Search
Close this search box.

Better Together: How Kiwanis has Shaped my Family Legacy

For as long as I can remember, my family and I have taken an annual trip to Oregon to visit my father’s relatives during the first weekend in August. But unlike other family vacations, there is a specific reason we take this trip every year at the same time.

Long ago, my great uncle decided that he wanted to do something special for those in his community; and, inspired by his work as a high school teacher, he decided to start a scholarship fund for students in the area. As a result, on the first weekend of every August our family partners with the local Kiwanis chapter to continue my great uncle’s legacy by hosting an annual golf tournament to raise money for his scholarship fund.

The tournament is a straightforward affair. Golfers participate in a round of golf, enjoy a hosted lunch and end the day with a raffle for prizes. Although simple, Kiwanis plays a key role in this event by recruiting participants, assisting with lunch, and coordinating with local businesses to donate raffle prizes. If it weren’t for their help, the tournament would truly not be as successful as it is today.

Kiwanis helps fund thousands of community projects around the globe every year. Our little golf tournament seems small in the grand scheme of things, but the significance to the student who receives the scholarship every year is huge. For the recipient, this scholarship provides relief as they enter their college years, allowing them to focus less on funding their education and more on being successful in their studies.

Recently, HFG CEO and avid member of Kiwanis, Ty Haberling, approached several employees with the idea to start a satellite club of our local East Kennewick chapter. His goal was to create a club geared toward young professionals in our community.

Having worked with the Kiwanis group before, I was both excited to join their cause and hesitant to sign up for what seemed like a serious time commitment. Being in the beginning stages of my professional career, my hectic schedule can make finding time to dedicate to organizations like Kiwanis very difficult. This satellite club, however, offers a unique opportunity for young professionals like myself to work outside of the main club and meet at a time that our busy schedules will allow. It also provides a space to grow a group of like-minded professionals and, perhaps most importantly, it affords us the opportunity to discover new community projects within our area.

Their mission is simple:  “Kiwanis empowers communities to improve the world by making lasting differences in the lives of children.”

I agree wholeheartedly with the Kiwanis mission, and that is why I have volunteered to be the President of the newly formed Young Professionals Satellite Club. I am dedicated to their cause and I will do everything within my power to see that our satellite club is successful in its efforts to make a lasting impact on our community.

My family’s golf tournament and scholarship fund would have stopped long ago if it were not for the help of the local Kiwanis chapter, and I will forever be grateful for their continued support. They understand that lasting change starts small, with one community at a time. I encourage anyone who is interested, to join Kiwanis and our mission to make lasting differences in the lives of children in our community.

Megan Farrow, Wealth Planner

LEGAL INFORMATION & DISCLOSURES

This memorandum expresses the views of the author as of the date indicated and such views are subject to change without notice. Community First Bank, HFG Trust, and HFG Advisors have no duty or obligation to update the information contained herein. Further, Community First Bank, HFG Trust, and HFG Advisors make no representation, and it should not be assumed that past investment performance is an indication of future results. Moreover, wherever there is potential profit there is possibility of loss. This memorandum is being made available for educational purposes only and should not be used for any other purpose. The information contained herein does not constitute and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services, banking services, or an offer to sell or solicit and securities or related financial instruments in any jurisdiction. Certain information contained herein concerning economic trends and performance is based on or derived from information provided by independent third-party sources. Community First Bank, HFG Trust, and HFG Advisors believes that the sources from which such information has been obtained are reliable; however, it cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information and has not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of such information or the assumptions on which such information is based. This memorandum, included the information contained herein, may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or posted in any form without the prior written consent of Community First Bank and/or HFG Trust and/or HFG Advisors. HFG Advisors, Inc, is a wholly owned subsidiary of HFG Trust, LLC. HFG Trust, LLC is a Washington state-registered Trust company and wholly owned subsidiary of Community First Bank.