About Kiwanis

Utica-Shelby Township Chapter

Our local chapter uses the Kiwanis mission of empowering communities to improve the world by making lasting differences in the lives of children right here in Utica and Shelby Township. Through the Kiwanis Club, our local chapter has the opportunity to be a part of the bigger picture.

The Kiwanis Club looks out for kids in every corner of the globe. This is all possible through their 550,000 volunteers—and counting—who serve their communities through local clubs, such as ours.

Position

Kiwanis connects people around the world with opportunities to passionately pursue club volunteerism, service and fundraising that make a positive, lasting impact in the lives of children.

Vision

Kiwanis will be a positive influence in communities worldwide—so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive.

Board & Officers

Bryan Padgett

President

Bio coming soon!

Benny Prashar

President Elect

Benny is a Senior New Model Program Manager at Ford, and has been a member of Kiwanis since 2011. As a kid he helped his Dad with Kiwanis fundraising (Chicago area), and was a Key Clubber in high school. He loves all the amazing things Kiwanis does for the community, and the big smiles we put on kids’ faces at Christmas-time. Benny loves great food, sports, and traveling with his wife, Ann, and two wonderful kids.

Janice Maiorano

Immediate Past President

Janice works as a marketing manager for OUR Credit Union and became a corporate member of Kiwanis in 2019 because she loved the welcoming environment and community dedication the members display. Apart from Kiwanis, Janice likes to spend time outside – running, hiking, and exploring, and is always up for an adventure with her daughter.

Stephanie Bennett

Officer – Treasurer

Stephanie Bennett has been a member since December 2019. Her favorite thing about being a member of this club is the community involvement. As a recent resident to the area, Stephanie was lacking a sense of community. Kiwanis has provided her not only with a wonderful community of dedicated friends, but also a chance to help make her community better.

Theresa Farmer

Officer – Secretary

Theresa is a former member of Key Club and Circle K.  She is thrilled to be part of the Utica Shelby Kiwanis, having joined after her very first meeting in 2022!  Theresa, a former elementary school teacher, loves being able to help children in the community.  Theresa will never forget how welcomed she felt at her very first meeting.  She is looking forward to welcoming new members, so they may experience all the joys of being part of this club, having fun and making friends while serving others!

Marc Alexander

Director

Marc is the Founder and CEO of Lite Raise and has been a Corporate Member since 2022. After attending his first meeting as a guest, he loved the genuine, warm, and loving welcome that every member gave him. Being a part of a passionate group that aligned with the vision of helping others was inspirational for him. Through Kiwanis, he can continue to fulfill his mission of helping others.

Kathy Corso

Director

Kathy retired from being an elementary school secretary in UCS after 22 years. She loved working with the children and their families. She knew the Utica Shelby Kiwanis was the club she wanted to join when she retired, and she did! Kathy’s first Kiwanis event she ever attended was the Adopt a Family Christmas Program and it was a very powerful experience for her. It will always be her favorite event amongst all the great things the club does!

Mike Divozzo

Director

Mike loves belonging to a club that helps families within his own community. Mike’s been married to his wife, Marie, for over 40 years. Together, they have four kids and six beautiful grandchildren. He loves to golf and compete in cornhole league. His favorite Kiwanis activity is reading books to the kids.

Mary Novak

Director

Mary has been a member since 2011. She has served as treasurer and a board member for most of her time. Mary got involved with the West Utica snack program and then March is Reading Month. She’s been involved with almost all of the club’s fundraisers and charity events.

Robert Peterson

Director

Rob started attending our meetings back in 2011, and was formally inducted in February of 2012. His favorite memory during his time with our Kiwanis Club was having the honor of building and installing a wheelchair ramp for a little boy whose family didn’t have the means to do so. Rob describes the experience as “absolutely incredible.”

Jim Schwark

Director

Jim joined our chapter in 1968! Jim is a past Distinguished President and a Past Distinguished Lt. Governor of Division 3. He has also served as Michigan District Chairman for Membership as well as International Relations. Jim is the co-founder of the Romeo Kiwanis Club, as well as the former Birmingham/Bloomfield Kiwanis.

Additional Board Members

Committees

Service Leadership Committee

Our committee members work diligently to provide leadership opportunities through special events or dedicated programs.

Human & Spiritual Values

We work with local organizations to cooperate on broad nondenominational lines to create a greater public consciousness.

Community Relations

Our members focus on outreach to improve relationships and understand our community to better serve that community.

Youth Services

This committee works directly with children to teach long-term life skills and provide an outlet so that every kid feels safe.

Membership

Marketing is crucial in ensuring our future. Members are responsible for recruiting new individual and corporate members.

Our History

The Utica-Shelby Township Kiwanis Club came into existence in 1957. At the time, Larry Jerome was the President of the Rochester Kiwanis Club. As a business owner in Utica, Bill decided to start the Kiwanis Club of Utica, where his associate Bill Hoehn took charge of the new club.

Bill had a very outgoing personality and knew the community, helping him grow the local network into a group of 26 men. The club was chartered in 1958 and was off and running.

Our club currently sits at 48 members, and is one of the premier Kiwanis Clubs in the Michigan District. With thirty-five of our members having received the Distinguished Presidents Award from Kiwanis International, there is a strong group of leaders pushing the Kiwanis Club of Utica-Shelby Township forward.

The club offers opportunities to take on leadership positions. Thirteen of our members have served as Lt. Governors of Division 3, and several have been awarded Distinguished Lt. Governor status.

We’re proud of the success our members have had within Kiwanis and outside of our organization. Over the years, our club has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help those in need in our own community. We look forward to many more years of serving the Utica-Shelby area.

Come Serve Your Community with Kiwanis

Become a part of our Utica-Shelby Township Kiwanis Club today to support your neighbors. From a commitment to attend events and meetings, to donating monetary or necessary items, your community needs volunteers willing to give back.

Join Donate