KFNE

Kiwanis Foundation of New England

The Kiwanis Foundation of New England funds programs to serve children with traumatic injury, conduct research, and organize programs to prevent traumatic injury in children across New England.

What is KFNE?

The Kiwanis Foundation of New England (KNFE) is the charitable foundation for the New England District of Kiwanis and Tufts Medical Center.

The Kiwanis Family is committed to serving children in our local and global communities. During the 1970s, the New England District of Kiwanis sought to establish a new project that would meet the needs of children in New England. Pediatric trauma was and is a major problem in the community, and the New England District of Kiwanis set out to confront it. Kiwanian Dr. Harold “Hap” Gerrish approached Tufts Children's Hospital with the idea, and the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute was founded in 1981. From 1981 until June 2022, KPTI was located at Tufts Children's Hospital in Boston, MA. In 2022, Tufts Medical Center discontinued its Children's Hospital.

Today, Kiwanis Foundation of New England still funds Trauma Prevention Programs (detailed below) while it explores new partners to provide direct care to pediatric trauma patients or conducting research in the area. These programs are available at no cost to Key Clubs to run in their community.

There is not currently a need to raise funds for these programs. If your Key Club is looking to raise money for a children's hospital, we recommend that you research programs at your local hospital(s).

How can my Key Club help?

Key Clubby Bears

Key Clubby Bears are teddy bears (but better because of Key Club!) provided by the New England and Bermuda District of Key Clubs. Your Key Club can order two cases for free, and you can order additional cases for $100 per case. Each case contains twelve bears. After receiving these cuddly bears, your Key Club delivers them to fire stations, police stations, hospitals, and other humanitarian programs. These organizations, in turn, will give the Key Clubby Bears to scared, injured, and ill children, which will provide those kids with a feeling of safety and reassurance.

Bicycle Rodeos/Safety Days

The Kiwanis Family Safety Day and Bike Rodeo was created in 1994. Each year about eighteen thousand children participate in this fun and educational day sponsored by local Kiwanis clubs, police departments, fire departments, and other organizations throughout New England. This program provides:

Information for children and families about bike safety.

Step by step instructions from planning and promoting your safety day to set-up and clean-up.

Helmets are also available at reduced cost.

For a complete guide to planning a Kiwanis Family Safety Day, click here.

Other KFNE Community Programs

KPTI has a variety of other Community Programs for Kiwanis Family clubs throughout the New England and Bermuda District, such as:

B.E.L.T.S. Seatbelt Safety Program (for CKI)

Bully Free Zone

Concussion Information

I'm Safe! On My Bike in New England

Key Clubby Bears

Order two FREE boxes of Key Clubby Bears and distribute them to local first responders so they can give a little comfort to a kid during an emergency.

Order Here

Early Childhood Injury Prevention Kits

Order the supplies to assemble Early Childhood Injury Prevention kits and donate them to local pediatricians and organizations that work with new parents.

Order Here

Bicycle Rodeos

Learn how to organize a Bicycle Rodeo/Safety day with your local Kiwanis Club and community to give out helmets and teach children about bicycle safety.

Learn More Here