Kiwanis club of Walnut Valley celebrates Fiftieth Anniversary

In October, present and past club members will join together to observe the Club’s fifty years of service to the communities of Diamond Bar, Walnut and Rowland Heights. Don Ruh and Ray McMullen the Club’s two charter members will be hosting the event at Don’s home in Yucaipa.

In a formal evening ceremony in October, 1964, the La Puente Kiwanis Club chartered two clubs at the same time, the Hacienda Heights Kiwanis Club and the Walnut Valley Kiwanis Club. Henry, Hank, Davis the postmaster of the Walnut Post Office was installed as the Club’s first President and began the Club’s commitment of service to the three communities. Its boundaries reach from La Puente to Pomona and encompass the Walnut Valley from hillside to hillside as well as the City of Diamond Bar.  Its mission continues to be to serve and promote the area youth, and help those in need in the three communities.

During the intervening fifty years the Club has given hundreds of scholarships to students of the Rowland and Walnut Valley School districts.  For forty-five years it has provided Christmas baskets to needy families in the community.  Support of the Mt Sac Relays was then and still is one of the Club’s major activities along with the Mt SAC Youth Days that is in its 29th year.

The Diamond Bar Relay for Life has been another annual activity for Club members and the Leroy Haynes Children’s Center, Diamond Bar Friends of The Library, Children’s Miracle Network and the Pediatric Trauma at LA Children’s Hospital all have been recipients of Club assistance. These projects are in addition to the multitude of individual requests for help that the Club provides.

Don Nettles the current President has agreed to serve in that role again and is excited over the prospect of seeing the former members and beginning another fifty   years of community involvement.

The Club meets at 7:00 AM at Bob’s Big Boy on Golden Springs and Brea Canyon in Walnut. Guests are always welcome.