The Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club held its Annual Pancake Breakfast on March 10, 2012, to raise funds to donate back to the community through scholarships, leadership programs and organizations like the Key Club at local high schools, including Valparaiso High School, Boone Grove, Washington Township and Andrean. “I think this is going to be a record-breaking year for us,” said Scott Carlson of the Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club.
This is the 60th year of the Annual Pancake Breakfast, and the Noon Kiwanis Club hopes to raise over $20,000, with the expectation of serving over 2,500 people this year. “Our main focus is children in the community,” said Carlson. “We donate money for scholarships to well deserving students but we also donate to the Porter County Fair, 4-H and Riley’s Children’s Hospital for juvenile diabetes research.”
Key Club students were on hand to help volunteer for the breakfast. Volunteers included Josh Mekola (senior at VHS), Nina Kranjac (sophomore at VHS), Courtney Schuiteman (sophomore at VHS) and Ethan Pony (freshman at VHS). The Key Club also had members selling cotton candy including volunteers Erin Rowland (senior at VHS), Ashleigh Schneider (senior at VHS) and Abby Zeitler (senior at Wheeler High School).
Key Club is one organization that will benefit from the money raised at the breakfast. Ethan explained that Key Club gives back to the community. “We help around the community and try to make it better. One thing we did this year was a leaf raking project for the elderly,” he said.
Courtney said, “I am able to participate in the Head Start Reading Program. I speak Spanish and I read stories in Spanish to the children that are Spanish speaking. We go over words in Spanish and English while they are learning English.” Nina explained, “I too participate in the Head Start Reading Program and I love making the kids laugh. Seeing them smile is a lot of fun.”
The piano class of Sue Marquardt, with students from kindergarten to high school levels, entertained as the crowd dined on their delicious pancakes. Playing her rendition of “Rockin’ Robin” was 4th grade Central Elementary School student Erika Aiken.
Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the following business for their support of this event. Thanks to their support, the Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club can make a successful and long-lasting impact on the community.
Merrill Lynch, Direct Mail Advantage, Emerson, Total Experience, ValpoLife.com, Accent Dental, King Hobbies, Osan & Patton LLP, Bucher Technologies, Inc., Lifestyles, Prime Lending, Tudor Services, Cartronix, Moeller Funeral Home, Raymond James of Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Century 21 Executive Realty, Nationwide - Steven D. Bobinski, Culver's of Valparaiso, Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Rittenhouse Senior Living of Portage, Visiting Angels, Horizon Bank, Little U Academy and Task Force Tips.