Kiwanis Club of East Peoria Announces Decision to Dissolve

EAST PEORIA, IL, September 22, 2025: After nearly five decades of dedicated service to the community, the Kiwanis Club of East Peoria will dissolve at the end of September and return its charter within the Kiwanis International structure. While the decision was not made lightly, extremely low membership and declining interest resulted in the club holding its last meeting September 18.

The club, established in 1977, has supported East Peoria and the central Illinois region through community service and fundraising. Beneficiaries of the club’s activities have included the following organizations, as well as countless others, that improve the lives of local youth:

• Camp Big Sky
• City of East Peoria
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Tazewell Co. Libraries
• East Peoria Community High School and Key Club
• Moms Who Care
• Eastlight Theatre
• Fondulac District Library
• Fondulac Park District/Helping Hands Foundation
• Habitat for Humanity
• M. Dale Revelle Scholarship at EPCHS
• Moms Who Care
• Tazewell-Mason Special Education Association
• Tazewell Woodford Head Start

In keeping with its mission of supporting the community, the Kiwanis Club of East Peoria have chosen to distribute remaining funds to the Central Illinois KIDZ for Cue Sports Kiwanis Club.

The Kiwanis Club of East Peoria would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to all members, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners who have helped over the years make its work meaningful and possible.

For more information, please contact Terry Cunefare at 309-966-7245.

About

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of East Peoria was chartered in 1977.

Kiwanis clubs, located in 80 nations, help their communities in countless ways. Each community’s needs are different—so each Kiwanis club is different. By working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone. When you give a child the chance to learn, experience, dream, grow, succeed and thrive, great things happen.

Kiwanis clubs are just one type of club in Kiwanis International, a global organization of members of every age dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.

Our Values

The six permanent Objects of Kiwanis International were approved by Kiwanis club delegates at the 1924 International Convention in Denver, Colorado. Through the decades, they have remained unchanged.

• 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.

History of Kiwanis International

Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. In the early years, members focused on business networking. In 1916, Kiwanis became an international organization with the creation of the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario. In 1919, the organization changed its focus to service. By 1962, worldwide expansion was approved. In 1987, women officially were allowed into the membership. More information about Kiwanis’ history can be found on the Kiwanis International website.