Did you attend our recent Lobster Fest and auction?  Perhaps you purchased some of our See’s candy over the holidays.  If you did either, then you have helped to fund the charitable gifts our club gives each year.  One of two giving programs is what we call “member-designated gifts.”  When approved, funds go to deserving 501(c)3 charities  in Lamorinda, and greater Contra Costa and Northern Alameda Counties, who provide services to children, families or seniors.  Our requesting club member must have a personal connection to the organization.

So far this year, we have made 27 such donations.  Here are...

There were a number of excellent names submitted to be considered for Moraga's Citizen of the Year.  It was announced at the Kiwanis' Lobster Fest on Saturday night that Sam and Susan Sperry have been chosen for this high honor for 2018.   They represent many decades of civic involvement, having been intimately involved in many organizations, serving on civic committees, building the Moraga community in dozens of ways.  Look for the next Lamorinda Weekly for a description of how the Sperrys have contributed to the well being of our Town.  The dinner to honor them will be held on April 28.  Details to follow.

Dave Winnacker, our new Fire Chief of the Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District gave a very informative presentation in February. The MOFD, comprised of 5 stations in Orinda and Moraga covering 42 square miles of both suburban and rural areas, responded to 3,652 calls for service in the last year, 2,043 of which were EMS/Rescue incidents and 45 were home or vegetation fires.  

One might ask, what is being done to decrease the risk of fire in Lamorinda, given the recent North Bay and Southern California fires?   Amongst the information shared by the Chief three highlights included:  (1)  Create a defensible space around your home. Review CalFire’s "One Less...

What is a Kiwi?  A New Zealander or their hairy bird that can’t fly?  A green fruit perhaps?   On this day it was Kiwi (short for Kiwanis) the horse.  An energetic group of Moraga Valley Kiwanis members helped the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center with their Winter clean up. 

Xenophon, located in the hills of Orinda, offers life-changing experiences for children with a wide range of disabilities. Through equine-assisted activities provided in a safe and secure environment, children achieve goals that they never before dreamed possible.  Pictured here are Executive Director Mari Parino and her friend.  Kiwi was acquired several years ago with...

Moraga Mayor Dave Trotter's talk focused on the plan for residents to choose how much renewable energy will be in the electricity they receive and the plan to have Marin Clean Energy (MCE), California’s first “Community Service Aggregation Program,” as the provider of the service. 

The Moraga Town Council acted in 2017 to have Moraga join 13 other cities in Contra Costa County, as well as the County itself, as participants.  Mayor Dave Trotter is Moraga's representative on the MCE Board and is a member of the Board's Executive Committee.  Moraga customers will soon be receiving introductory information about MCE and the options available through the...

The All-Access Playground ribbon cutting ceremony is January 28 at 2:00 PM and Lamorinda kids are excited to try it out..  Moraga Valley Kiwanis has been pleased to provide two forms of support to Moraga Rotary's 50th anniversary project, located at the Moraga Commons Park.  In August, 2017, we presented Rotary a check for our substantial financial contribution to their project fundraiser; and on Saturday, December 9, 2017, we fielded a 9-member team of volunteers to work with Rotarians and other community volunteers in a collaborative effort to install most of the playground equipment.  This is another jewell  to our wonderful park.

In November our club welcomed three new members, Lynn Champagne, Jamie Frankenfield and Mike Rijavex.  Club sponsors are Christine Kuckuk (for Lynn), Stan Oberg (also shown, for Jamie) and Tim Freeman (also shown, for Mike).

Lynn, a graphic designer from Orinda, runs a business and a busy household but had heard about our club’s commitment to the community and decided to find time for Kiwanis.  “I was welcomed by many members whom I knew from other groups and organizations as well as by complete strangers. I felt an immediate attachment to the group”

Jamie is a Senior Director at Genetech, and lives in Moraga.  “I joined the club based on recommendations...

The Kiwanis Club of Moraga Valley is partnering with See's Candies to raise funds for non profit organizations again this year.  The 2017 fundraiser shops will be open in both the Rheem and Moraga shopping centers from November 17 through December 24.  Purchase your favorite See's candies at our fundraising shops and support deserving community organizations!

Jazzy and Melissa are sophomores at St Mary’s College and Peer Mentors in the High Potential Program which supports the success of first generation and/or low income students as they transition from high school to college at St Mary’s.   Here they are talking with our members after delivering an informative presentation about what the program means for both the students they support and for them.   Our member, Gloria Eive, who taught at SMC for 20 years,  taught, tutored, and mentored many HP students in her classes.

One of Saint Mary’s College’s missions is to provide access to education for students from traditionally underrepresented groups. ...

Sister Ann Weltz of the Bay Area Crisis Nursery receives diapers from our club President, Steve Woehleke.  For the last 6 years the Moraga Valley Kiwanis club has donated diapers to non profit social agencies serving families in need.  This project is led by Donations Chairman, Bob Reynolds, and staffed by many club members.  This year 7,500 diapers were delivered to the Monument Crisis Center, Shelter Inc., Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, Visiting Nurses and Bay Area Crisis Nursery.  These kinds of donations are funded by our club’s community fund raising efforts including our holiday See’s candy sales and springtime lobster fest dinner. Bob remarked,  “Sister...