Finishing in the world’s top-ten clubs, Kiwanis Club of Paris received a finalist award in its tier for the 2019-20 Signature Project Contest — Kiwanis Pancake Days.
Jimmy Steed, Kiwanis of Paris president, said being recognized in the top ten is “a reminder to me of the dedication of the Kiwanis Club of Paris members to our community, and of the unmatched giving spirit of Lamar County; which we have seen on display everywhere throughout the years.”
Jerry Williams flipping pancakes during a previous year’s Kiwanis Pancake Days in Lamar County / Submitted
The Kiwanis Club of Paris, Texas, finished in the top ten in Tier 2 clubs, which are clubs with 28 members or more. Though Steed said not all clubs submitted a signature project, there are 7,370 Kiwanis Clubs around the world — not counting schools and youth clubs.
The group’s Signature Project was originally submitted in the Texas-Oklahoma District, and they finished first. This first-place win allowed them to compete against other club-submitted projects around the world.
“My predecessor, 2019-20 Kiwanis President Denise Kornegay, worked hard on our submission to the contest and made sure what we do was well represented,” Steed said. “I believe our best days are always ahead of us, and our Kiwanis Club will always work to make our community and the lives of our children better.”
Steed said received the award for reaching the top ten means quite a bit to those involved with Kiwanis of Paris.
“It is an affirmation of the work we do, and of our Pancake Days that have been going since 1951, which provides funding for all the things we do and support in the community,” he said. “Our Pancake Days is significant in several ways. It raises funds for things we do and support in the community.”
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The Kiwanis Pancake Days helps Kiwanis Club of Paris provide support to community projects such as:
- Wheelchair ramps for Lamar, Red River, and Delta Counties;
- Imagination Library;
- The REACH Center;
- Habitat for Humanity;
- Texas Dream Center;
- NAACP;
- Camp Kiwanis;
- The Boys and Girls Club;
- Backpacks for students;
- Children’s Advocacy Center;
- Scholarships for graduating Seniors;
- Funding and support for Key Cubs, Builders Clubs, and K-Kids Clubs in our local schools;
- Christmas gifts for nursing home residents;
- Christmas Food boxes; and
- MORE.
“This is not a complete list of how we use the funds from Pancake Days, but just a list to give an idea of how the money goes back into the community,” Steed said. “Perhaps the most impactful part of our project is how Kiwanis Pancake Days reaches our entire community and brings it together.”
For several families in the Paris and Lamar County area, Kiwanis Pancakes Days has become and a tradition stemming back for years.
“Many times people who have moved away from Paris make it a point to be here for Pancake Days,” he said. “It’s a great time for the community to come together to enjoy pancakes and each other.”
During their last Pancake Days, Kiwanians served more than 11,500 people.
“While COVID has interrupted Pancake Days, we still plan on having it later in this year, and I believe our community will respond stronger than ever,” he said. “It is always looked forward to and brings the entire community together.”
