PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany presented Parsippany Hills High School Key Club Advisor Bonnie Sturm with one of Kiwanis International’s highest honors, “Walter Zeller Fellowship.” Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany donated to the fellowship and the contribution is helping The Eliminate Project to rid the world of maternal and neonatal tetanus. This gift will save or protect mothers and all future babies.
“Bonnie believes in leading by example and she makes it very clear to all of her Key Club members that Key Club is a Service club and not a Social club. Every Key Club member is required to sign a service agreement that defines the rules that they must follow to remain a Key Clubber in good standing as well as their commitment to complete a certain number of service hours each marking period. Bonnie’s Key Clubbers are always the first to volunteer for any and every thing when they are asked for help, whether it be to support their local Kiwanis Club or the Township in general,” said Ron Orthwein.
Michael A. Mulhaul presented Bonnie with a special medallion, lapel pin and certificate.
Bonnie was also honored with the “The Key of Honor” at the 72nd Annual New Jersey Key Club District Convention held March 23 to March 25 at Ocean Place Resort, Long Branch.
“The Key of Honor” is the highest recognition award presented by the Key Club International board, honoring Bonnie for a lifelong positive impact upon youth in general and Key Club and has shown long-term support of youth and Key Club programs.
Mrs. Sturm has been the Key Club Faculty Advisor for the Parsippany Hills High School Key Club for the past twenty years.
In 1940, one year after the Kiwanis International Foundation was established as a legal entity, Walter Zeller made the first donation: 25 Canadian silver dollars that he hoped would turn into the foundation’s nest egg.
This donor’s dream came true. Auctioned for $625.00, his coins launched the Kiwanis International Foundation’s worldwide service efforts. Thousands of donors later, the foundation has grown into a multi-million dollar organization that awards grants to Kiwanis clubs and underwrites life-altering worldwide service projects.
