• 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 Generous!We Are Having Fun!
  • 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

  • Mary Ellen Withrow

    March 1, 2019, marked 25 years since Marion native Mary Ellen Withrow was sworn in as the 40th Treasurer of the United States. She is the only person to have held the post of treasurer at all three levels of government–local, state, and national. Her career in public service began 50 years ago when she […]Read More »
  • Secret Origins Revealed! Young Artists Unleash Their Comics for Free Comic Book Day!

    Dozens of local high school students shared their original art at Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 3. Comics from about 60 interactive media (IAM) students from Tri-Rivers Career Center were featured at Thunderfury Comics and Birch Tree Bookery. “Everybody has a comic that could appeal to them, but maybe the barrier of pricing […]Read More »
  • Yellow Finch Expands to Add Event Space with The Nest

    After three years of perfecting charcuterie and catering, Leiha Lamb and her fiancé, Chad Mays, are serving up something new. Yellow Finch Creations is now offering a small event rental space called The Nest at 119 W. Huber St. Suite 101. “From weddings to celebrations of life, baby showers to birthday parties, this is a […]Read More »
  • LaRue Team Led By the Athlete of the Century

    When a LaRue businessman was looking to make a splash, Walter Lingo bought a National Football League franchise for $100 and hired a man called “the greatest athlete in the world” at the 1912 Olympics. Jim Thorpe won two gold medals and set a world record which stood for decades. “It’s just like if [Lionel] […]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