.

    • To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.

Our Mission...

Service is at the heart of our club. We primarily seek to serve and strengthen our community through service projects and financial support targeted to promoting service, achievement and leadership skills in all children and youth, including people with special needs and to otherwise serve seniors and other adults who are in need of community support.

Our Impact...

By what we do, we primarily seek to develop an engaged, self-confident, and independent youth-–regardless of abilities, incomes, and backgrounds--who will serve in their own right as contributors and future leaders in our community.

Where we serve...

As a local Kiwanis club, we focus our service projects and financial support primarily in our own community of River forest and Oak Park as well as the larger community including regional, national and international efforts of relevance to youth, our community and the mission of Kiwanis.

How we serve...

We engage our club members, volunteers and youth in direct service projects as well as fundraising efforts needed to provide financial support to individuals, youth support organizations and other organizations consistent with our club’s mission and the objects of Kiwanis.

How we finance our mission...

We raise funds from the public through annual events including Kiwanis Peanut Day and other special events and concessions throughout the year. We also seek to establish a signature fund raising event unique to our club consistent with the primary mission of club. Funds raised from the public are segregated from club dues. Our club members pay annual membership dues which cover the administrative costs of the club. All funds raised from public are used exclusively to fund the service mission of the club.

Strategic Giving Focus

We try to balance our giving and service projects as follows: Eighty percent toward helping children and youth, including those with special needs; twenty percent toward helping others, including adults, seniors and those with special needs