Litchfield Officially Charters New Kiwanis Club to Serve Local Youth

Article Summary: The Kiwanis Club of Litchfield officially celebrated its charter on Saturday, welcoming 21 founding members and committing to a global mission of improving the community one child at a time. The civilian-led organization, which officially organized earlier this year, has already completed several local service projects and elected its inaugural leadership team.

Kiwanis Club of Litchfield Charter Key Points:

• The club was officially founded on Jan. 19, 2026, under the guidance of Club Coach Kim Groom and the sponsorship of the Maryville Kiwanis Club.

• Saturday’s charter celebration at Lincoln Land Community College formally recognized 21 charter members and five corporate sponsors.

• Ian Polus assumed the role of President during the event, transitioning from his initial position as President-Elect, joining a leadership team dedicated to fostering youth leadership and community health.

• The club has already engaged in multiple service projects, including creating birthday kits, distributing shoes, and volunteering with Pantry Pals and the Litchfield Park District.

Litchfield community members, city officials, and regional Kiwanis leaders gathered at Lincoln Land Community College on Saturday to officially celebrate the chartering of the new Kiwanis Club of Litchfield.

Tim Eggleston, the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District Lieutenant Governor for Division 28, served as the master of ceremonies for the evening. The event was highlighted by a pin and certificate ceremony led by Taka Ogata, Kiwanis International Membership Chair and former Indiana District Governor.

Ogata formally presented the club’s leadership with charter gifts and recognized the 21 founding members who have pledged to uphold the Kiwanis motto: “Serving the Children of the World.”

The 21 founding members officially acknowledged during the charter ceremony are: Kara Amos, Jessie Blackburn, Carol Burke, Paula Endress, Emily Farris, Tonya Flannery, Danell Fogle, David Griffith, Kim Groom, Renae Hardt, Alesia Haslett, Tiffany Hendricks, Brielle Marten, Kelly McClain, Adam Ortega, Christine Ortega, Ian Polus, Rose Sypherd, Angela Taylor, Mike Taylor, and Julie Timmermann.

Litchfield Mayor Jacob Fleming addressed the attendees, speaking to the civilian-led accomplishments the group has already achieved in the short time since it officially organized on Jan. 19, 2026.

During the charter celebration, Ian Polus officially stepped into the role of President. Polus, the Assistant Manager of Surgery at HSHS St. Francis Hospital and an active volunteer at Zion Lutheran Church, is a former Kiwanis Key Club member. According to the organization, Polus joined the Litchfield club to foster leadership in children and address local community health needs.

He succeeds Adam Ortega, who served as the initial President during the club’s formation. Ortega, a local youth pastor recently acknowledged as the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Citizen of the Year, was recognized for his passionate advocacy for local children.

“I joined Kiwanis to remind every kid that they matter,” Ortega stated. “It doesn’t matter what side of the tracks you live on. It doesn’t matter what your last name is. You can be whatever you want to be. I want our community to know that every child matters.”

The leadership team is rounded out by Treasurer Kara Amos and Secretary Alesia Haslett. Haslett, an Executive Assistant and Community Impact Team Lead at HSHS St. Francis Hospital, joined the club to benefit the community and improve the world for local youth.

The driving force behind the Litchfield charter was Kim Groom, the I-I District Immediate Past Governor, who served as the club’s official coach. Ortega publicly praised Groom’s dedication, noting that she drove countless hours to help establish the club. He recounted a recent meeting where Groom, despite facing a three-hour drive home, volunteered to go out of her way to assist a local family in need.

Operating under the vision to “be a positive influence in communities worldwide,” the newly chartered club has wasted no time getting to work. The group’s initial service projects have included assembling Community Birthday Celebration Kits, volunteering at Pantry Pals, assisting with the Litchfield Park District’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt, and distributing footwear collected from the Gudgel Ranch Saloon Shoe Drive.

The charter event was supported by the local business community. Jessie Blackburn and Christine Marietta coordinated the venue space at Lincoln Land Community College, which is also one of the club’s five founding corporate members. The other corporate sponsors include Bank & Trust Company, Elite Roofing Company, HSHS St. Francis Hospital, and Legacy Lawn & Landscape, LLC.

The evening featured a silent auction with items donated by Team Victory Lane and Chelsea Lapolice Photography. Attendees were served a meal prepared by Darcus Billick of Graceful Gatherings LLC Catering Company. Following the conclusion of the event, the club donated the leftover food to local firefighters.

Representatives from the sponsoring Maryville Kiwanis Club and the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Springfield were also in attendance to show their support for Litchfield’s newest service organization.