(top) Legendary Santa Monica Lifeguard and Kiwanian Art Verge rings the bell during Salvation Army's Red Kettle Day on Friday, December 4, 2009. (middle) Kiwanians Judy Barker (left) and Patty Loggins count donations at First Private Bank and Trust during Red Kettle Day on Friday, December 4, 2009. (above) Rotarian Nathaniel Trives tallies-up service clubs donations at First Private Bank and Trust during Red Kettle Day on Friday, December 4, 2009.

The Red Kettle campaign, the oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind in the United States helps raise money for those who need it most in communities nationwide - providing toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round.

Santa Monica Police Captain Alex Padilla and Carla Barrett build toys  during a Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica program by Free Arts For Abused Children  at the Santa Monica Family YMCA on Wednesday, September 16, 2009.

Free Arts for Abused Children is dedicated to helping children who have been abused, are homeless or are at-risk of falling through the cracks of the system, as well as families living in crisis.  In Los Angeles County alone, more than 32,000 children live under the protection of the courts. These children have been removed from their homes after suffering abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Kiwanis International is an organization of service clubs. Members of Kiwanis place special emphasis on service to children and youth, both through international initiatives intended to improve the quality of life of children around the world, and through their Service Leadership Programs, made up of about 7,000 youth clubs with about 320,000 youth members. Today, Kiwanis International has more than 600,000 members in more than 13,000 clubs, located in more than 90 countries around the world.

(top) Phyllis Alexander goes all-in and wins the Santa Monica Kiwanis club's 2nd Annual Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament at the Riviera County Club on Saturday, July 18th, 2009. (center) First Runner-up Joseph Palazzolo places a bet during the poker tournament. (above) Tournament Director Glenn Grandis (left) deals the winning hand to Santa Monica Kiwanis club's 2ndAnnual Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament Champion Phyllis Alexander at the Riviera County Club on Saturday, July 18th, 2009. The annual fundraising event benefits the youth of the westside community. Through Kiwanis Charities of Santa Monica, these proceeds help provide Academic/Music Scholarships, Grants and other community support through a variety of projects.

(top) Santa Monica High School student Taylor Weary, 15, performs "Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino," on the flute during the 60th Annual Santa Monica Kiwanis Music Scholarship Awards Luncheon at the Santa Monica Family YMCA on Wednesday June 17, 2009. Weary, received First Place in the High School Instrumental division (Grades 9-10) and won a Kiwanis scholarship. (above) Santa Monica High School student Maki Kubota, 17, performs "Cello Concerto in D Minor, 1 Prelude," during the awards luncheon. Kubota, received First Place in the High School Instrumental division (Grades11-12) and won a Kiwanis scholarship.

Students from Santa Monica and Malibu Middle Schools and High Schools competed for 24 awards, consisting of an Instrumental Category and a Vocal Category. First through fourth place were awarded in both categories for 6th through 8th grades, 9th & 10th grades and 11th & 12th grades. All groups are adjudicated by professional judges in their field. The first place winners in each category performed for all those attending the luncheon.

Students, their parents, and SMMUSD music department teachers and accompanists attended a luncheon given by the Santa Monica Kiwanis Club on Wednesday, June 17th, in which the students received scholarships and certificates of merit. Also in attendance was Tim Cueno, Superintendent of SMMUSD, Sally Chou, Chief Academic Officer, Peggy Harris, Director of Educational Service and Tom Whaley, visual and Performing Arts Coordinator

The following are the winners in each category:

11-12th Grade Instrumental                 11th-12th Grade Vocal
1st Place – Maki Jubota - Cello                 1st Place – Jane Kivnick
2nd Place – Richard Dobeck - Clarinet      2nd Place – Madelyn Ross
3rd Place – Emily Wong - Violin                 3rd Place – Tanya Verimezova
4th Place – Laila Zakzook - Viola              4th Place - Ethan Corn

9-10th Grade Instrumental                   9-10th Grade Vocal
1st Place – Taylor Weary – Flute             1st Place - Christina Lamell
1st Place - Michaelle Hwang – Violin        2nd Place - Ariana Stultz
3rd Place – Scott Operman - Clarnet       3rd Place - May Claire LaPlante
4th Place - Evan D. Kahn - Cello              4th Place - Peter Harding

6-8th Grade Instrumental                     6-8th Grade Vocal
1st Place – Jeffrey Ho – Cello                  1st Place – Emily Bosetti
2nd Place – Finn Bordal - Violin                2nd Place – Bret Hart
3rd Place - Eli Brown – Trumpet              3rd Place – Olivia Thorne
(Tie) - Steven Harmon – French Horn      4th Place – Preston Searfoss
4th Place - Pieter Block- Trumpet (Tie) - Sarah Ohanian - Flute

Kiwanis International is an organization of service clubs. Members of Kiwanis place special emphasis on service to children and youth, both through international initiatives intended to improve the quality of life of children around the world, and through their Service Leadership Programs, made up of about 7,000 youth clubs with about 320,000 youth members. Today, Kiwanis International has more than 600,000 members in more than 13,000 clubs, located in more than 90 countries around the world.

(top) Children enjoy Richard Woloski's 'He Be Buggin' Puppet Show' at the Santa Monica Library during the celebration of children’s author/illustrator Eric Carle 40th publication anniversary of his children’s book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” on Saturday June 13, 2009. (above) Kadin Kloss, 5, and TJ Keith, 4, make a collage art work during the 'Happy Birthday, Very Hungry Caterpillar!'

Join the Santa Monica Kiwanis club for their 2nd Annual Fundraising Event - Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament at the Riviera County Club on July 18th, 2009. The annual fundraising event benefits the youth of the westside community. Through Kiwanis Charities of Santa Monica, these proceeds help provide Academic/Music Scholarships, Grants and other community support through a variety of projects, such as Back To School supplies, Reading programs and Holiday Meals/Toys.

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Santa Monica College Music and Theatre Arts student, Kristina Darrow, 19, performs a number from the upcoming SMC Musical Theatre Workshop as Kiwanis President Patty Loggins looks on during  the Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica's weekly luncheon at the Santa Monica Family YMCA on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. The SMC Musical Theatre Workshop is a program of solos, duets, and ensemble selections from the musical theatre genre. The Musical Theatre Workshop is co-directed by  Dr. Janie Jones and Karen Benjamin.  The workshop performance can be seen at SMC Studio Stage, Theatre Arts Complex on Thursday, June 04, through Sunday, June 07.

Roger Owens, the beloved and internationally famous Peanut Man at Dodger Stadium, tosses peanuts to members during Santa Monica Kiwanis Club's weekly luncheon at the Santa Monica Family YMCA on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. Owens has been pitching peanuts for the Dodgers for the past 51 years. "I am the only pitcher that earns less than one million a year," he said.

Kiwanis International is a community service organization of active and retired business and professional people, founded in 1915 at Detroit, Mich. Local Kiwanis clubs now exist in more than 90 countries. Kiwanis clubs sponsor a wide variety of service projects, for which they raise money and members volunteer their time. The organization has also undertaken international service projects. Kiwanis International sponsors a number of service organizations for young people, including Circle K International (for college and university students) and Key Club International (for high school students).