Service projects are often linked to the Kiwanis program, "Young Children: Priority One." This initiative places continuing focus on the needs of children in pediatric trauma, safety, child care, early development, infant health, nutrition, and parenting skills. Projects may also address other needs within the community, such as working to stop substance abuse, helping the elderly, promoting literacy, supporting youth sports and recreation, responding to disasters, and supporting specific persons in need.

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. In addition, Aktion Clubs are made up of adults with mental and physical disabilities who enthusiastically perform service to help others.The Pasadena Kiwanis Club sponsors Key Clubs in two local high schools and provides scholarships to area high school students who are members of these Key Clubs.

The Current Projects of the Pasadena Kiwanis Club include:

• Pasadena Salvation Army
• The Bridge Over Troubled Waters Shelter for battered women and families
• Scholarships for High School Students
• Priority One Project
• Pasaadena Ministries
• St. Luke's Children's Home
• H.O.S.T. program of the Pasadena Independent School District
• Officer Santa Program of the Pasadena Police Department

and numerous other programs as they are presented to the club. Each Christmas, the club gives gift certificates to area widows and families in need.

Worldwide, the entire Kiwanis family is committed to eliminating the devastating effects of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), the world's leading preventable cause of mental retardation. More than 1.5 billion people are at risk of suffering IDD because they do not receive enough iodine in their diet. But, because of Kiwanis' efforts, many parents who have been affected by IDD are able to watch their children grow up healthy and reach their full physical and mental potentioal. The results of the IDD program will benefit every future generation.

A typical Kiwanis club is a snapshot of its community, with members from all walks of life at every step of the career ladder. They are unified in their belief that children and their communities benefit from the efforts of a proficient group of caring and involved volunteers. In a typical year, Kiwanis clubs invest more than 6.2 million hours and US$100 million in communities around the world. Through these efforts, the Kiwanis organization truly leaves a lasting impression on future generations.

The major fund raising projects for the Pasadena Kiwanis Club are the Annual Apple Sale in October and the Annual Pasadena Kiwanis Mayor's Prayer Breakfast held in March or April of each year.