Circle K

What is Circle K International (CKI)?
Circle K International (CKI) is the largest and most active collegiate and university community service, leadership development and networking organization in the world. With more than 12,600 members in 17 nations, Circle K International is the largest network of service clubs at the university level. Circle K clubs are organized and sponsored by a Kiwanis club on a college or university campus. CKI is a self-governing organization and elects its own officers, conducts its own meetings and determines its own service activities.

CKI blends community service and leadership training with the opportunity to meet other college students around the world. Projects such as the Six Cents Initiative, CKI’s International fundraiser that aims to provide water to the 2.2 billion children worldwide who lack safe drinking water, bring CKI members together to make a difference in the world.

Partnering with Kiwanis
In the past the Kiwanis family of service organizations partnered up with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a program to virtually eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) throughout the world. Circle K clubs have raised more than $523,000, which will protect about 2.5 million children from IDD, the leading preventable cause of mental retardation. While the Kiwanis-family has reach its goal of US $75 million in cash and pledges, more than 41 million infants worldwide are born each year unprotected from the effects of IDD. Kiwanis was committed to the cause and raised over US $100 million to virtually rid the world of IDD by the year 2010

The current project with Kiwanis and UNICEF is Project Eliminate. Who's goal is to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) a deadly disease which steals the lives of nearly 60,000 babies and a significant number of women each year.

Circle K at Waterloo
The University of Waterloo Circle K is the most active club Circle K Club in Eastern Canada. The University of Waterloo Circle K received the Distinguished Club honour (2011-2012) from the district and also received the honour of being the FEDS Charitable Club of the Year (2012).

University of Waterloo Circle K has been involved in volunteering for many small local projects as well as large scale international projects. From 2003 to 2005, the Club, with St. Jerome's University and Free the Children, raised over $20,000 towards building a school in Kenya. University of Waterloo Circle K also raised as a club or on an individual basis over $45,000 to send 12 Circle K members to Kenya to build the school.

Some of University of Waterloo Circle K's previous service projects and events include:
 * Oktoberfest (annual)
 * Halloween Dodgeball tournament
 * Helping Hands Poker Tournament
 * Various fundraisers: BBQ, bake sale, chocolate sale
 * Trick-or-East
 * Operation Christmas Child
 * Buddy Walk

Partners
Partners of University of Waterloo Circle K include:
 * Keatsway Elementary School Breakfast Club
 * UNICEF Six Cents Initiative
 * UNICEF Project Eliminate
 * Oktoberfest Inc.

Awards

 * Eastern Canada District - Distinguished Club 2011-2012
 * Federation of Students - Charitable Club of the year 2011-2012