‘A Storm Approaching’ by Kimber Wallwork-Heineman will be raffled at the May 4 Derby Party for charity. Courtesy photo
KIWANIS News:
The Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos is hosting a Kentucky Derby Party 2:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at the Dixie Girl Restaurant on Central Avenue.
The event, which is co-sponsored by the Los Alamos Medical Center, is a benefit for “Project Eliminate,” a Kiwanis International-UNICEF effort to wipe out maternal and neonatal tetanus worldwide.
Kentucky Derby Party Chair Linda Daly says, “Put on your best Derby attire, grab a Daily Racing Form and join us for an afternoon at Churchill Downs for the 139th Run for the Roses!”
Tickets are $50 per person and include a mint julep and abundant hors d’oeuvres. Daly encourages ladies to wear a hat for the “Derby Hat” contest. Also included: music, big screens TVs for optimum live viewing of the Derby, and a raffle drawing for a framed and signed print by Kimber Wallwork-Heineman.
Of course the party would not be complete without 50/50 betting on the big race. Simply put, party-goers can purchase tickets to put on their favorite horse. If your horse wins, the pot is split among ticket holders, while 50% is donated to Project Eliminate. Have no fear, if you haven’t a clue as to who is running, information, horse photos and fun facts will be available so that you can either make an educated guess or bet the prettiest horse.
Daly said that each $50 ticket equates to saving 15 precious lives. “We Kiwanians raise money year-round to support local high school scholarships as well as several youth-serving programs and projects. We thought we’d celebrate one of our country’s oldest sporting events while raising money for a great cause, one that our club has embraced.”
Tickets may be purchased at the Dixie Girl Restaurant prior to May 3 or by contacting Karen Kendall or Linda Daly by calling 412-3793 or via email at
What If You Could Save a Baby’s Life?
There are few events more joyful than the day a new baby is welcomed into the world. But in 30 countries, a dreaded disease quickly turns that joy into tragedy.
Maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) kills one baby every nine minutes, that’s 60,000 babies every year who will never grow up, make their mothers laugh, play with friends or dream about the future.
The effects of the disease are excruciating – tiny newborns suffer repeated, painful convulsions and extreme sensitivity to light and touch. A significant number of women die from MNT each year, too.
With the Eliminate Project, Kiwanis International and UNICEF have joined forces to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus.
To eliminate MNT from the Earth, more than 100 million mothers and their future babies must be immunized. This requires vaccines, syringes, safe storage, transportation, thousands of skilled staff and more. The vaccination only costs $1.70. It will take $110 million – and the dedicated work of UNICEF and every member of the Kiwanis family.
Kiwanis and UNICEF joined forces before to tackle iodine deficiency disorders, achieving one of the most significant public health successes of the 20th century. As maternal and neonatal tetanus is eliminated in a country through Project Eliminate, Kiwanis International makes an announcement to celebrate.
Below is a list of recent countries that have successfully eliminated maternal and neonatal tetnus:
- Cameroon – Jan. 23, 2013
- China – Oct. 31, 2012
- East Timor and Tanzania – Oct. 17, 2012
- Guinea-Bissau – May 11, 2012
- Burkina Faso – April 12, 2012
- Liberia and Senegal – Feb. 24, 2012
- Ghana – Dec. 2, 2011
- Uganda – Mar. 30, 2011
