On Sunday, the Kiwanis Club of Middletown handed out awards, retired the 2023-2024 Board, and installed the 2024-2025 Board.
Outgoing President Kevin Elak on being awarded a Kiwanis Foundation of New England red jacket for all his hard work over the year transitioning the Warm the Children – Middletown, CT and chairing the golf outing.
Thank you to outgoing Lt. Governor Karen Roesler and incoming Lt. Governor Bob Poirer for doing the retirement and installations of the Boards. Good luck and congratulations to Candace Crane on her year as President and to her Board! It is going to be another amazing year!

The Kiwanis Foundation of Middletown held their 20th Annual Golf Tournament presented by Celtic Cavern Gastropub on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at Lyman Orchards Golf Course. The tournament raised over $7,550 to support the clubs annual college scholarships to graduating seniors from Mercy High School, Middletown High School, Vinal Technical High School and Xavier High School. Funds also go to support other Middletown Kiwanis projects and programs including Warm the Children, Kids’ Bicycle Rodeo & Safety Day, Thanksgiving Food Baskets and Amazing Grace Food Pantry.

Thank you to our following sponsors:

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Celtic Cavern Gastropub

SILVER SPONSOR

DeMartino Outdoor Media

CART SPONSOR

Marc Community Resources

BEVERAGE SPONSOR

Rob Kronenberger

BREAKFAST/LUNCH SPONSORS

Harding Development Group

Guilmartin, DiPiro & Sokolwski, LLC

Neon Deli

PRACTICE GREEN SPONSOR

Dave & Joanie Darling

Dave & Maurine Darling

The Shackett Family

Todd Darling & Family

LONG DRIVE

DeRita and Sons Construction Company

CLOSEST TO THE PIN

DuBois Chemical

Northern Middlesex YMCA

Tee Sponsors: 

American Legion Post 75

Attorney Phrances Leverton Szewczyk

Biega Funeral Home

DeCarlo & Doll Consulting Engineers

Ford News Diner

Harvey’s Brush Hill Farm

Conrad & Linda Hauk

Hibbard & Associates

Chris & Kristin Holden

Luch’s Consulting Engineers

Mercy High School

Midstate Gutter Co. LLC  – Michael Boccalatte

Karen & Gene Nocera

Palmer Eye Care  – Dr. Jeffrey Palmer

Guy & Pat Russo in support of Warm The Children

Smith & Bishel Company

South Fire District Union

Contributors

Lyman Orchard’s GC ▪ GEO Insight ▪ Mohegan Sun ▪ David Darling 

Kevin Elak ▪ Chris Conley ▪ Chris & Kristin Holden ▪Lynn Baldoni

  Chris Cote’s Golf Shop ▪ Man Cave/She Shed 

Lynn Baldoni ▪ Celtic Tavern ▪ Call Before You Dig

2024 Golf Committee

Committee Chair: Kevin Elak

Committee members:  Lynn Baldoni, Chris Conley, Chris Holden, Joe Samolis

Event Volunteers: Chris Conley, Candace Crane, Dave Darling

Middletown – Local Kiwanian and Middletown resident Kristin Holden was elected on August 17^th by members of the New England and Bermuda District of Kiwanis as Governor for the District in Springfield, MA.  This position is a one year term where Kristin will lead over 3,000 Kiwanis members in 131 clubs from all six New England states and the British territory of Bermuda.  These local Kiwanis clubs, as well as Kiwanis clubs from all over the world, participate in service projects and fundraising efforts to improve the lives of children within their communities.  Kristin’s term as Governor official starts on October 1, 2024.   

Over this past year while serving as Governor-Elect, Kristin has been attending training sessions put on by Kiwanis International, organized the team that will serve with her during her term and finalized the goals that she plans to accomplish over the coming year.  Her goals include increasing communication within the District, offering more support to the clubs and members so that they can continue to support the amazing work done within each club’s community, grow new clubs, increase membership and retain existing Kiwanians.  She wants to see not only the organization grow, but also the members grow as individuals.  

Kristin became a member of Kiwanis in 2009 and has held multiple roles at the local, divisional and district level.  Her time in the Kiwanis family actually started much earlier when she was a member of the Maloney High School Key Club in Meriden, CT and served two terms as Lt. Governor.  Key Clubs, along with other Service Leadership Programs, are sponsored by local Kiwanis Clubs and can be found in elementary schools all the way to colleges.  Kristin credits her experiences in Key Club not only in helping her develop as a leader and individual, but also instilling in her a passion for giving back to her community. 

Kristin lives in Middletown with her husband Christopher Holden, who is a fellow Kiwanian and who serves at President of the Kiwanis Foundation of New England.  Their daughter Lindsey Holden is a sophomore in college and can often be found helping out at service projects when her schedule allows. 

The Kiwanis Club of Middletown’s scholarship fund will contribute $5,500 to these students’ college education.

Middletown, May 30, 2024 – Four area high school seniors: Aghanwi Fo-Dikum of Mercy High School, Gianluca Latina and Juliana Roberts-Hills of Middletown High School and Lucas Rivera of Xavier High School are recipients of the Kiwanis Club of Middletown’s 2024 annual scholarship awards. Aghanwi plans to attend Smith College for the fall semester; Gianluca is most likely enrolling at University of Connecticut; Juliana will attend Middlesex Community College and Lucas will matriculate at Central Connecticut State University.

For many years, the Kiwanis club has awarded deserving college-bound high school students scholarships using financial need, involvement in the school and local community as well as scholastic standing as primary criteria. Since the program’s inception, the club has contributed more than $123,000 to the cost of college for its beneficiaries with the annual golf tournament proceeds serving as the primary source of funding. 

