Kiwanis Club of Poway and The Ranches

Poway Kiwanis at the 12th Annual Emergency & Safety Fair — A Day of Community, Preparation, and Fun!
What a wonderful morning it was at Old Poway Park on Saturday, May 23rd! Members of the Poway Kiwanis Club were proud to join neighbors, first responders, and community organizations at the 12th Annual Poway Emergency and Safety Fair, presented by the Poway Neighborhood Emergency Corps (PNEC).
A Community Coming Together
From 9 AM to 1 PM, Old Poway Park buzzed with energy and enthusiasm as families from across the area gathered for a morning packed with valuable information, hands-on learning, and great community spirit. The fair's mission was front and center: bringing area resources and residents together to raise awareness about how preparing for emergencies saves lives — and it delivered on that promise in a big way!
A huge thank you to the Poway Neighborhood Emergency Corps, the Poway Community Emergency Response Team, Poway Fire, and every volunteer and organization who made this event such a success. And of course, thank you to every resident who came out, engaged, and took steps toward being better prepared!

The Kiwanis Club of Poway and The Ranches had a fantastic meeting on May 14, with a great turnout and plenty to celebrate. It was one of those evenings that reminds us why our club is so special.

Our partnership with Boy Scout Troop 681 continues to shine. The three Eagle Scout presenters were outstanding, and it’s clear that Scoutmaster Ross Simmons and Chair Dan Golich (also a proud Kiwanian) are providing exceptional leadership for these young men.

We were also thrilled to recognize two of our own with Distinguished Service Awards from the California–Nevada–Hawaii District:

Julie Sleeper
Deric Merino

Another great meeting in the books — full of service, pride, and community spirit.

On April 25, 2026, the Kiwanis Club of Poway and The Ranches hosted a fantastic park clean‑up and maintenance day at Lake Poway — and what a turnout we had.

In addition to our dedicated Kiwanis members, we were joined by about 100 youth volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and jumped into everything from trail clean‑up to building picnic tables. Their energy and teamwork made a massive impact on one of Poway’s most treasured outdoor spaces.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed up to serve.
We’ll see you again next year for another great day at the lake!

Wonderful turnout of Kiwanis members to help Alyssa Soto and Estala Latifzadeh put on the Pageant! Don't have pics
of everyone involved, but hope to at least get your name down to be recognized! Between Nancy Polston and myself,
we did our best. I'm sure there will be a nice article in the paper about the newly crowned court!

Saturday started out at John Couvrette's office (thanks John), and we had members checking in contestants and serving
as room monitors. Thanks to Lee Freeman, Steve Ewart, Ron Lonicki, Liz Carlson, Harry Kimball, Mona Randel, Neil Tarzy,
and John Hoey.

Sunday was the big day with set up, the pageant event, and clean up. Big thanks to Randy Hill, Reed Reichert (pledge leader), Mike Celeste,
Mark Rataczak, Lisa Lingham, Phil Hurley, John Couvrette, Nancy Polston, Neil Tarzy, Lee Freeman, Tom Halfaker, Mona Randel,
Liz Carlson, Pam Hixson, Diane McWhorter, John Hoey, and Warren Lew. We also had a new prospective member, Shavali Sharma,
and folks from Poway Rodeo to help.

And the Biggest news is that both Katy Clark and Beth Galloway were judges this year...... fantastic!

🌟 A Heartfelt Thank‑You to Halcyon Real Estate! 🌟

The Kiwanis Club of Poway and The Ranches is proud to recognize and thank Halcyon Real Estate for their generous sponsorship donation.

Founded by Ginger Couvrette and co-owned with John Couvrette, Halcyon has grown to a team of 17 associates offering services in:
- Preparing and selling homes
- Financial preparedness and home purchasing
- Investment real estate analysis
- Property management

Beyond their professional expertise, Halcyon has shown incredible community spirit by not only supporting our club but also opening their conference rooms for local nonprofits to use for meetings.

💙 We are deeply grateful for their generosity, which helps us continue serving Poway with strength and purpose.

Learn more about their work at https://halcyonca.com

🌟 A Heartfelt Thank‑You to the Poway Community Foundation! 🌟

The Kiwanis Club of Poway and the Ranches is excited to extend our sincere gratitude to the Poway Community Foundation (PCF) for their generous sponsorship donation. Their support plays a vital role in helping us continue our mission of serving children and strengthening the communities of Poway and the Ranches.

The Poway Community Foundation is a true champion for our city. They work tirelessly to raise, manage, and allocate financial resources to meet the needs of Poway residents. By collaborating with donors, community groups, local businesses, and government partners, the PCF helps create innovative strategies and meaningful solutions for the challenges our neighbors face.

With their deep understanding of community needs and their commitment to maximizing the impact of every donated dollar, the PCF ensures support reaches the people and programs that need it most.

We are especially grateful for their contribution to this year’s Holiday With Heroes event, helping us spread joy, hope, and holiday cheer to local children and families.

Learn more about their amazing work at:
👉

Together, we make Poway & The Ranches brighter! 💙✨

Making a Difference One Family at a Time: A Visit from Steadfast Foster & Adoptive Support
On April 2nd, the Kiwanis of Poway and the Ranches had the privilege of welcoming a truly inspiring guest — Sarah Becker of Steadfast Foster & Adoptive Support.
About Steadfast Foster & Adoptive Support
Steadfast is a San Diego-based nonprofit with a powerful mission: providing comprehensive support to foster, adoptive, and kinship families throughout our region. Through mentorship, community building, and hands-on resources, Steadfast helps ensure that families navigating the foster and adoption journey never have to do it alone.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Service
What makes Sarah's story especially moving is where it began. At just 16 years old, Sarah started working at an orphanage — and from that moment, a lifelong calling was born. Decades later, that early spark of compassion has grown into a career and a community built around uplifting some of the most vulnerable children and families in our area.
Her dedication is a reminder that a single decision to serve can ripple out and change countless lives.
Thank You, Sarah!