• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Presidential!We Are Having Fun!We Are Generous!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Noon Kiwanis Makes a Difference for Local Children

By Wendy Weichenthal on April 3, 2023

Decorative
Tammi Cowell and Ellen Messenger smile at the 2023 Kiwanis Pancake Day.

For more than 60 years, Marion Noon Kiwanis has held its annual Pancake Day, flipping thousands of flapjacks to raise funds for children’s causes. The most recent event served up pancakes for more than 1,000 people.

“It is great to see the community come together. From our sponsors to our volunteers to our attendees, it is a great day full of food, family and fun!” said Christy Neff, president of Marion Noon Kiwanis. “It’s a Marion tradition!”

girls in shimmery lavender dresses addorned with purple feathers dance in unison on a stage at the event.

Dennis Swartz organizes the entertainment, from toddler tots in dance routines from groups including the Martha Douce Studio, Diverse Moves, St. Mary’s School and the Marionaires Barbershop Group, with some members in their 90s. Each group volunteers their time and talents. Together, they raised $8,000 for children’s projects.

Three girls in colorful traditional clothes do a traditional Hispanic dance.
St. Mary’s School dancers

“We are so grateful to the community for it support. It is heartwarming to see so many come out and make a difference, year after year,” said Ellen Messenger, officer with Marion Noon Kiwanis.

Kiwanis History and Impact

Marion Noon Kiwanis was founded in 1921 by President-elect Warren G. Harding.

A group of about 20 Kiwanis members and guests smile. The presidential seal is visible on the floor.
Kiwanis members and guests toured the Harding Presidential Library and Museum.

Each year, the Marion Noon Kiwanis Foundation donates thousands of dollars to many causes, including college scholarships for local students, the Explore-It-Torium Children’s Museum, Cents for Shoes, the Peanut Butter Jelly Truck and more local nonprofits serving the community. They also sponsor more than a dozen local service projects.

Seniors from Harding and Pleasant High Schools spoke at a recent Kiwanis meeting.

In addition to the adult group which meets twice a month to learn about local activities, programs, and nonprofits, they also sponsor a Key Club for high school students at Marion Harding and a Circle K at Marion Technical College.

More Information

Marion Noon Kiwanis meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Women’s Club Home at 1126 E. Center St. in Marion. Anyone interested in the group is invited to visit a meeting.

For more information, visit facebook.com/marionnoonkiwanis or go to their website at https://MarionNoonKiwanis.com/.

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Beltone Audiology

    BELTONE AUDIOLOGY. . My name is Angela Thomas. I have been married to my husband, Clint, for two years and, after blending our families, we have six children. I enjoy the outdoors and spending time with our closely knit family. I have been in the medical field for 22 years. . Through Beltone Audiology, I […]Read More »
  • Volunteering at Marion General Hospital

    When speaking about the power that volunteering brings to the Marion community, the volunteers at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital are the perfect example.  Their dedicated core of volunteers over two decades has contributed more than 550,000 hours of time to the hospital. In monetary figures that equates to conservatively $9.5 million dollars, just in hours […]Read More »
  • Josh Daniels

    MarionMade! is about loving where you live–and, loving the people, places, products, and programs that make Marion a vibrant community. One group of people who are proud to serve the community are our public and elected officials, many of whom serve the communities of Marion County in these roles above and beyond their family and […]Read More »
  • TRIO Talent Search at Marion Technical College Empowers Students for Success

    The question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” may be intimidating to many students. The TRIO Talent Search program helps more than 500 local students from seven area middle and high schools explore their options and find a pathway to college, a career, or the military. TRIO is a collection of […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2026 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image