Minden, NV – The Kiwanis Club of Carson Valley has generously donated funds to help support the Community Services Foundation’s mission to make sure no kid is left behind. On September 26, during its monthly meeting, The Kiwanis Club presented the Douglas County Community Services Foundation with a $1,500 check for the Douglas County Community Services Foundation, Incredible Kids Fund. This donation will help provide additional vital bus rides for students from school to the Douglas County Community Center.
Recognizing that transportation could be a significant barrier even for kids with memberships, the Foundation collaborated closely with the School District and DART Transportation in 2016 to ensure accessible transportation for all youth members. This partnership enables students with membership cards to take the school buses at no charge from both the high school and Carson Valley Middle School, while DART provided rides specifically for Pa-Wa-Lu Middle School students. The donation from The Kiwanis will fund an impressive 1,500 bus rides for our local youth.
Bob Wellise, Past President of Kiwanis Club of Carson Valley said, “Kiwanis Club of Carson Valley is dedicated to improving the community one child at a time, by continuing to support various worthy, child-oriented organizations and activities. We are honored to be able to assist with bus rides for school children, after school, to the community Center, enabling them to social and exercise in a safe, structured environment.”
The Foundation provides a scholarship program for all Douglas County students, grades 6 through 12, allowing them to receive annual memberships to the Community Center at no cost. Since launching the program in 2016, The Foundation has granted more than 7,500 scholarships, ensuring that every child has access to the Center’s resources and activities.
Renea Louie, Chairman of the Foundation and of The Incredible Kids said, "This donation will significantly help connect more kids, with essential services, programs, sports and more, at our community center. We can’t thank the Kiwanis Club enough for all of their support not only to the Incredible Kids Program but to all the programs they support in our community."
About the Douglas County Community and Senior Center and Foundation
The valley center—which opened on December 6, 2014—is located at the heart of Gardnerville, Nevada and serves not just as a community center but as a vital hub for the community. With offerings for seniors, adults and youth all are welcomed and can find numerous activities and offerings at the center. Each week, thousands of residents benefit from the diverse offerings available at the center.
The Douglas County Community Services Foundation was formed in 2011 to support the community centers and senior centers in Douglas County, both Lake and Valley. The main emphasis is to support the construction and ongoing capital and equipment needs of the of the Carson Valley Community and Senior Center and Kahle Community Center. The Foundation is a non-profit 501(C)(3) corporation intended to make improvements to the community and senior center as easy and efficiently as possible with the maximum amount of accountability. The Foundation acts as a liaison between the government of Douglas County and private donors in order to maximize and meet the private donor's needs.