The Los Gatos Kiwanis Club has been chosen to represent all Kiwanis Clubs in California, Nevada and Hawaii with 30+ members in the Kiwanis International Signature Project Contest.
The event highlights initiatives that embody the “Kiwanian” spirit of volunteering to help the children of the world by raising money through a community event.
The local club secured its slot in the international battle thanks to the Best of Los Gatos-winning “Los Gatos Art & Wine Festival: Fiesta de Artes.”
That’s because the event was found to successfully promote interaction and service from students, bring in volunteers from the community (and other Kiwanis clubs), and showcase local wineries, local artists and local musicians.
Winners will be announced at the Kiwanis International Convention in Denver, in July.
Every year, since 1996, Fiesta de Artes has been put on entirely by the Los Gatos Club members, with Rusty Rinehart and Terry Martin at the helm for most of these (with John Stege as the music chairman).
Local favorites “the Houserockers” have been headlining this weekend-long event for 25 years.
The money that is raised at the Fiesta goes entirely back into the community to benefit local youth leadership and community service programs, Turn-Around Scholarship awards, and Special Games for kids of varying ability levels, pediatric trauma programs and more.
This year’s Fiesta is scheduled for Sept 21-22 at the Los Gatos Civic Center.
Ethos Celebrates 1 Year in Los Gatos
This month, N. Santa Cruz Avenue shop Ethos, a “1% for the Planet” member, is celebrating its 1-year anniversary.
The company is also marking five years since launching the first location in Capitola.
Ethos provides alternatives to disposable plastics, offering environmentally-friendly items and refillable goods.
Representatives for the Certified B Corporation say the company has succeeded in diverting tons of plastic and waste from landfill, while fostering a vibrant community of environmentally-conscious consumers.
“Our mission has always been to meet the needs of our community in a non-judgmental way that allows all of us to learn and grow together; this past year, being able to expand our mission into a new community has been incredible,” said founder Meredith Keet, in a release. “We could not be more proud to see how far we’ve come. We love and appreciate our communities.”
Over the weekend of March 23-24 each location will be hosting local small businesses and makers for pop-ups. They’ll also have special deals on refillables.
“Looking ahead, we are committed to continuing our journey towards a more sustainable future,” Keet said. “We hope to provide more educational programs, workshops, and to continue to expand our offerings while we learn and grow with our communities.”Ethos invites everyone to join in the celebration and take part in making a positive impact on the planet. For more information on the anniversary events and our sustainability efforts, visit ethossantacruz.com or follow them on Instagram @ethossantacruz.
