For February, Positively Naperville is featuring what’s at the heart of this community: volunteerism focused on good and the City’s best interests. Philanthropy and volunteer service have been the keystones of this city that attracted Captain Joseph Naper’s pioneer spirit and example of charity and dedication back in 1831. Today this bustling city is set with many thriving service clubs and volunteer organizations, connecting faithful individuals in Naperville and just beyond with nonprofit initiatives and special events. More than a few times, our pages have recognized that by working together, local governments, independent businesses, corporations and private citizens have created the rich, diverse culture that Naperville residents continually try to define.
Naperville Woman’s Club
2018 holds many events within our mission to promote art, education and community service. Arts programs include our annual Young Adult Art Contest in March, our 59th Annual Fine Art Fair in June, and our North Central College Fine Arts Scholarship. Educational programs for club members and the public, and our District 203 Education and COD Human Services scholarships round out our education efforts. In March we will hold our Celebration of Philanthropy when we make donations to a number of Community Service organizations. October holds our second annual Witches Night Out, a fundraiser for local charities.
– Julie Cunningham, President Naperville Woman’s Club
www.napervillewomansclub.org
Rotary Club of Naperville Downtown
Chartered in 2007, the Rotary Club of Naperville / Downtown (aka 4:44 Club) is a small, casual, convivial service club, one of more than 33,000 Rotary clubs in 200 countries throughout the world. During weekly meetings at Hugo’s, our enlightening programs empower us to become better educated about our community and the world. Our aim is to help fulfill unmet needs locally with community service grants and college scholarships, while supporting Rotary International via matching grants and the Rotary Foundation as Paul Harris Fellows. Our grants are supported by club members internally via our Giving Fund. Other local charities benefit from the annual Naperville Rotary Ride that will take place beginning at Commissioners Park on Aug. 12, 2018.
– Kevin McQuillan, President Rotary Club of Naperville Downtown
www.rcndowntown.com
Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise
Chartered in 1991, the Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise currently has around 80 members. We always welcome individuals to our meetings early Friday mornings at Naperville Country Club to learn more about Rotary as well as the local and international projects we support. Our current mission is supporting the health and well-being of teens and young adults to ensure that they can become skilled and compassionate leaders who contribute to the community in the future. Our next major fundraiser, Rotary Sunrise St. Paddy’s Day 5K, steps off at 8AM on Sat., March 10, in downtown Naperville.
– Justin Klestinski, President Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise
www.napervillesunrise.org
Rotary Club of Naperville
The Rotary Club of Naperville is committed to making a difference in people’s lives locally and globally. We are working on many initiatives including funding and building Rotary Harmony Park, launching our first International Service Summit on February 10, partnering with Reclaim 13 to fight human trafficking in the suburbs, partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a family in need, providing winter coats for homeless veterans, developing a Jazz as Therapy program for mental health, improving medical infrastructure and access to clean water in impoverished communities in Nigeria, India and Haiti, awarding scholarships to local students and providing funding to local charities.
– John Norman, President Rotary Club of Naperville
www.napervillerotary.com
Kiwanis Club of Naperville
Kiwanis Club of Naperville, for 63 years, has focused on serving children and families in need. Annually we support 25-plus local charities with 10,000-plus hours of volunteer service and funds from two fundraisers, Peanut Days and Pancake Festival. This year, our Board is focusing on collaboration with others in the community. We are excited to partner with Loaves & Fishes Community Services on the Pancake Festival Fundraiser, 7AM to noon on Sat., March 17, 2018, at Naperville Central High School. We invite the public to attend this fundraiser and drop off food donations for children and families in need.
– Dick Nelson, President Kiwanis Club of Naperville
www.naperville-evening.kiwanisone.org
Naperville Noon Lions Club
The motto of Lions is “WE SERVE.” Since 1948 the Naperville Lions have served our community providing vision and hearing examinations, eye glasses to children and adults who could not afford this type of service in addition to providing funds for research and education for the blind, low vision and hearing disabled. Our aim for the coming year is to continue providing these services, at the highest level, to Naperville area individuals so that they can live life to the fullest. Lions know the adversities that affect our community and we are here to SERVE.
– Linda Strugalla, President Naperville Noon Lions Club
www.napervillenoonlions.org
Exchange Club of Naperville
Exchange Club of Naperville is midway through its year which began during Ribfest last Fourth of July. This year we’ve focused on leadership development and increased opportunities for networking among membership. This past fall, the Board of Directors examined Ribfest’s need for year-round management. Charter club member, past president and past Ribfest Chair Rick Grimes agreed to serve as interim director while the Board researches what Ribfest’s organizational structure will become to continue serving the community five, ten, fifteen years out. Other 2017-2018 innovations included creating a Ribfest sponsorship sales force, and marketing and public relationship leadership. With so much achieved for this leadership year, this spring the Board and I look forward to recruiting members, especially new members, to serve in leadership positions, to training leaders and to enjoying the Allocation luncheon, the One Nation Under God Breakfast, and honoring the Police Officer and Fire Fighter of the Year. Work on the 9/11 Commemorative Ceremony begins soon. The club will also have increased visibility as local Exchangite Scot Warren will serve as National President of Exchange Club in the coming year.
– Dr. Robin Choquette, President Naperville Exchange Club
www.exchangeclub.org
Naperville Jaycees
The Naperville Jaycees’ 2018 Board of Directors is excited about the year ahead! Perennial highlights include The Last Fling, our largest fundraiser, and the Labor Day Parade, summer traditions we are proud to share with generations of Napervillians. As President, I look forward to cultivating an environment where our community’s next generation of leaders can grow and thrive. We will continue our traditions of personal development through meaningful service projects, and community development through impactful donations. Anyone wanting to join our organization can visit us on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30PM at the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873.
– Matt Dingeldein, President Naperville Jaycees
www.naperjaycees.org
Rotary Club of Naperville After Dark
Chartered in June 2017, the Rotary Club of Naperville After Dark now meets at 6:30PM the second and fourth Tuesday at Granite City Food & Brewery-Naperville. We see ourselves as offering a new option to participate in Rotary for individuals who cannot make weekly meetings or do not want high dues. More than half of our members are new to Rotary. The rest are former Rotarians attracted by our schedule, dues structure and commitment to the Rotary principle of “Service Above Self.” We do not require that people live or work in Naperville. We have collaborated with other Naperville clubs and are open to working with other Rotary clubs who need our help.
– Caroline Morrison, Founding President Rotary Club of Naperville After Dark
www.napervillerotaryafterdark.org
