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Civitan International, a global service organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), plans to expand its footprint and develop a new club in the Lakeland, Fla. community. The service club is led by local volunteers, who are passionate about serving others and are looking for additional people to join the club as founding members.
“We are beyond excited to embark on this endeavor to bring a new Civitan International club to the Lakeland community,” said Wendy Rogers, local Lakeland resident and club builder. “This community is filled with people who love to serve others, and this is a great way to get involved to make a tremendous impact.”
For a Civitan club to officially charter and begin operations, the Lakeland Civitan Club will need at least 15 members. The current core group of club members are looking to exceed that number to give the club a strong start. Meetings occur on the third Thursday of each month at 12:00 PM at Christ Lutheran Church in Lakeland until fall when meetings will occur more often.
Civitan International is a membership organization, which does include a nominal dues requirement to help the club function and support the overall mission of Civitan.
“Many Civitans have repeatedly said they receive so much more than they give as a member of our organization, because the reward of knowing all the people they have helped is truly an invaluable gift,” said Rogers. “We hope community members in Lakeland who are interested in service will reach out to join us.”
Some examples of potential service projects include holding a local, “Walk & Roll,” event in Lakeland, which is like other walks to raise money for a cause, but due to the nature of those served, it is highly encouraged to include those who might instead “roll” in their power chairs or wheelchairs to cross the finish line. Other clubs brainstorm various ideas to make a difference in their community such as recognizing Special Education teachers, fundraising for inclusive playgrounds and so much more.
Additionally, the new local club will be connected to Civitan’s flagship project, which is the Civitan International Research Center located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
The CIRC was established in 1989 on the campus of UAB with the support of Civitan International and the organization has since donated over $21M to support the center. The CIRC has grown to over 100 faculty members. Additionally, CIRC faculty have received numerous national and international awards recognizing excellence in research and training. Civitans across the globe participate in various projects throughout the year to support studies and training at the CIRC.
For more information on Civitan International visit www.Civitan.org/join or if you are interested in learning more about the Lakeland Civitan Club, please contact growth@civitan.org.