Kiwanis International helps kids around the world. For more than a century, Kiwanis has created opportunities for children to be curious, safe, and healthy regardless of the community in which they live. Local clubs, such as ours, serve their communities, and Kiwanis International takes on large-scale challenges, such as fighting disease and poverty.
Kiwanis empowers communities to improve the world by making lasting differences in the lives of children. Kiwanis strives to be a positive influence in communities worldwide — so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them, and provide the support they need to thrive.
Kiwanians are an eclectic mix of ages, genders, occupations, backgrounds, and interests. We are all passionate about making our communities and the world a better place for children so they can thrive. We are devoted to serving children through unique and innovative service projects and fundraising initiatives.
Kiwanis Service
Service is at the heart of every Kiwanis club, no matter where in the world it’s located. Members stage approximately 150,000 service projects and raise nearly $100 million every year for communities, families, and projects. By working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone.
To reach more people and have a greater service impact on their communities, many clubs create a Kiwanis Family Club:
K-Kids for Primary School Children
Builders Clubs for Adolescents
Key Clubs for Teens
Circle K Clubs for University Students
Aktion Clubs for Adults Living with Disabilities
Meet Our Leadership Team
President: Joe Ahr
Joe Ahr has been an active member of the Kiwanis Club since 1994. He was introduced to the Kiwanis Family in 1988 when he joined the Circle K Club at Mary Washington College. He graduated from Mary Washington College in 1990 with a BA in International Affairs. Joe has served as Past President, Past Secretary, and Past Treasurer. He is currently the club’s Community Services Chair and Key Club advisor to Fairfax HS. he is married to Kristi and has a son Max. Joe is also active with his son’s Boy Scout Troop 997 in Ashburn VA as Charter Organization Representative. He loves all outdoor activities especially camping and trail clean ups.
Immediate Past President and Co-Chair of Membership: Jennifer Koon
Jennifer graduated from the University of Chicago in 1990 with a BA in PERL (politics, economics, rhetoric, and law) and from Boston University School of Law in 2001. She holds an active New Hampshire law license and used to practice labor and employment law. Currently, Jennifer is a Labor Management Specialist at Defense Health Agency, which has a unionized workforce of over forty thousand employees. Jennifer has also written three spec screenplays, placing in 15 screenwriting competitions.
Secretary: Dr. Monika Mayfield
Dr. Monika Mayfield is a Human Capital Specialist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where she focuses her time crafting the Awards, Performance Management, and Training and Development arenas. Prior to joining NASA, Monika was a Senior Development Manager at a nonprofit where she led a team of associates who worked to provide impoverished children in Egypt access to educational opportunities. Monika is a native Arabic speaker who is also fluent in Spanish. She was born in Cairo, Egypt and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She is a proud graduate of The Ohio State University with a double major in Anthropology and Psychology and a double minor in Neuroscience and Integrative Medicine. Monika also earned her Master of Arts in Anthropology from The University of Alabama after conducting six weeks of ethnographic research in Palestine on the traditional health seeking practices of Bedouin women. Lastly, Monika also recently earned her Doctor of Education from Baylor University with a focus on Learning and Organizational Change. Her proudest academic accomplishment is receiving one of four annual National Geographic Society Early Career Grants for Research. In her free time, Monika enjoys reading, trying different cuisine, doing outdoor activities, and traveling the world.
Treasurer: Brad Mayfield
Brad moved to Northern Virginia with his wife Monika in 2018. He has been volunteering with Kiwanis since 2019, and he became an official member in 2022. He attended the University of Alabama where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce & Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Operations Management. Brad currently works in logistics for a government contractor. Brad’s favorite activities include cooking, traveling, playing volleyball and kickball, and watching sports. Roll Tide!
Chair of Meals 4 Young Minds: Carolyn Richar
Carolyn Richar has been a member of the Kiwanis Family since joining Circle K International as a freshman at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. The wonderful support of Kiwanians throughout her 5 years in CKI made joining Kiwanis a priority in her life. She was proud to join Fairfax Kiwanis in 1989 serving as a club president four times, lieutenant governor, in various district committee chairs and as governor of the Capital District. Carolyn’s favorite in Kiwanis is the Meals 4 Young Minds program – helping ensure young children have meals throughout the weekends to help ensure a well-nourished mind eager to learn at school! Outside of Kiwanis, Carolyn works full-time for Capital Caring Health using her background as an RN and a minister to focus on clinical standards and quality development.
Service Leadership Programs Chair: Neal Anderson
Neal Anderson joined the Kiwanis Club of Fairfax in 2021 and leads the Club’s Service Leadership Programs (SLP). He was a high school Key Club President and Division Lt. Governor. Neal graduated from the United States Military Academy and earned his MA in National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School. He was an Armor/Cavalry officer and a China Foreign Affairs Officer, with 28 years of service throughout the U.S. and around the world, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Germany, Bosnia, and Iraq. Neal retired again in 2021 after 16 years as NORAD and U.S. Northern Commands’ Senior Advisor to the Department of Homeland Security. He attends Centreville Presbyterian Church and volunteers in several activities in support of his church, community, and alma mater. Neal and his wife, Debbie, live in Fairfax, have three adult daughters, and 12 grandchildren.
