History

The Kiwanis Club of San Diego was chartered in 1920, the first in San Diego County. The club is one of the largest Kiwanis Clubs in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The club is also known as the ‘Downtown Kiwanis,’ but has members from throughout the region.

The Kiwanis Club of San Diego represents a diverse spectrum of business, government, military, and community leaders providing services to youth and the community.

The Kiwanis Club of San Diego has a proud history. These major programs mark that history and are often referred to by club members:

Laurels for Leaders

Laurels for Leaders is governed by a board of directors consisting of members of the Kiwanis Club of San Diego, school officials, public and private leaders of the community. The program was established to recognize and honor the high leadership accomplishment of the student body presidents of San Diego County high schools. The program culminates in an annual luncheon at which the student leaders are presented certificates of recognition, a distinguished speaker brings them a message on leadership and in 2023 over one hundred students were given a cash gift of $300.

San Diego Kiwanis Club Foundation, Inc.

The Kiwanis Club of San Diego works in concert with the San Diego Kiwanis Club Foundation, Inc. (the ‘Foundation’). The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) foundation incorporated in California that annually provides more than $250,000 to projects and organizations in the community.

Scholarships

The Kiwanis Club of San Diego and the Kiwanis Club Foundation donate more than $100,000 each year for scholarships to students in San Diego County. The Foundation Scholarship Committee provides financial support to students attending San Diego area colleges and universities. Special scholarship grants include the Walter Zitlau and Don McKee memorial scholarships. For more than 25 years the Kiwanis Club of San Diego and the San Diego State University (SDSU) School of Music and Dance have provided annual music concerts to raise money for SDSU music scholarships.

Children’s Hospital

Through the years, the club has had a very close relationship with Children’s Hospital. The club was a major financial contributor and a force that led to the founding of the hospital. Over the years, the Kiwanis Club of San Diego has contributed more than $551,000 to its programs. Participation continues through activity in the hospital’s Mile of Quarters campaign and in contributions to help the hospital meet its needs.

Past Club Presidents

	2018-19 Brian Krause	1993-94 Jay W. Jeffcoat	1969 James O. Hewitt*	1944 Berma W. Bonham*
	2017-18 Patrick Maurer	1992-93 Michael P. Alessio	1968 Don R. Driese*	1943 Russell S. Stowell*+
	2016-17 Karina Sousa	1991-92 James W. Ledwith	1967 Milton R. Cheverton*	1942 John Aseltine*
	2015-16 Joe Sigurdson	1990-91 J. Scofield Hage*	1966 Fred S. Hage, Jr.*	1941 Harry G. Malm*
	2014-15 David Gugerty	1989-90 James W. Hurry*	1965 Richard L. Johnston*	1940 E. G. Merril, Jr.*
	2013-14 Brian Krause	1988-89 Charles F. Merz	1964 James M. Gillean*	1939 Frank M. Lowe*
	2012-13 Ryan Callan	1987-88 Griff J. Hayes*	1963 George K. Palmer*	1938 Thomas M. Bomar*
	2011-12 Corrine LeCates	1986-87 Morris A. Peelle*	1962 Lawrence Carr, Jr.*	1937 Emery D. Sherwin*
	2010-11 Ken Coley	1985-86 Richard A. Shaw	1961 Pay Hyndman*	1936 Arthur M. Shoven*
	2009-10 Ethel Merriman	1984-85 Clark B. George*+	1960 Julius J. Fink*	1935 E. G. Colby*
	2008-09 Don Sturek+*	1983-84 Rene H. Gentry*	1959 Clyde Cunningham*	1934 C. E. Sisson*
	2007-08 Judy Leitner+	1982-83 Robert A. Shumake*	1958 Cecil D. Hardesty*	1933 Donald E. Hanson*
	2006-07 LaDrue Jordan	1981-82 Paul R. Pulliam*	1957 Norman D. Ferguson*	1932 P.H. Davenport*
	2005-06 Tom Bauer+	1980-81 Jack M. Templeton	1956 Roy French Kidd*	1931 T.O. Scripps*
	2004-05 Douglas Frost+	1979-80 Thomas C. Peek*	1955 Leslie E. Gehres*	1930 A. G. Peterson*
	2003-04 Persida Drakulich*	1978-79 Ellis M. Benson	1954 Herbert C. Peiffer, Jr.*	1929 Sam R. Frazee*
	2002-03 Art Stillwell	1977-78 Robert W. Klaiber*	1953 Leo B. Calland*	1928 Robert L. Mueller*
	2001-02 Stephen All*	1976-77 Harry D. Frels*+	1952 Howard Carroll*	1927 Glenn O. Perkins*
	2000-01 John L. Kizer	1975-76 M. Ted Dixon*+	1951 S. Robert Frazee*	1926 Edgar McMath*
	1999-00 Ronald L. Munroe*	1974-75 LeRoy A. Bellwood*	1950 Dwight E. Keider*	1925 Arthur J. Morse*
2023-24 Steve Morris	1998-99 Conny Jamison	1973-74 C. A. Karaberis*	1949 Richard A. Nelson	1924 John J. Frazer*
2022-23 Susan Day	1997-98 Carl Nettleton	1972-73 Ben W. Hagar*	1948 A. Monroe Sanders	1923 George L. Mayne*
2021-22 Mike Boland	1996-97 Don Sturek+*	1971-1972 Walter A. Zitlau*	1947 Orien W. Todd, Jr.*+	1922 C. E. Reinhart*
2020-21 Mike Boland	1995-96 Sally Hazard	1970-71 Douglas Giddings*	1946 Andy Borthwick*	1921 W. H. Fraser*
2019-20 Judy Leitner+	1994-95 Mark McDonald+#	1969-70 Robert H. Bollum	1945 Edward P. Scott*+	1920

#Past District Governor +Past Lt. Governor *Deceased

Don McKee Spirit of Kiwanis Award

Don McKee was a long-time Kiwanis Club of San Diego member who left an endowment upon his death to the Club. In his honor, we established the Don McKee Spirit of Kiwanis award - given to a member each year for embodying the SPIRIT of Kiwanis (as did Don) - someone who loves Kiwanis and lives it - who is evidently and obviously passionate about Kiwanis - who sort of overflows with the Kiwanis spirit! The Kiwanis Club of San Diego has honored these members with the Don McKee Spirit of Kiwanis Award:

	2020-1 Victor Bianchini	2009-10 John Kizer
	2018-9 Karina Sousa	2008-9 John Irons
	2016-7 Kenneth Coley	2007-8 Don Sturek
	2015-6 Judith C. Leitner	2006-7 Bill Winterbourne
	2013-4 Arthur Stillwell	2005-6 Bill Gibbs
	2012-3 Jay Jeffcoat	2004-5 Richard A. Shaw
2022-3 Carl Nettleton	2011-2 Dr. Stephen A. All	2003-4 Harry D. Frels
2021-2 Ryan Callan	2010-1 Charlie Coleman	2002-3 Mark McDonald

Join our Club and perform extraordinary things in your community!

Kiwanis Club of San Diego is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization.

3276 Rosecrans Street, Suite 202, San Diego, CA 92110-4893

619-324-9853