Club of Coeur d'Alene
Chartered June 16, 1922
Kids Need Kiwanis
Kiwanis Joins Community Partners to Serve 337 Families at Second Harvest Mobile Market
Members of the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene were proud to volunteer at another successful Second Harvest Mobile Market held at Community United Methodist Church.
Working alongside volunteers from Wells Fargo Bank, the United Women in Faith of Community United Methodist Church, and other community organizations, a total of 35 volunteers came together to help distribute food to 337 local families in need. Of those volunteers, 11 were members of our Kiwanis Club.
The Mobile Market is an outstanding example of what can be accomplished when community organizations work together toward a common goal. Through the combined efforts of dedicated volunteers, hundreds of families received fresh, nutritious food and other essential grocery items.
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene is grateful to Second Harvest, Community United Methodist Church, and all of our community partners for making these events possible. We look forward to continuing to support this important outreach as we work together to improve the lives of children and families in our community.
Second Harvest Food Distribution
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene is co-sponsoring a Second Harvest food distribution for families in need at the Community United Methodist Church (1470 W Hanley, Coeur d’Alene, ID) on Tuesday, July 14 from 11 am – 1 pm. If you or someone you know is in need of a little help, please be sure to come on by.
Gracie Ford – May Student of the Month
At our May 20 meeting, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene was proud to recognize Gracie Ford as our May 2026 Student of the Month.
A senior at Lake City High School, Gracie has compiled an outstanding record of academic achievement, leadership, athletics, music, and community service throughout her high school career. She has maintained an impressive 4.1 GPA while completing a challenging schedule of honors and Advanced Placement coursework, including AP World History, AP U.S. History, AP European History, AP Statistics, AP Language and Composition, and AP Government.
In addition to her academic success, Gracie has been heavily involved in extracurricular activities and service organizations. She has participated in Honors Speech and Debate, Key Club, Student Council, Socratic Seminar Club, Forestry Club, Outdoor Recreation Club, Lake City Cheer, Lake City Golf, and the school’s auditioned choir program. Her dedication to serving others is reflected in more than 200 hours of community service through programs such as the Kootenai County Fair, Special Needs Recreation through Key Club, and the TESH program through Student Council.
Gracie’s accomplishments extend well beyond the classroom. She has been a four-year member of both the cheerleading and golf teams, served as Student Council Secretary during both her junior and senior years, and earned recognition as an Idaho IHSAA Interscholastic Star Scholar. She is also a two-time state champion in Treble Solo and Ensemble competition, earning state titles in both her junior and senior years.
Following graduation, Gracie plans to attend Texas Christian University, where she will pursue a degree in Business Administration and Accounting on a pre-law track. She hopes to later attend the University of Washington School of Law and ultimately serve as a JAG officer in the United States Navy.
Gracie was joined at the meeting by her mother Jocelyn, as club members celebrated her many accomplishments and bright future ahead. The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene congratulates Gracie on this well-deserved recognition and wishes her continued success in the years to come.
Photograph: Gracie Ford and Jim DeShazer
A New Voice for Story Time: Aktion Club Member Reads to Head Start Students
One of the most rewarding aspects of Kiwanis service is finding new ways to connect people, encourage growth, and build community. Recently, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene had the opportunity to do exactly that through a special partnership involving our Club’s sponsored Kootenai County Aktion Club, Specialized Needs Recreation (SNR), and the North Idaho College Head Start program.
For the first time, a member of SNR and our Kiwanis Aktion Club visited a Head Start classroom as a guest reader. Ursula, an Aktion Club member, spent time reading to the children and interacting with the class during story time. While the experience was something of an experiment for everyone involved, it quickly became clear that it was a success. The children were engaged and enthusiastic, and Ursula did an outstanding job connecting with them throughout the visit.
Specialized Needs Recreation is a Coeur d’Alene nonprofit whose mission is to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities through recreation, socialization, and opportunities for personal growth. Aktion Club, sponsored by Kiwanis International, is the only service club in the world specifically for adults with disabilities, helping members develop leadership skills while serving their communities. Through our local Kiwanis sponsorship, Aktion Club members are encouraged to participate in meaningful community activities that build confidence, independence, and relationships.
The reading visit also beautifully complemented the mission of the Head Start program, which provides early childhood education and school-readiness opportunities for young children and families in our area. For Ursula, the experience represented an important personal growth opportunity, and she has already expressed excitement about returning to read again next school year. Encouragingly, other SNR and Aktion Club members are now interested in participating as well. What began as a simple idea may very well become a meaningful ongoing partnership — one that benefits not only the children being read to, but also the readers themselves.
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene is proud to support programs that create inclusion, leadership, and connection within our community. Sometimes the most meaningful service projects begin with a single small step — and this one was a wonderful start.
Chuck Ethridge – Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre
On May 20, 2026, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director Chuck Ethridge addressed the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene with a presentation titled “More Than A Show: What Professional Theatre Does for the Children of Our Community.” His central message was simple but compelling: the missions of Kiwanis and Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre are not as different as they might appear. Both exist to improve the lives of children and strengthen the community around them — and both have been doing it, in their own ways, for a combined 162 years.