About Our Kiwanis Club
The Kiwanis Mission & Vision
Kiwanis International helps kids around the world. For more than a century, Kiwanis has created opportunities for children to be curious, safe, and healthy regardless of the community in which they live. Local clubs, such as ours, serve their communities, and Kiwanis International takes on large-scale challenges, such as fighting disease and poverty.
Kiwanis empowers communities to improve the world by making lasting differences in the lives of children. Kiwanis strives to be a positive influence in communities worldwide — so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them, and provide the support they need to thrive.
Kiwanians are an eclectic mix of ages, genders, occupations, backgrounds, and interests. We are all passionate about making our communities and the world a better place for children so they can thrive. We are devoted to serving children through unique and innovative service projects and fundraising initiatives.
Kiwanis Service
Service is at the heart of every Kiwanis club, no matter where in the world it’s located. Members stage approximately 150,000 service projects and raise nearly $100 million every year for communities, families, and projects. By working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone.
To reach more people and have a greater service impact on their communities, many clubs create a Kiwanis Family Club:
Meet Our Leadership Team
President: Joe Ahr
Joe Ahr has been an active member of the Kiwanis Club since 1994. He was introduced to the Kiwanis Family in 1988 when he joined the Circle K Club at Mary Washington College. He graduated from Mary Washington College in 1990 with a BA in International Affairs. Joe has served as Past President, Past Secretary, and Past Treasurer. He is currently the club’s Community Services Chair and Key Club advisor to Fairfax HS. he is married to Kristi and has a son Max. Joe is also active with his son’s Boy Scout Troop 997 in Ashburn VA as Charter Organization Representative. He loves all outdoor activities especially camping and trail clean ups.
Immediate Past President and Co-Chair of Membership: Jennifer Koon
Jennifer graduated from the University of Chicago in 1990 with a BA in PERL (politics, economics, rhetoric, and law) and from Boston University School of Law in 2001. She holds an active New Hampshire law license and used to practice labor and employment law. Currently, Jennifer is a Labor Management Specialist at Defense Health Agency, which has a unionized workforce of over forty thousand employees. Jennifer has also written three spec screenplays, placing in 15 screenwriting competitions.
Secretary: Dr. Monika Mayfield
Dr. Monika Mayfield is a Human Capital Specialist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where she focuses her time crafting the Awards, Performance Management, and Training and Development arenas. Prior to joining NASA, Monika was a Senior Development Manager at a nonprofit where she led a team of associates who worked to provide impoverished children in Egypt access to educational opportunities. Monika is a native Arabic speaker who is also fluent in Spanish. She was born in Cairo, Egypt and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She is a proud graduate of The Ohio State University with a double major in Anthropology and Psychology and a double minor in Neuroscience and Integrative Medicine. Monika also earned her Master of Arts in Anthropology from The University of Alabama after conducting six weeks of ethnographic research in Palestine on the traditional health seeking practices of Bedouin women. Lastly, Monika also recently earned her Doctor of Education from Baylor University with a focus on Learning and Organizational Change. Her proudest academic accomplishment is receiving one of four annual National Geographic Society Early Career Grants for Research. In her free time, Monika enjoys reading, trying different cuisine, doing outdoor activities, and traveling the world.
Treasurer: Brad Mayfield
Brad moved to Northern Virginia with his wife Monika in 2018. He has been volunteering with
Kiwanis since 2019, and he became an official member in 2022. He attended the University of
Alabama where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce & Business Administration and
a Master’s Degree in Operations Management. Brad currently works in logistics for a
government contractor. Brad’s favorite activities include cooking, traveling, playing volleyball
and kickball, and watching sports. Roll Tide!
Chair of Meals 4 Young Minds: Carolyn Richar
Carolyn Richar has been a member of the Kiwanis Family since joining Circle K International as a freshman at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. The wonderful support of Kiwanians throughout her 5 years in CKI made joining Kiwanis a priority in her life. She was proud to join Fairfax Kiwanis in 1989 serving as a club president four times, lieutenant governor, in various district committee chairs and as governor of the Capital District. Carolyn’s favorite in Kiwanis is the Meals 4 Young Minds program – helping ensure young children have meals throughout the weekends to help ensure a well-nourished mind eager to learn at school! Outside of Kiwanis, Carolyn works full-time for Capital Caring Health using her background as an RN and a minister to focus on clinical standards and quality development.
Service Leadership Programs Chair: Neal Anderson
Neal Anderson joined the Kiwanis Club of Fairfax in 2021 and leads the Club’s Service Leadership Programs (SLP). He was a high school Key Club President and Division Lt. Governor. Neal graduated from the United States Military Academy and earned his MA in National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School. He was an Armor/Cavalry officer and a China Foreign Affairs Officer, with 28 years of service throughout the U.S. and around the world, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Germany, Bosnia, and Iraq. Neal retired again in 2021 after 16 years as NORAD and U.S. Northern Commands’ Senior Advisor to the Department of Homeland Security. He attends Centreville Presbyterian Church and volunteers in several activities in support of his church, community, and alma mater. Neal and his wife, Debbie, live in Fairfax, have three adult daughters, and 12 grandchildren.
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