July 10 - 13, 2008
Kent Cornucopia Days 2008
- "The Festival of the Valley" - A community service project of the
Kent Lions,
Kent WA
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July 10 - 13, 2008
Kent Cornucopia Days 2008
- "The Festival of the Valley" - A community service project of the
Kent Lions,
Kent WA |
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Kent Cornucopia Days is one of the many community service projects of the Kent Lions Club. In addition to the Kent Lions Club benefiting from funds raised by this event, nearly 250 non-profit or charitable organizations benefits directly or indirectly from funds raised by this event. Who are the Kent Lions?The Kent Lions Club is an all-volunteer "Community Service Organization". We are a group of individuals dedicated to help those in need, providing enhancement to our community through hands-on projects and grants, and to creating an environment that allows our members to enrich their own lives by selflessly serving others. Our motto is "We Serve" What do the Lions do?The main charitable cause of the Lions worldwide is eyesight, hearing, and diabetes conservation programs. This is only a partial list, as individual Lions Clubs are involved in a wide scope of other charities. We raise funds through the community and our members contribute their time, money, and effort in order to provide assistance on the various Kent Lions Club Projects. The prestige and importance of Lionism’s work in all fields of service endeavor is recognized throughout the entire world. Kent Lions Club Community Service Projects:Free eye exams & glasses to local needy. Free hearing exams & aids to local needy. Free diabetes exams & equipment to local needy. Free breakfasts for seniors at the Kent Senior Center. Founding sponsor of Mill Creek Cafe at the Kent Senior Center. Founding sponsor of Project Lighthouse (teenage activities). Founding sponsor of PICC. Sponsor of Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation. Sponsor of Camp Horizon, diabetic youth. Sponsor of Camp Leo, diabetic youth. Sponsor of Lions Quest. Sponsor of CARE. Sponsor of LCIF. Sponsor of Lions White Canes (sight conservation). Provide Kent Youth Scholarships. Sponsor of Miss Cornucopia. Sponsor of several Kent Youth Sports Teams. Sponsor of Boy Scout Units. Sponsor of Boys & Girls State. Sponsor of Children’s Therapy Center. Sponsor of Kent Senior Center. Sponsor of Kent Food Bank. Life Member of the Kent Sister City Association. Life Member of the Kent Historical Society. Member of the Kent Food Bank, supply two board of directors Sponsor of numerous City of Kent projects, including parks. Sponsor of Kent Cornucopia Days and all non-profit groups who participate. Sponsor of Kent "4th of July Splash". Sponsor of Kent Canterbury Faire. Sponsor of Kent Heritage Festival. Sponsor of Kent Summer Concert Series. Sponsor of Tahoma National Cemetery. Some of those organizations that benefit from KCD's are as follows:
Visit us at the Kent Lions Club web site!
Kent Lions Club - Life at 64 years The club was organized September 14, 1938, at a meeting in the Bungalow Café replacing the Young Men’s Service Club. Officially chartered November 2, 1938 and met with 25 members to hold its 1st chartered night on December 7, 1938 at Heiser’s Shadow Lake Resort. The Ballard Lions of Seattle was the sponsoring club. Clay Burnard was elected the first president with Earl Worth as first vice-president Horace Spauding as second vice-president and Orville Egan as third vice-president. Secretary/Treasure was Don Crew; John Courtney was Tail Twister, Francis Desmet, Lion Tamer and a five-man board of directors – Harold Overbek, Dean Edmundson, Harry Blanton, Vern Stafford and Don Walker. Some earlier projects were the Fishermen Breakfast on opening day of fishing and a grade school spelling bee with the winner receiving a $25.00 war bond. Other projects evolved such as the Drum and Bugle Corp. contest, grocery raffle, garage sales, and playground equipment for the Children’s Home Society of Washington. They also organized the Ancient Order of Princes Christmas charity, the Kent Police Bike Rodeo, diabetes education with Valley Medical Center, helped youth activities within schools and Kent Parks & Recreation, kids Easter egg hunts, Boy Scout programs, a high school wrestling program with trophy, and gathered used eyeglasses and hearing aids for those in need. In 1972 the Lions found the community in need of a picnic shelter at Memorial Park. They built this 960 square foot structure. In 1976 the Club took a part in building a structure for the Bicentennial Flag on Kent’s West Hill. This is also the year that the Kent Lions helped, along with other community organizations, rename the local festival, which had been called first the” The Lettuce Festival”, and than “Cornucopia Festival”. It was now to be named “Meeker Days” as the street fair took place along a couple of blocks of Meeker St. Kent Lion Dave Hillemeyer was the chairman of the festival. In 1980 “Meeker Days” was once again changed to what it’s called today “Kent Cornucopia Days,” the “Festival of the Valley”. Lion Bill Westcott has been its director for the last several years. The Miss Cornucopia contest began in the 80's with the most significant change being it is now a scholarship pageant. Gary Wivag, club president 1983-84, started the once a month senior breakfasts, which continues at the Kent Senior Activity Center. The Kent Lions have accomplished much over the past years and have continued to grow. “Kent Cornucopia Days” is the clubs largest fundraiser with monies raised going back to the community in contributions to improve the lives of those who live Kent. With nearly 600 craft, commercial and food vendors, a Bluegrass Festival held at Meridian High School, National Soccer Tournament, held at the pea patches, Skateboard Tournament, held at the Lion Skate Park, Dragon Boat Races on Lake Meridian and lots of free entertainment down town makes this event the largest arts and crafts festival in the northwest. Currently the club involved the July Summer Splash held at Lake Meridian, is the sponsor of the Winterfest Parade, held in December, they set up stages, tents and furnish garbage containers as well as PA systems for many community events. The clubs newest support/project is strongly supporting the Kent Cancer Relay for Life. The Kent Lions have become partners with the community and the City of Kent in building a skate park. Our latest project is another partnership with the service clubs of Kent and the City of Kent in building 4 youth ball fields. The Kent Lions as well as all Lions clubs motto is WE SERVE. We welcome your interest in being one of our members. Please make inquiries at 253-852-5466.
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