The Kiwanis Club of Middletown is proud to sponsor, fundraise and participate in many community service activities such as its signature program, Warm the Children, Pasta Day, the Middletown Thanksgiving Project, Bicycle Safety Rodeo, Holiday on Main and others. If you would like to learn more about Kiwanis, please visit middletownkiwanis.org

Donations for Warm The Children through The Travelers Championship – Birdies for Charity Program are being accepted now through Sunday, June 23, 2024. Warm the Children will receive an additional 15% on top of every donation collected, thanks to the program sponsor Webster Bank!

 Birdies for Charity is a no-risk program where Warm The Children will receive 100 percent of every donation collected plus a 15% bonus on top of each donation collected. *

All administrative costs and online fees are covered by BFC to make this possible.  To make your online donation through the Birdies For Charity program click on the link here.

*the maximum bonus is $11,250, which would equal 15% of $75,000 in donations collected

On Sunday, September 17, the Kiwanis Club of Middletown gathered to celebrated the accomplishments of the 2022-2023 year and install the 2023-2024 Board. Fun times were had by all who attended the 72nd Annual Installation of Officers and Board of Directors.

The club would like to thank outgoing Lt. Governor Elisabeth Umpleby for retiring the outgoing board and incoming Lt. Governor Karen Roesler for installing the incoming Board.

The 2023-2024 Officers and Board of Directors is as follows:

Officers

Immediate Past President – Kristin Holden

President – Kevin Elak

President Elect – Candace Crane

Vice President – Lori Lodge

Treasurer – Chris Conley

Secretary – Christopher Holden

Board of Directors

1 Year Term – Lynn Baldoni

2 Year Term – David Darling

3 Year Term – Kathy McPherson

On Saturday, September 9, Kiwanis Club of Middletown members collected 300lbs of food and $136 for the Amazing Grace Food Pantry at the Stop & Shop on Main St in Middletown. The Food Pantry was extremely appreciative of this donation as they are struggling to keep food on the shelves to feed those in need in Middletown.

Please join the Kiwanis Foundation of Middletown for a fun filled day of golf on Thursday, August 17, 2022.   Last year we raised over $8,000 to support scholarships and various other childrens’ programs and activities.  

The Kiwanis Club of Middletown’s scholarship fund will contribute $7,000 to these students’ college education.

Middletown, May 30, 2023 – Five area high school seniors, Lillian Clark of Mercy High School, Estefania Aguilar and Shawn Jackson Roberson of Middletown High School, Davia Wright of Vinal Technical High School and Jeffrey Fortuna of Xavier High School are recipients of the Kiwanis Club of Middletown’s 2023 annual scholarship awards. Lillian plans to attend Providence College for the fall semester. Estefania is enrolling at Southern CT State University. Shawn will attend Middlesex Community College. Davia will matriculate at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

For many years, the Kiwanis club has awarded deserving college-bound high school students scholarships using financial need, involvement in the school and local community and scholastic standing as primary criteria. Since the program’s inception, the club has contributed more than $118,000 to the cost of college for its beneficiaries with the annual golf tournament proceeds serving as the primary source of funding.

The Kiwanis Club of Middletown is proud to sponsor, fundraise and participate in many community service activities such as its signature program, Warm the Children, as well as Pasta Day & the accompanying silent auction, the Middletown Thanksgiving Project, Bicycle Safety Rodeo, Holiday on Main and others.

August 20, 2022 – At the 2022 New England and Bermuda Kiwanis District Convention Kristin Holden was award the 2021-2022 Outstanding Lieutenant Governor Award.  This annual award is given to one of the 21 Lt. Governors in the District, for going above and beyond in their duties as Lt. Governor.  Kristin, who is also secretary for the Kiwanis Club of Middletown, was responsible for being the liaison between the District leadership and her nine clubs that span from Windsor to Southington to Meriden, CT.  Over her term she visited the clubs at their meetings as well as service projects and fundraisers.  She also coordinated, a multi-divisional event, that brought 90 Kiwanians and service leadership program members from all over CT together to package and distribute 27,000 meals for families in need in CT.  Amazing Grace Food Pantry was one of the programs who received these meals.  In addition to the service project, Kristin coordinated a Kiwanis at the Yard Goats game, which brought CT Kiwanians together again for a fun day at the ball park while also raising money for charity.  Kristin has been a member of Kiwanis for thirteen years serving in multiple club and District roles.  Kristin joined Kiwanis to give back to the program who helped develop her leadership skills in middle school and high school.

In addition to Kristin’s award, the Kiwanis Club of Middletown’s president Chris Holden, was inducted as the Kiwanis Foundation of New England President, for a three year term.  Chris will be responsible for overseeing the fundraising and programs for the philanthropic arm of the New England and Bermuda District of Kiwanis.  Since 1981, the foundation has supported the Pediatric Trauma Institute at Tufts Medical Center in Boston and helped to advance the research in this field.  The Foundation also provides free materials to local Kiwanis clubs to distribute in their community including infant safety kits, bike and infant safety information as well as training to EMT’s for their work on infant trauma victims.  The foundation is close to Chris’ heart and he looks forward to continuing to grow the outreach of the foundation throughout New England and Bermuda during his term.  Chris has held many positions at the local and district level including terms as Distinguished President and Distinguished Lt. Governor.

Kiwanis is a global organization of 550,000 members in 80 countries and territories dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Locally the Kiwanis Club of Middletown runs Warm the Children, bike rodeos, assists Middletown Recreation with their holiday events, Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project, Holiday on Main and distributes scholarships to local students.  The club also sponsors the Middletown High School Key Club.