Milt Thomas and Doug Vitunac. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

Current and past members of the Kiwanis Club of Vero-Treasure Coast packed the Vero Beach Yacht Club for their Cheers for 50 Years Celebration, reminiscing about the club’s history and its impact on the community.

“It’s great to be together here with people who’ve been in our club for many years, and others who have been out of the club for some years,” said Doug Vitunac, club president, welcoming everyone.

After guests dined on a delicious culinary trip around the world, event chair Milt Thomas gave a brief history of the club, which on Sept. 17, 1973, broke off from the Kiwanis Club of Vero Beach. While the original club, founded in 1935, met for long lunches, younger members wanted to meet for breakfast to accommodate their work schedules.

“There were 31 charter members of that club and we’re pleased to have three of those charter members with us tonight,” said Thomas, introducing Sam Block, Gene Waddell and, “the fellow who made it happen,” Bob Grice.

When the senior club disbanded, the newer club opted to change its meeting time to noon.

“That says one of two things. One, we are getting long in tooth and therefore we need a new time clock. But I think it was more about the fact that we know how to conduct a meeting within an hour,” said Thomas, adding that the most important focus of the club has always been to make lives better for the children in the community.

A brief video noted that Kiwanis has provided funding to numerous local nonprofit organizations and, since 1987, has provided more than $250,000 in scholarships.

Additionally, in 1990, Kiwanian Greg Holton started the Kiwanis Aktion Club, now the largest in the world, for mentally and physically challenged adults.

Al Sammartino, co-founder with Richard Schlitt of the Kiwanis Youth in Action program, said that since 1996 they have completed more than 500 projects, including building handicap ramps, and repairing or painting homes for people in need. He also paid tribute to the hard work of the schools’ Key Club advisors.

Sammartino recalled painting the homes at the Hibiscus Children’s Village, which provides a safe haven to abused and neglected teens. When he saw one girl, Jennifer, crying as she worked, he asked why, and she replied that she felt sad about what those teens had experienced.

“In her college application, she said the people that she looked up to the most were the Kiwanis members of Vero Beach,” said Sammartino.

“So it makes a difference. It changes these kids. And that’s what it’s about. It’s about teaching these kids how to give back to the community and how to work together as a team and with each other. We’re starting these kids at a young age, how to become leaders,” he added.

Kiwanis youth clubs include K-Kids, for kindergarten to fifth grade; Builders Club for sixth to eighth grade; and Key Club for high school students.

After presenting this year’s awards to deserving Kiwanis members, Vitunac invited Prairy Riehl, Division 10 Lieutenant Governor, to speak.

“I absolutely love to come to these events and hear about the amazing things that each club does, because every club is different and unique,” said Riehl, adding that learning about the Youth in Action program touched her heart.

“I just want to thank you for starting those K-Kids. Key Club is awesome and amazing, but to get them started young, in elementary school and middle school, they have that servant heart throughout their entire lives. So thank you so much for all that you are doing to support your community,” said Riehl.

Kiwanis members meet Wednesdays at noon at the Vero Beach Yacht Club. Visitors are always welcome. For more information, visit VeroKiwanis.com.

Photos by Joshua Kodis