DeLand Kiwanis Club honored, honors others

By Tony Tussing
BEACON COLUMNIST

posted Mar 9, 2010 - 9:24:42am

The DeLand City Commission paused at its March 1 meeting to salute the Kiwanis Club of DeLand for its 75 years of serving the youth of the community.

The club was founded March 5, 1935. Although most West Volusians may know the Kiwanis Club from its popular pancake breakfasts, more often, club members work with young people in programs at the elementary-, middle-, high-school and college levels.

Recently, the DeLand Kiwanis Club inaugurated a special award for members of the community who share the organization’s goal of making life better for young people.

Club members presented “Champions of Youth” awards to DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar and 4-H coordinator Shirley Ellison.

The honors were presented at the American Cancer Society’s “Think Pink Night” basketball game at Stetson University. Boys and Girls Club Unit Director Althea Ross Chavers, a cancer survivor, also was honored at the game for her work with youth.

The Kiwanis Club presented Chavers with a check for more than $1,000 to support Boys and Girls Club programs.

Also, more than 50 Boys and Girls Club members attended the game, compliments of the Kiwanis Club. The youths were accompanied by David Williams, director of the Spring Hill Boys and Girls Club.

The two Champions of Youth winners have long histories of helping.

Mayor Apgar has supported youth activities throughout his life in DeLand. He served as a volunteer coach in numerous athletic programs, served on the DeLand High School football chain-gang during Bulldog games, and, as mayor, has supported youth activities throughout the town.

Ellison works with the University of Florida IFAS Cooperative Extension Service as the Volusia County 4-H program assistant. She has spent 30 years in 4-H in Volusia County.

Helping the Kiwanis Club to sponsor the special night’s awards and honors were Diana and Ed Snyder of M&E Fairview Cabinetry and Stetson University.

— Tussing, a member of the Kiwanis Club of DeLand, also writes a school-news column for The Beacon.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

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