Kiwanis Club of Tacoma Foundation

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

OUR HISTORY, OUR OBLIGATION
GUESTS WELCOME: DM for Zoom link or come to Urban Elk Restaurant & Allenmore Event Center
MEMBERS: See your weekly email for Zoom link or come to Urban Elk Restaurant & Allenmore Event Center

08/14/2026

Congratulations to our August recipient of the award-Sarah Low.

Sarah is the founder of the Tacoma Tree Foundation and the owner of Strategic Nature, a consulting business. Sarah, with a background in environmental work for the U.S. Forest Service in Philadelphia and the City of Tacoma, recognized a regional gap in environmental nonprofits serving neighborhoods with the lowest tree canopy. In 2018, she established the Tacoma Tree Foundation (TTF) to fill this gap, aiming to create a just and equitable Tacoma by increasing access to trees and their social, ecological, and health benefits.

In 2020, the organization truly blossomed in popularity during the pandemic. Low hosted nature walks with adult community members as well as younger kids. These walks offered a respite for those who felt cooped up amid COVID restrictions. During these guided strolls, people learned about urban forestry; how to identify trees and their ecological importance; and, most importantly to Low, admire their beauty and surroundings for peace and calm.

The program since has expanded, offering collaborative events with other local organizations and resources such as free tree giveaways. Last year, TTF distributed 4,300 trees with the help of 1,600 volunteer hours. While she has stepped down as the executive director of Tacoma Tree Foundation, Low is still involved with the organization — which consults with her business, Strategic Nature — and continues to host tree walks. Low hopes other cities will adopt some of the TTF’s initiatives, which encourage community members to go outside and connect with their neighbors. For cities looking to launch programs like TTF, the first step Low recommends is getting organized.

“I would love to see that help build connectivity within the city, kind of in the sense that we are all growing together,” Low said. “Trees are kind of a great metaphor for a lot of things. If we could plant and grow together, then we can really thrive.”

Pictured L2R are Lowell Wyse, ED, Tacoma Tree Foundation, Sarah Low, Janel Krilich, Director & Norm Bellamy, Pres., .

08/14/2026

Hello fellow Kiwanis members and community,

Below are the physical link and the cellphone ready QR code to gain access to our Kiwanis fundraiser for the to gain access to our Kiwanis fundraiser for the The Coffee Oasis Youth Shelter.

The link will take you to the main screen for the putt-putt campaign, and once there, click on “more details,” which will show two more QR codes for the 50/50 Raffle and a sponsorship link. I’ve also included the other two links below for copying directly into your emails.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/putting-hope-into-coffee-oasis-youth-shelter

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/silent-raffle

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/sponsor-hope-one-putt-at-a-time

08/13/2026

With Community Health Care – We just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

08/10/2026

Robert Kinch, former member of , was honored with our club’s 31st George F. Hixson Fellowship (plus 3 Diamond Level awards.)

In 1983, the Kiwanis Children’s Fund established the George F. Hixson Fellowship, named for Kiwanis International’s first president. It’s a Kiwanis Club’s way of recognizing people who have contributed significantly to Kiwanis’s history of generosity.

Robert was a member of Kiwanis Club of Tacoma for 26 years, serving as its Secretary/Treasurer from 2010 to 2020. His Kiwanis history includes service for the Kiwanis Club of the Central Okanagan as Secretary/Treasurer and as a founding member of the North Thurston Kiwanis (Lacey) founding member in 1964.

His community leadership included 19 years with Community Health Care and ministry. Pictured with Robert (center) are other Hixson awardees from the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma there to award and celebrate with Robert for his Hixson award. Thanks, Robert.

08/08/2026

NO SOFT PEDALING HERE
GUESTS WELCOME: DM for Zoom link or come to Urban Elk Restaurant & Allenmore Event Center
MEMBERS: See your weekly email for Zoom link or come to Urban Elk Restaurant & Allenmore Event Center

08/04/2026

Kiwanis Objective 4: " To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship."

08/02/2026

Thanks to the Emergency Food Network for all the good work they do for our neighbors.