About Maryville Kiwanis
The Maryville-Alcoa Kiwanis Club was founded at the Mary Blount Cafe on December 29, 1919. It was the first civic club to be organized in Maryville, Tennessee, and the 190th Kiwanis club in the world. Twenty-one Kiwanians from the Knoxville club (formed in April 1919, the 61st Kiwanis club to be organized) along with 22 men from Maryville and Alcoa were present. The 22 local men who attended signed up that day were our founding members.
On February 6, 1920, the club helped form a local Chamber of Commerce for Blount County. On March 19, 1920, K-T District Governor O. P. Darwin from Chattanooga presented the club’s official charter at a gala Charter Night banquet attended by 33 charter members and their wives or guests. John H. Mitchell, the club’s first President, presided. Mr. R. R. Kramer accepted the charter on behalf of the club. Club records indicate that there were 59 "charter members" of the club.
During the club’s active first year steps were taken that led to create the first Blount County Health Department, the A. K. Harper Memorial Library, better telephone service, railway express service and much improved city planning in Maryville.
By July 1954, the club and the community had grown to such an extent, it was decided to form the Alcoa Kiwanis Club as a separate organization. The original club then became the Maryville Kiwanis Club. Today, the Kiwanis Club of Maryville has about 110 members, men and women dedicated to service in this community with emphasis on the needs of youth, particularly the very young, in keeping with the Kiwanis International major emphasis "Young Children Priority One."
On February 6, 1920, the club helped form a local Chamber of Commerce for Blount County. On March 19, 1920, K-T District Governor O. P. Darwin from Chattanooga presented the club’s official charter at a gala Charter Night banquet attended by 33 charter members and their wives or guests. John H. Mitchell, the club’s first President, presided. Mr. R. R. Kramer accepted the charter on behalf of the club. Club records indicate that there were 59 "charter members" of the club.
During the club’s active first year steps were taken that led to create the first Blount County Health Department, the A. K. Harper Memorial Library, better telephone service, railway express service and much improved city planning in Maryville.
By July 1954, the club and the community had grown to such an extent, it was decided to form the Alcoa Kiwanis Club as a separate organization. The original club then became the Maryville Kiwanis Club. Today, the Kiwanis Club of Maryville has about 110 members, men and women dedicated to service in this community with emphasis on the needs of youth, particularly the very young, in keeping with the Kiwanis International major emphasis "Young Children Priority One."
Kiwanis Club of Maryville is funded by donations and only two annual fundraisers - our Pancake Breakfast and our Tee It Up for the Kids Golf Tournament. Our members work and meet with members of these groups regularly to the mutual benefit of both the members and the groups:
Adopt-A-Highway, Adult Education Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Blount County Elementary School Libraries, Blount County Public Library, Boys & Girls Clubs of Blount County, Builders Clubs in Eagleton & Heritage Middle Schools, Maryville Jr. High School and Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School, Circle K Club of Maryville College, Community Food Connection, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council, Great Smoky Mountain Council Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Key Clubs of Heritage & Maryville High Schools, Kiwanis International Foundation, K-T District Kiwanis Foundation, Leadership Adventure Camp, Key Club College Scholarships, Read for Success, Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank Back Pack Program
Adopt-A-Highway, Adult Education Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Blount County Elementary School Libraries, Blount County Public Library, Boys & Girls Clubs of Blount County, Builders Clubs in Eagleton & Heritage Middle Schools, Maryville Jr. High School and Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School, Circle K Club of Maryville College, Community Food Connection, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council, Great Smoky Mountain Council Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Key Clubs of Heritage & Maryville High Schools, Kiwanis International Foundation, K-T District Kiwanis Foundation, Leadership Adventure Camp, Key Club College Scholarships, Read for Success, Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank Back Pack Program