Ethridge opened by making the research-backed case for why the performing arts matter for children beyond entertainment. Studies from the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences and Nature’s peer-reviewed journal npj Science of Learning have found that children who engage regularly with the arts develop higher self-esteem, stronger academic performance, and greater empathy than their peers. Drama training specifically has been shown to improve collaborative behavior — skills researchers identify as among the most critical for success in the 21st century workforce. For children from lower-income backgrounds, access to the arts has been shown to reduce stress, increase school attendance, and improve social outcomes in ways that other interventions often cannot.
What makes Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s work distinctive is the breadth of how it reaches children in this community — and its commitment to removing every barrier in the way. The organization’s Musical Theatre Training Institute serves over 1,000 youth ages 8 to 16 every year through year-round classes, workshops, private lessons, and camps, with a firm policy that no child is turned away due to lack of funds. The Summer Arts Enrichment program gives 450 youth per season a fully immersive, free theatre experience — including a ticket to a live professional show, a private backstage tour, and a Q&A with the cast and creative team. Pop-Up Workshops bring professional singing, acting, and dance instruction directly into Boys & Girls Clubs and Shoshone County Schools. And programs like Theatre For All and the Princess Performance ensure that cost is never the reason a child misses out.
Ethridge was candid about the financial reality behind all of it. Ticket sales cover only 37% of what it costs to run the organization. Every program for kids lives in the other 63% — funded entirely by grants, sponsorships, and individual donors. He closed by extending an invitation not for money, but for partnership: “The children we serve today are the artists, the leaders, the collaborators, and the community members of tomorrow. What we invest in them now — in their confidence, their creativity, their sense of what is possible — is an investment that this community will benefit from for decades. We are grateful to be doing that work. And we would be honored to do it alongside you.”
Photograph: (left to right) Chuck Ethridge, Freda Campbell
CdA Press Article on Large Grant Award
Our Club’s Large Grant Award to City on a Hill Behavioral Health Center was featured in an article in the Coeur d’Alene Press Recently
New Officers and Directors Elected for 2026–2027
At the May 6 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene, members elected the Club’s Officers and Directors for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. The newly elected leadership team will officially begin serving on October 1, 2026.
The following members were elected to leadership positions:
- Kim Cummings — President
- Jeanie Nugent — Vice President and President-Elect
- Matt Palmer — Treasurer
Newly elected Directors include:
- Linda Mayers — Director (2-year term)
- Chad Krahn — Director (2-year term)
- Freda Campbell — Director (continuing with a new 2-year term)
The following Directors will continue serving during the second year of their current terms:
- Shirley Lindberg
- Michelle Gonzalez
- Debbie Magnusen
- Lavonne Vinson
In addition, Kathy Bush will be confirmed as Club Secretary as the first order of business when the new Board convenes. Mike Lane will become Immediate Past President and Membership Chair.
The Club also recognized and thanked two outgoing Directors who are completing their terms of service on the Board:
- Dick Jurvelin
- Lindsay Patterson
We are deeply grateful for the leadership, dedication, and countless hours of volunteer service that Dick and Lindsay have provided during their time on the Board. Strong community organizations depend on members who are willing to step forward and lead, and their contributions have helped strengthen both our Club and our impact in the community.
The Club also wishes to express its deep appreciation to outgoing Immediate Past President Megan Tollackson for her years of dedicated leadership and service. During her tenure, Megan launched and established the Club’s Impact Committees, helping members become more directly engaged in meaningful community service initiatives. She also created the now-annual SLP (Service Leadership Program) Banquet, which celebrates and honors the outstanding work of our Key Club and Aktion Club members. In addition, Megan played an important role in building momentum for the Club’s membership efforts and strengthening engagement within the organization. Her commitment, energy, and passion for Kiwanis have made a lasting impact on the Club, and we are grateful that she will continue to remain actively involved even after retiring from Club office.
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene looks forward to another exciting year of service under the guidance of this outstanding leadership team as we continue our mission of serving the children of the world — one child and one community at a time.
Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene Welcomes Two New Members
At the May 6, 2026 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene, the Club proudly welcomed two new members into our Kiwanis family — Brad Wagner and Mary Bren.
The induction ceremony was led by Megan Tollackson, Immediate Past President and current Membership Chair, who spoke about the core precepts and tenets of Kiwanis and the importance of service to children and the community. Club President Mike Lane also participated in the ceremony as the Club formally recognized and welcomed our newest members.
Brad Wagner was sponsored by his wife, Jeanie Nugent, while Mary Bren was sponsored by Matt Palmer. Both new members have already demonstrated a strong heart for service and a desire to make a positive difference in our community — values that are at the very core of Kiwanis.
Following the induction, the entire Club rose in applause to warmly welcome Brad and Mary as official members of the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene.
We are excited about the energy, compassion, and commitment they bring to our organization and look forward to serving alongside them in the months and years ahead. Strong clubs are built by people who are willing to step forward and invest in their community, and we are grateful to have Brad and Mary join us in that mission.
Welcome to Kiwanis, Brad and Mary!
