The spirit of the season shone at Bowling Green as the K-Kids welcomed the LISC K-Family for an evening of "karoling" for the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center at North Shore-LIJ and a holiday Hot Chocolate party.
Supervised by teams of Circle Kers from Adelphi University as well as LICKI LtG Brian Kenny, groups of K-Kids, Builders Clubbers and Key Clubbers fanned out across the neighborhood spreading holiday cheer and raising funds for KPTC.
After an hour of "karoling," the six groups returned to the school with just over $500 in their donation cans. Kiwanis dignitaries including NYD Gov Joe Aiello, Sr. Anne-Marie Kirmse, Lt. Governor Ann Trocivia, East Meadow Kiwanis President Jim Smith and KPTC SL Committee Chair Kat Graves, who stood in for KPTC President Joe Corace, attended the event to recognize the K-Kids on having been named the nation's Daily Point of Light for Nov. 7, 2013.
The Daily Point of Light awards were first presented to individual volunteers and volunteer organizations by President George Bush Sr. during his presidency. The national awards have continued under the Points of Light Foundation.
Santa arrived at Bowling Green in the form of NYD Kiwanis Governor Joe Aiello, who made the official presentation of the Daily Point of Light certificate and the letter from former President Bush. Governor Joe also presented each K-Kids member with a Governor's certificate, a K-Kids reusable lunch bag, a special Santa cupcake and generously matched the $500.79 that the K-Kids had just raised by "karoling" for KPTC.
Bowling Green K-Kids president Aline Asarian thanked Governor Joe for his support of her club and all SLPs across the district by naming him an honorary member of the Bowling Green K-Kids.
Next, East Meadow Kiwanis president Jim Smith presented each K-Kids member with a Daily Point of Light Award Honoree lapel pin.
NYD Eliminate Campaign Coordinator Sr. Anne-Marie Kirmse also presented the K-Kids members with special LED candles to remind them of the light their community service brings to the world.
K-Kids president Aline presented Sr. Anne-Marie with a sack full of handmade baby items made by the family and friends of the K-Kids for an upcoming auction/sale that Sr. Anne-Marie will be holding for Kiwanis International's Eliminate Project against maternal and neonatal tetanus. President Aline also informed Sr. Anne-Marie that the Bowling Green K-Kids had voted to go beyond their Gold Level Global Service Society Status and become a full Bronze Level Eliminate Project Model Club.
Before enjoying the hot chocolate and baked goods, the K-Kids received a holiday bundle of festive pencils and a snowflake kazoo from KPTC president Joe Corace, who missed the event for the first time ever due to being home recovering from heart surgery. His gift was presented to the K-Kids by KPTC SL Committee Chair Kat Graves.
DPG Joe was missed by all. K-Kids secretary Elianna Rivera created an oversized "get well" card that was signed by everyone at the event. The card will be delivered to DPG Joe by K-Kids Faculty Advisors LtG-Elect Rich Santer.
The evening concluded with all in attendance sharing the joy of the holidays and being warm in knowing their combined efforts "karoling" on one cold night had raised more than $1,000 to support safety education and prevent pediatric trauma.
Submitted by the Bowling Green K-Kids
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