Latest news with #KiwanisPancakeDay
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kiwanis set new record with Pancake Day fundraiser
May 9—The Decatur Kiwanis Club broke the record for money raised with its Pancake Day fundraising event for the second year in a row. It raised a total of $150,421 at this year's fundraising event on Feb. 22. This surpasses the record set last year by more than $15,000. "It is truly, truly remarkable the effort that these men and women put forth to try to raise as much money as possible to help the organizations that are represented here today," said Kiwanis Pancake Day Chairman Mark Waters upon announcing the total amount raised at a meeting honoring the funding recipients on Thursday. "It's just a passion project for this club ... so we're very, very thankful." The total amount distributed Thursday was $113,560, after removing costs of hosting Pancake Day and other special project funding used throughout the year. Forty-four area organizations received checks. The majority of the recipients were represented. A line snaked along the two walls of the ballroom of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Decatur Riverfront, where the luncheon was held, as recipients were called up. Each year, the Kiwanians choose a signature project, which they distribute a higher amount to and rally fundraising efforts behind. The club plans to give $34,500 to the city of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department for the purchase of new benches. The club chose the project to honor former Decatur mayor and active Kiwanis member Lynn Fowler, whose goal was to install new benches throughout the city. Fowler died in May 2023. "He was a force of nature for raising money for kids," Waters said. "... Even when he was in the hospital, he was on the phone talking to people about raising money." The City Council needs to vote on whether the department can accept the funding, but Aaron Lang, operations for Decatur Parks and Rec, said that should not persent a problem. Each bench costs about $3,000, so the department should be able to purchase 12 benches. Each bench will be made of wrought iron, painted black and have a bronze plaque honoring a Kiwanis sponsor. "Everyone is very excited to continue the standard that Lynn Fowler set out for us," Lang said, noting that Fowler started the project of installing new benches years ago. Lang said the goal would be to convert all benches in the city to the same style, and Founders Park and Rhodes Ferry Park will likely have highest priority for receiving new benches. Kiwanis President Darrell Wates said that the club serves as the organizer for the Pancake Day events, but many people come together to make it possible. "Last year, we set a record, and this year, we blew it out of the water," Wates said. "... So many people pour out, and the community pours out. We kind of are the method for it to run through, but it's a community thing." Around 4,000 people attended Pancake Day this year, the 59th year the event has been held. The club began selling T-shirts last year in addition to the Pancake Day meal tickets. Wates said the money from the T-shirt sponsorships, profits from their sale, and the ability to spread the word for the event through the shirts helped contribute to a more successful fundraiser. Next week, Kiwanis will award $6,000 in scholarships to local students, also using the funds from Pancake Day. — or 256-340-2437
Chicago Tribune
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Earth Day celebration planned at Peck Farm Park in Geneva
Geneva's Natural Resources Committee and the Geneva Park District are sponsoring an Earth Day event Saturday, April 19, at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road in Geneva. The festivities will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., organizers said in a press release. At the event, participants can recycle shoes, clothes, small electronics and holiday lights for free. Televisions and computer monitors can be recycled at the event for $25 for 21-inch TVs or smaller or $35 for TVs 22 inches or greater, organizers said. Paper shredding will be offered for free at the Earth Day event, according to the release. Other activities planned include chalk art, tomato plant giveaways, food vendors, a self-guided prairie tour and more. Vendors will also be on hand promoting sustainability, organizers said. Flat Can Recycling will recycle household items for a fee, including latex paint cans, household batteries, aerosol products, smoke detectors and car seats, the release said. The Earth Day event is free and open to all ages. For more information, call the Geneva Park District at 630-232-4542 or go to For more about the Natural Resources Committee, go to the city of Geneva's website at On Saturday, April 12, Aurora area residents are invited to the all-you-can-eat Kiwanis Pancake Day breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at Aurora Central Catholic High School, 1255 N. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora. The Kiwanis Club of Aurora presents the annual breakfast event to help fund its work with children and the community, club officials said. 'I'm so happy for the continued community support of this outstanding event since 1951,' Kiwanis Club of Aurora President Daniel Ahern said in a press release about the breakfast. Tickets may be purchased from Aurora Kiwanis members for $10 or online at Children under 3 years old eat for free at the event, according to club officials. The Aurora Navy League Council 247 will hold a dinner meeting on Tuesday, April 15, in the private room on the north side of the Riverview Diner, Route 25 and Mill Street in Montgomery. A reception will begin at 5 p.m. followed by a meeting at 5:30 p.m., with dinner afterward, Navy League officials said. The cost is $25 if an entree is ordered, or $20 for the dinner salad featured that evening. There is free entry to the meeting for those not eating at the event. The meeting will conclude before 7:30 p.m., officials said. The after dinner speaker will be Allison Riordan, training manager for CASA Kendall County, who will speak on the challenges and help provided by CASA to abused and neglected children in Kendall County. Those in need can pick up a box of canned goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen meat, bread, milk, eggs and more at the Plano Food Pantry from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 11, pantry officials said. The pantry is at First Lutheran Church, 200 N. Center St. in Plano. Those attending should bring their food pantry card. Those who don't have one should bring identification and one will be issued in a couple of minutes, according to pantry officials. Tickets are now on sale for the adult production of the comedy 'Laugh' running April 17, 18 and 20 at Playhouse 38, Geneva Park District's community theatre at 321 Stevens St., Suite P, in downtown Geneva. Performances are set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, and Friday, April 18, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the shows, according to a press release from the theater. Concessions will be available for purchase, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, popcorn and candy. 'Laugh' is recommended for audience members ages 16 and up, according to the release. Tickets can be purchased in advance at or in person at Sunset Community Center or Stephen Persinger Recreation Center in Geneva. Information about group sales discounts is available by calling the park district at 630-232-4542. Oswego's Little White School Museum is inviting area residents to participate in creating a new traditional community cookbook. During April, those interested can email recipes for possible inclusion in the cookbook to jnoce@ or drop the recipes off at the museum, 72 Polk St., Oswego, during its regular hours – 2 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 4 to 9 p.m. Mondays. Those providing recipes should include a description of what the recipe means to them, their family or the community. At the end of the month, the museum will post the cookbook to its website to download for free and host an event to showcase some of the recipes, officials said. For more information, call 630-554-2999, email jnoce@ or go to the museum's website at The St. Charles Public Library will celebrate Global Astronomy Month at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, with a program called 'The Birth, Life and Spectacular Death of a Star' at the library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles. Ed Sehr will explain how massive clouds of gas transform into blazing stars, describe the sun's remarkable features, and describe the grand finale as massive stars end their lives in spectacular supernova explosions, library officials said. To register for the free program, go to or call 630-584-0076. DuPage County homeowners interested in going solar can register for information about the county's Switch Together program by June 25. Previously called Solar Switch, the program is offered by the county, Midwest Renewable Energy Association and the Citizens Utility Board, a county news release said. The program makes it more affordable to transition to solar by grouping projects together, officials said. There's also an option to add on features such as battery storage and electric vehicle chargers. Switch Together offers free educational webinars and in-person information sessions to help guide residents through the process of switching to solar, county officials said. They also ensure that installation is through a trusted installer. Register for the free program at
