Key Club: Very Early Service

The Tampa Kiwanis Foundation's 49th annual Chicken BBQ Fundraiser was a big success thanks in no small part to more than 100 members of Jesuit High School's Key Club who arose in the middle of the night to help out.

Arriving at 4:00am at Raymond James Stadium on Thursday (Oct. 19), the 106 students assisted the Kiwanis for three hours in preparing thousands of BBQ lunches. The lunches were then sold for $10 apiece to raise money for the foundation.

In addition to providing the huge manpower supply (more than half of Key Club's 195 members participated), Key Club also raised $4,250 in ticket sales for the event.

At 7:00am, after providing three hours of pre-dawn service, the students, led by Key Club president Kyle Erickson '18 and moderator Amy Martin, traveled the short distance up Himes Ave. from the stadium to campus for their school day.

All proceeds from the event benefited the Tampa Kiwanis Foundation for local children's programs. The Kiwanis give more than $120,000 back to the community annually in grants to local charities; sponsor local service leadership programs at several high schools (Key Clubs) and elementary schools (Terrific Kids); host the annual Children's Christmas Party for approximately 150 of Hillsborough County's most vulnerable children; and award more than $30,000 in scholarships for local students.

Please view the photo slideshow below from the Key Club's service on Oct. 19.