Header Photograph: (left to right) Jeanie Nugent, Brad Wagner, Mary Bren, Matt Palmer, Megan Tollackson, Mike Lane
Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene Awards 2026 Large Grant to City on a Hill Behavioral Health Center
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene is proud to announce that the recipient of its 2026 $5,000 Large Grant Award is City on a Hill Behavioral Health Center.
This year’s grant cycle drew ten applications, all representing highly worthwhile causes. Following several hours of thoughtful discussion in a special board meeting, the Club selected the organization that best aligns with Kiwanis’ mission and offers the greatest potential impact for children in need in our community. While the decision was not an easy one, City on a Hill stood out for its focused approach and meaningful reach.
City on a Hill Behavioral Health Center is a Christ-centered nonprofit dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, and biblically integrated mental health care. Serving youth and families throughout North Idaho, the organization offers professional, evidence-based services—including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and family and marital counseling—while integrating spiritual support to care for the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. In partnership with Real Life Ministries, the center continues to expand its impact in addressing critical mental health needs in the region.
Grant funds will be used to purchase a vital psychological assessment tool that will enable clinicians to provide comprehensive diagnostic testing for children suspected of having Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Specifically, the funding will support acquisition of the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-2 CPT), a clinically validated instrument that provides objective measurement of attention, impulse control, and self-regulation in children and adolescents.
The addition of this evidence-based assessment system will address one of the clinic’s most pressing needs. Requests for psychological testing—particularly to assist with differential diagnosis among school-age children experiencing attention, behavioral, or learning challenges—have grown significantly. At the same time, there is a severe shortage of providers in our region with access to tools like the IVA-2 CPT, often resulting in long wait times or limited access to timely evaluations for families seeking help.
Until now, City on a Hill has not had access to this essential instrument. The Kiwanis grant will help close that gap—expanding local capacity, reducing delays in diagnosis, and ultimately enabling more timely, accurate care for children and their families.
Photograph: (left to right) Don Lindberg, Mike Wraith (City on a Hill Executive Director), Mike Lane, Shirley Lindberg, Matt Palmer
Kiwanis Club of CdA FaceBook Feed
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Kiwanis Club of Coeur d'Alene
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d' Alene meets every Wednesday except the last of the month from noon to 1pm at MacKenzie River Pizza , 405 W. Canfield Ave.
Anyone welcome to join us for a meeting to see what we're all about!
🍎 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 – 𝗖𝗢𝗘𝗨𝗥 𝗗'𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗘
On Thursday, October 8 from 11 am - 1 pm, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d'Alene is co-sponsoring another Second Harvest food distribution for families in need at the Community United Methodist Church (1470 W Hanley, Coeur d'Alene, ID). If you or someone you know could use a little help, be sure to come by.
www.KiwanisCDA.org
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My grand-daughter came to visit and she had to take a cruise on the SS Kiwanis at McEuen Park in Coeur d'Alene!
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Guest Speaker: Katelyn Mateo — The Ripple Reset Foundation
At our August 19, 2026 meeting, our guest speaker was Katelyn Mateo, founder of The Ripple Reset Foundation, a new organization dedicated to helping individuals and families rebuild their lives following trauma and significant hardship.
read more here: k00801.site.kiwanis.org/guest-speaker-katelyn-mateo-the-ripple-reset-foundation/
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Last Updated: July 16, 2026 by Matt Palmer Leave a Comment
Picnic in the Park Brings Kiwanis Clubs Together
Our annual Picnic in the Park was another wonderful success as members of the Kiwanis Clubs of Coeur d’Alene, Panhandle, Post Falls, and Sandpoint gathered at beautiful Kiwanis Park in Post Falls for an afternoon of fellowship, food, and fun.
With warm summer weather and a delicious barbecue lunch, the event provided a perfect opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and celebrate the shared mission that unites Kiwanis clubs across North Idaho.
This gathering is one of our club’s favorite traditions because it reminds us that Kiwanis is about much more than meetings and service projects. It’s about building relationships – both within our own club and with our sister clubs – as we work together to make our communities better places for children and families.
Holding the picnic at Kiwanis Park makes the day even more meaningful. The park is a lasting legacy of the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene, whose vision and partnership with the City of Post Falls created this beautiful community gathering place. It’s always rewarding to enjoy the park while reflecting on the enduring impact our club has had on the community and on generations of families who have made memories here.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was a visit from the children attending Camp Ka-Mee-Lin, Post Falls’ long-running summer day camp. The campers delighted us with a short play they had created themselves before closing with their traditional camp song – a performance that never fails to bring smiles to everyone’s faces. Their enthusiasm, creativity, and confidence served as a wonderful reminder of why Kiwanis exists: to invest in children and help them thrive.
Adding to the fun was one of the camp counselors, who appeared as the campers’ enthusiastic “Fairy Godmother.” Her playful interaction with the children had everyone laughing and showcased the energy, creativity, and encouragement that make Camp Ka-Mee-Lin such a special place. It was easy to see why the campers were so engaged and having such a wonderful time
Events like Picnic in the Park remind us that the friendships we build, the partnerships we foster, and the children we serve are at the heart of everything Kiwanis does. We look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.