Kiwanis to celebrate 90th year by honoring area businesses

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Ironwood - The Ironwood Kiwanis Club will celebrate its 90th anniversary by hosting area businesses in 2016 at its noon luncheons at the downtown Golden Dragon restaurant.

Formed on Nov. 3, 1925, the Ironwood club wasn't too far behind the first Kiwanis Club in the nation, which was organized in Detroit in 1915.

Current club president Jim Mildren said the motto of the Kiwanis Club is "serving the children of the world."

Paul Anderson will serve as president-elect in 2016, meaning he'll take over the top post in 2017.

Jim Oliver serves as treasurer and Kelly Marczyk is secretary.

"In our 90th year, we'll honor small business owners one at a time," Mildren said Tuesday. "They can expect to hear from us regarding invitations throughout the year."

The club has 23 dues-paying members and is always open to more.

Through familiar events like annual peanut sales and pancake breakfast fund-raisers, the Kiwanians raise money for scholarships and to support various children's organizations, such as Santa's Headquarters.

Mildren said the club is especially proud of its "Newborn Project" that offers information on parenting.

The club budgets $12,000 annually for its charitable donations.

It is involved with the Bessemer Key Club, a school organization "...that does many of the same things that we do," Mildren said. "We have joint activities with them and they do some projects on their own," he said.

"Basically, we'll do anything to help out children," he said.