CLASS Pins Kiwanis AKTION Club Volunteers

CLASS

 

LAWRENCE – Families, friends, supporters and CLASS staff gathered as 13 members of the Aktion Club of Kiwanis of Greater Lawrence received their service pins on Aug. 29 to commemorate their volunteerism and one year of service to the organization. Kiwanis Lt. Gov. Dan Bennett, Div. 10 and 11, presided and presented the honors to CLASS individuals, all volunteers who live in the Merrimack Valley and work on projects to benefit their community.

Aktion Clubs, sponsored by Kiwanis, are service clubs open to adults living with disabilities who want to take on leadership roles and make a difference. The new Aktion Club members, who all attend CLASS day programs, have spent the last year writing letters of support to troops overseas; supporting fundraising efforts for worthy projects, such as the new Pediatric wing of Lawrence General Hospital and the Kiwanis endeavor, Project Eliminate; and writing cheerful cards to sick children staying in the LGH.

Newly inducted members include Maryann Baglieri, Joel Blough, Nghi Chau, Chrissy Evans, Stacey Francis, Susan Freitas, Man Heng, Rosanna Hidalgo, Daniel Maltacea, Bianca Maldonado, Grace O’Boyle, David Ramirez, Robert “Beau” Slack, Christina Santos and Taisha Wolfendale.

The ceremony was a first for Kiwanis of Greater Lawrence, as it is the first Aktion Club in Merrimack Valley. CLASS hosted a luncheon in the Aktion Club members honor, attended by families, Kiwanis members and CLASS staff. The Aktion Club President, Advisor and Members received service pins. A member of Aktion Club International, CLASS Aktion Club was formed in 2012 for CLASS by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Lawrence.

Kiwanis members in attendance included Al Deluca and Michael Deluca of Deluca Chevrolet, Jeep & Cadillac; Deedee O’Brien, Kiwanis Club president and executive director of Ironstone Farm; Aktion Club Advisor Celeste Begley of Right at Home; Gary Finlayson, past Kiwanis president; Charlie Breen, director of John Breen Memorial Funeral Home; Maria Consoli, branch manager of The Savings Bank; and Colleen Coco, development officer at Lawrence General Hospital.

About Aktion Club

Aktion Clubs, sponsored by Kiwanis, are service clubs open to all adults living with disabilities who want to take on leadership roles and make a difference. Aktion Club currently has 8,400 members in 400 clubs in seven nations. Members have invaluable opportunities to:

• Give back to the community and the world through meaningful service. • Build relationships with community members who enjoy helping people achieve their full potential. • Learn Kiwanis values such as friendship, altruism and goodwill.• Participate in annual Aktion Club contests and • Enjoy fun and fellowship of a true club experience.

About Kiwanis – Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. Current membership is nearly 600,000 members in 16,298 clubs in 80 countries.

About CLASS – The mission of CLASS/Arc of Greater Lawrence is to support, promote, and facilitate the inherent rights of individuals with disabilities to experience a life of opportunity for personal growth and active, meaningful engagement in their community. A human services agency with offices in Lawrence, North Andover and North Reading, CLASS has supported people with disabilities, their families and their caregivers since 1976 by building an environment that promotes community partnership and life enrichment. At CLASS, families and caregivers are supported by a professional, dedicated staff offering advocacy as well as a range of services crucial to their loved ones’ success.