Kiwanis Donates a Whopping $200,000 in Life-Changing Grants

The Kiwanis Club of Carefree’s Major Projects Committee has awarded $200,000 in grants to the Desert Hills Community School of Music and the Holland Community Center.

“After receiving numerous deserving applications, we were honored to select these two organizations,” said Tom Pozarycki, Chairman of the Kiwanis Major Funds Committee. “These grants will support not only these institutions but also the wider community.”

Desert Hills Community School of Music, in partnership with Cactus Shadows High School and its certified teachers, will use its grant to purchase new instruments and a portable recording studio. This will help students acquire technical skills in music creation, mixing, and recording.

“With state funding for the arts and music declining, it’s crucial to bolster local music education,” Pozarycki said. “We hope this grant enriches the educational experience of our students, recognizing the strong link between mathematics and music.”

The $200,000 grant will also benefit the Holland Community Center, supporting its mission to serve children, seniors, and various educational and arts activities. The funds will go towards new carpeting, furniture, and fixtures, making the center more inviting and accessible for seniors.

Additionally, the Holland Center will now host activities for the Foothills Caring Corps, providing a social venue for home-bound seniors.

This marks the second time such significant grants have been awarded in the Carefree/Cave Creek/North Scottsdale community. The first instance was in 2020, benefiting the Desert Foothills Family YMCA’s renovation of The Kid Zone.

These grants are made possible through donations and sales at the Kiwanis Marketplace. In the latest round, the committee received $3.3 million in grant requests from the community.