Club History  

The Kiwanis Club of Houma was organized by George Wright. George joined the New Iberia Kiwanis Club in 1966 and moved to Houma in 1968. Shortly after arriving in Houma, he began to contact businessmen and community leaders about establishing a Kiwanis Club in Houma. The group met at the American Bank board room which later became their meeting room. The Club's application for membership was accepted by the Kiwanis International in October 1968. There were 36 charter members. The new Club quickly grew and did much for their community.

Soon after it was formed, the Club established Key Clubs at all high schools in Terrebonne Parish.

The first service project was providing free pictures with Santa at the Southland Mall. The first fund raiser was a golf tournament at Ellendale Country Club.

In August 1972, the Club began a scholarship program. Later a scholarship fund was established with money raised from conducting bingo games and from the sale of property that was donated to the Club. Currently, the Club awards scholarships to freshmen students at Nicholls State University and the L. E. Fletcher Technical Community College. The scholarship program was re-named in 2006 in honor of a community leader and past Club president John Woodard. The scholarships are now named the "Kiwanis Club of Houma, John Woodard Memorial Scholarship".

The Club began a Terrific Kids Program during the 1991-1992 school year. Club members recognize outstanding third grade students at schools through its "Terrific Kids" program. Every nine weeks third grade teachers select a student to be recognized. Students are presented a certificate and prizes at an assembly of third grade students. Eleven area schools now have Terrific Kids Programs.

Since 2001 the Club has sponsored the "Coats for Kids" drive. Kiwanis members pick up coats from schools, churches and businesses in the Houma area. The coats are cleaned and distributed to needy students in the Terrebonne Parish schools.

In response to the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Club established a disaster relief fund. Over $28,000 in disaster relief contributions was received from other Kiwanis Clubs, Kiwanis foundations and our members. These funds were used to help families in the community and to purchase programs for school counselors and to replace teaching materials that were lost in the flooded schools.

Other Club Activities - conducts bingo games at two area nursing home facilities, the Houma and Thibodaux Kiwanis Clubs sponsor a fishing Rodeo for TARC/LARC/ARC. The Club provides volunteers for the Southdown Market Festival and the 5K Run for Excellence sponsored by the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence. The Club sponsored the Tahiti booth at the World of Fun Festival sponsored by CASA of Terrebonne and participates in the Terrebonne General Medical Center's blood program.

CLUB PRESIDENTS