Civitan was one of the major supporters of Special Olympics International, and thousands of Civitans still support these local events. Civitan clubs also fund and organize special camps and events for people with developmental disabilities. The focus of this mission is the UAB Civitan International Research Center, located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Made possible thr
ough an ongoing financial commitment from Civitan, this world-class research center is a center for groundbreaking research into disorders such as autism, Down syndrome, brain tumors, epilepsy, and many more. Civitan also helps fund the Civitan-Sparks Clinics, a treatment and therapy center also located in Birmingham. At this center, children and families with developmental disabilities can receive diagnosis, therapy, counseling, and other resources they need. The Civitan-Sparks Clinics helps thousands of children and families with developmental disabilities each year. Civitan clubs outside North America are also taking on CATRImomentous projects. In the Philippines, the Civitan Asia Training and Research Institute is an academy where doctors, teachers, and other professionals learn to serve children with developmental disabilities. In Norway, the Civitan Norway Research Foundation funds crucial scientific research into Alzheimer’s disease. And in West Africa, Civitans provide clean drinking water and education for people in rural communities. Junior Civitan and Campus Civitan are the Civitan’s youth Junior Civitanand collegiate programs, respectively. These clubs take on innovative service projects, fundraisers for the Civitan International Research Center, and receive valuable leadership training.
