What We Do

Meals for Young Minds

In 2010, the Kiwanis Club of Fairfax instituted its signature program – Meals for Young Minds. Since then, the club has provided hundreds of thousands of weekend meals to needy elementary-aged children. Presently, we partner with a local early childhood education center to provide weekend meals to children with food insecurities.

Key Club College Scholarships

Through the Jerry Rich Memorial Scholarship and with help from the Friends of the City of Fairfax Regional Library, our club awards college scholarships every year to eligible Key Club seniors graduating from the following Fairfax County High Schools: Annandale, Centreville, Fairfax, Oakton, Robinson Secondary, Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology, Westfield HS, and Woodson HS. The award is based primarily on demonstrated leadership and service. Financial need is not a factor.

Meet our 2023 Key Club College Scholarship Awardees

Maya Littman

Maya is currently a student at William & Mary and plans to major in environmental policy & geology. She participates in projects with the Citizens Climate Lobby, draws, and does crosswords in her free time. She attended Fairfax High School, and was secretary for one year and co-president for two years.

Devin Nappi

Devin Nappi graduated from Centreville High School in 2023 and was a proud and active member of the Key Club throughout her high school career. She was the third most involved student out of 200 members and accumulated 55 service hours during her senior year alone. In addition, she was also recognized with an honorable mention for Outstanding Member at the Kiwanis District Convention in March 2023. Devin was also a member of 7 honor societies and 4 clubs at Centreville High School. She was actively involved in their music program as a violist in the orchestra and symphony, and served as music librarian. Devin received numerous awards for her dedication and involvement and earned nearly 150 service hours from these extracurriculars. She was a student athlete and played for Centreville High School’s girls’ basketball team for 3 years. She also excelled academically with a 4.1 GPA with high honors. Aside from academics, Devin enjoys reading and camping with her family. Devin is now studying geographic science at James Madison University, writes for the department’s magazine, Geogazine, and plans to go into geospatial analytics as a career. Through her involvement in the Key Club, Devin learned the importance and value of community service and serving those in need with grace and care.

Service Leadership Programs

To offer youth leadership and character-building opportunities, Kiwanis International created
Service Leadership Programs in 1925. Today, millions of students around the world participate in Key Clubs (high school), Builders Clubs (middle school), and Kiwanis-Kids (elementary school). Each of these clubs is mentored by a Kiwanis advisor and a faculty sponsor. Clubs are co-educational service organizations that complete service projects within their school and community. Each is a self-governing organization and elects its own officers, determines its own service activities, and establishes its own dues structure.

Our club members are advisors to the following Service Leadership Programs in Northern
Virginia:

• Annandale High School
• Broad Run High School
• Centreville High School
• Fairfax High School
• Oakton High School
• Robinson Secondary School
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
• W.T. Woodson High School
• Westfield High School
• Westminster School

Park Clean-Ups

On a few Saturday mornings each year, our members put on yellow safety vests and pick up trash at Daniels Run Park and Canterbury Woods Park.

Little Free Library

In 2017, our club installed a Little Free Library at Main Street Child Development Center. Since then, members have donated or purchased books to keep the library well-stocked for the Center’s young readers. 

Supporting Nonprofit Organizations

• Wreaths Across America
• Salvation Army
• Britepaths

Guest Speakers

Just as Kiwanis plays a vital role in the success of Fairfax, so do many nonprofits, governmental agencies, and businesses. We invite leaders from these various community shareholders to come and speak to us about current issues and topics.    

Fundraising and Fun Events

• Fairfax Fall Festival – Pouring beer and wine!
• Fairfax Festival of Lights & Carols – Serving hot cider!
• Fairfax City Chocolate Lovers Festival – Hosting a cakewalk!
• Fairfax Funky Flea Market – Sell your unwanted items and raise funds for the club!
• Fairfax City Independence Day Parade – Balloon handlers!