Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven Attends Divisional Council Meeting in Sebring

On May 20th, members of the Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven had the pleasure of attending the Divisional Council Meeting hosted by our fellow Kiwanians from the Sebring Kiwanis Club. The gathering was not only a productive exchange of ideas and updates but also a wonderful opportunity to connect with clubs from across our division.

One of the highlights of the meeting was learning about Sebring’s recent involvement with HGTV, which featured the community as part of an exciting revitalization project. The energy and pride from our Sebring hosts were contagious, and it was inspiring to hear how Kiwanis is playing a role in the city’s continued growth and development.

Following the meeting, we were treated to a guided tour of the beautifully renovated City Circle, led by none other than Mayor John Shoop. From restored landmarks to vibrant new public spaces, the transformation of downtown Sebring is a testament to the power of civic vision and community collaboration.

We thank the Sebring Kiwanis Club for their warm hospitality and for organizing such an informative and enjoyable event. It’s always energizing to see the great work our fellow clubs are doing, and we left feeling more connected and inspired than ever.

Laughter, Fellowship, and Fun: Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven May Social at Side Splitters

On the lively evening of May 24th, members of the Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven came together for a night of laughter and camaraderie at Side Splitters Comedy Club! 🎤😂

Our May social was a fantastic opportunity to step away from our usual routines and enjoy some well-deserved fun with fellow Kiwanians, their spouses and friends. From hilarious stand-up acts to shared stories and plenty of smiles, the night was a reminder of the importance of fellowship in the work we do.

Side Splitters provided the perfect atmosphere — great comedy, good food, and lots of laughs. Events like this help strengthen the bonds within our club, making us even more effective in our shared mission of serving the community.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening so enjoyable. We’re already looking forward to our next social event — stay tuned!

Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven – Lunch Meeting Recap | Tuesday, June 10, 2025

This past Tuesday, June 10th, the Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven gathered for another engaging and productive weekly lunch meeting, filled with fellowship, community updates, and inspiring moments.

Members enjoyed great food and conversation as we heard from Jeanne Burton, Program Director, from Independent Pathways Inc. and discussed upcoming service projects and events. A special highlight of the meeting included recognizing the Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven Foundation’s recent collaboration with the Polk Education Foundation to award three scholarships to graduating seniors at Winter Haven High School — a proud reminder of the impact we’re making right here at home.

As always, we’re grateful for the ongoing dedication of our members and partners who help make our mission a reality: serving the children of the world, one community at a time. We show this through many means, one being our diapers and wipes collection for Heartland for Children.

Join us at our interest meeting on June 12th if you would like to learn about Kiwanis!

Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven Foundation Awards Scholarships to Winter Haven High School Students

The Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven Foundation, in collaboration with the Polk Education Foundation, is proud to announce the awarding of three scholarships to graduating seniors from Winter Haven High School.

These scholarships are part of our ongoing commitment to support local youth and invest in the future of our community through education. Each year, the Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven Foundation partners with the Polk Education Foundation to identify deserving students who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, and a dedication to service.

“Investing in our students is one of the most impactful ways we can give back to our community,” said the President of the Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven Foundation, Gonzalo Gutierrez. “We are proud to stand behind these exceptional students as they take the next step in their educational journeys.”

The Foundation extends its heartfelt congratulations to the scholarship recipients and their families. We look forward to seeing the great things they will accomplish in the years ahead.

This initiative reflects the Kiwanis mission of serving the children of the world — beginning right here in Winter Haven.

Immediate Past President Robert attended the Florida Kiwanis Southwest Mid-Year Conference on March 1st. During the conference, he participated in valuable workshops, heard from Florida Kiwanis Governor Jeremy, and strengthened his commitment to serving the community. The event provided an excellent opportunity for networking, collaboration, and learning from fellow Kiwanians across the region. Our club was also awarded Distinguished Silver Status for the 2023-2024 Kiwanis Year.

Our club attended the Divisional Council Meeting on February 27th, featuring a special guest appearance by Sheriff Grady Judd. During the meeting, the Florida Kiwanis Foundation made a heartfelt presentation in honor of Joe Schroeder, a Winter Haven Kiwanian who passed away last year. President Gonzalo was presented with a Ruby K Award for his outstanding efforts in recruiting new Kiwanians, and our club was also recognized for chartering a K-Kids club.

Our club participated in the 2025 Community Fest held on March 1st in downtown Winter Haven. This annual event, organized by the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, offers a day of free family fun, including games, entertainment, food, and more. For the fourth consecutive year, the our club provided community children with engaging games and educational books, enhancing the festival’s offerings.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our 64th annual Pancake Bash this past Saturday! We had an amazing turnout and raised over $5,000 to support the Winter Haven community.

A special thanks to the Junior League of Greater Winter Haven and The Humane Society of Polk County, Inc. for providing delicious pancake toppings. Huge shoutout to Juli Jackson for her incredible live music performance – she was a real crowd favorite!

We also want to express our gratitude to our “Polk Celebrity Guests” (State Attorney’s Office, 10th Judicial Circuit Brian Haas, Polk State College Vice President Steve Warner, United Way of Central Florida Director of Success by 6 Gretchan Ceranic, City of Winter Haven, FL Mayor Pro Tem Brian Yates and Commissioner Tracy Mercer) for showing their support, and of course, to the volunteers from Key Club of Winter Haven High School, Chain of Lakes Key Club, and Jewett Academy Builders Club, as well as our members who attended.

Lastly, to all the sponsors (Tekke Painting, Quality Uniform Solutions, Forgotten Finery, Melanie’s Cutting Edge, Mike Dean Pools Inc., PrivaNet, Taqueria Don Gonzalo, Move My Junk, LLC, Straughn & Turner, P.A., RK Roofing & Sheetmetal, LLC, Ovidio Sardinas-Nexa Mortgage, Matt Hazlett Realtor, Thompson Speed Printing, Economy Glass Tinting, Golden Petal Designs, Citizens Bank & Trust, LEGOLAND Florida, Bok Tower Gardens, American Liberty Mortgage – Polk County -Winter Haven, FL) and vendors (1st Class Roofing, Inc., The Tessier Law Firm, P.A., Relay for Life: Polk County, FL, and AR Workshop Winter Haven.) that contributed to this event. Your contributions made this event a huge success!

#KidsNeedKiwanis#pancakebash

Our club has been ringing bells for the Salvation Army annually for quite some many years. This was a project headed by one of our members, Bob Conley, who unfortunately passed away. In his honor, we rang our bells for him.

On the 3rd Saturday of every month, members along with our SLPs help keep our park clean. This month we had three Key Club members from Winter Haven High School join us.