Early Morning Service

The Tampa Kiwanis Foundation's 50th Annual Chicken BBQ Fundraiser got a huge boost once again from Jesuit's early rising Key Club, as a record 123 Jesuit Key Club members served at the event Thursday morning (Oct. 25).

Arriving at 4:00am at Raymond James Stadium - four hours before the start of the school day - the students assisted the Kiwanis for three hours by preparing thousands of BBQ lunches. The meals were then sold for $10 apiece to raise money for the foundation.

At 7:00am, after providing three hours of pre-dawn service, the students, led by moderators Amy Martin and April Bombka, traveled the short distance from the stadium to campus for the beginning of the school day.

Last year, Jesuit's Key Club helped to distribute more than 11,000 BBQ meals and raise over $45,000 for the Tampa Kiwanis Foundation. In 2017, the foundation provided $120,000 to the community via grants to local charities, ramps for the disabled, Easter Baskets and Christmas Stockings for the senior centers of Hillsborough County, and sponsorship of local service leadership programs at the University of South Florida (Circle K), nine local high schools (Key Clubs), and seven elementary schools (Terrific Kids). In addition, the Kiwanis Club of Tampa hosted the annual Children’s Christmas Party for approximately 150 of the county’s most vulnerable children, sponsored two “back to school” immunization events (Be Wise Immunize) that served more than 500 families, and awarded $32,000 in scholarships for local students.

Please view the photo slideshow below from Key Club's service on Oct. 25.