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Pomona Kiwanis Signature Project
Unity Shield Initiative
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Our signature project for 2026 is the Unity Shield Initiative.
In partnership with Shield4Kids, founded by Pomona Kiwanian Dan Perez, we will provide backpacks to children placed in emergency protective custody. These backpacks, distributed by the Pomona Police Department, provide a sense of ownership and stability during uncertain times. We are also expanding the program to provide Unification trips to these children and their families - barbecues in the park, trips to the zoo, and other activities - to provide a sense of stability, comfort and community.
As a new signature project, Unity Shield represents a strategic investment in child-centered service, trusted partnerships, and sustainable impact. It strengthens collaboration between Kiwanis, local law enforcement, youth leaders, and other local partners—ensuring that children facing crisis in Pomona are met with compassion, dignity, and hope.
We invite all Kiwanians to join this initiative. Our first step is to collect the materials to fill the backpacks. Please scan the QR codes on the attached flier (click flier to view larger). You can buy backpack items from Amazon or donate money via Square. The links are also listed below.
http://pomona-kiwanis-club.square.site/
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2TZNXP69BXL07?ref_=wl_share
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Kiwanis Scholarship Dinner
6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2026
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We will gather on April 22 to honor four graduating seniors from the Pomona Unified School District.
6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at Metro Event Center, 215 E. 2nd St., Pomona. Cost is $40 per person. Click flier to view larger.
Please plan to attend and also consider sponsoring the event. We have different levels of sponsorship. Your contribution will support the student scholarship program, meals for the honorees as well as their guests (two family members, Key Club advisor and high school principal). Please also reach out to businesses, corporations and other entities who want to support local students. Please click on the flier below to view larger.
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We want to make this a special night that our scholarship recipients will remember. More importantly, we hope they will draw inspiration and strength from this event for many years to come. All of our scholarship recipients are graduating seniors and active members of their respective Key Clubs. Here are brief introductions of our well-deserving scholarship recipients.
Zhiyue (Lilian) Lu
Diamond Ranch High School
Lilian has volunteered more than 100 hours as a high school student and she has been an active member of the Diamond Ranch Key Club for three years, since moving here from China as a sophomore. She credits Key Club with helping her find her passion, meeting new friends and assimilating into her new community. Lilian played a vital role in re-establishing the Diamond Ranch Key Club and connecting it with the Pomona Kiwanis Club via Key Club liaison Diane Elias. Under Lilian’s leadership as President, the Diamond Ranch Key Club is the largest student-run organization on campus, with more than 120 members.
Xinan (Nancy) Huang
Diamond Ranch High School
Nancy serves as the Diamond Ranch Key Club Secretary and has been a member for three years. She has volunteered more than 200 hours with Key Club, Tzu Chi Foundation (assisting instructors in teaching Chinese to elementary students and assisting the youth program), and Care Mission USA, where she sorted and boxed food items for weekly distribution to families in the community. She has also devoted a significant amount of time to the Diamond Ranch High Marching Band and to sharing her culture, traditions and customs through her dance group.
Daniel Hernandez-Garcia
Garey High School
Daniel is a kind and genuine student who consistently demonstrates respect and positivity, according to his science teacher Taylor Bradshaw. He serves as the Club Editor for the Pomona High Key Club and has participated in several volunteer projects, including school beautification, making cat toys for an animal shelter, and making cards for veterans. He has also volunteered at several Pomona Kiwanis events, including Ted Greene Little League Opening Day. He said his time in Key Club has produced some of his most memorable moments because helping others brings a smile to his face.
Nathalie Gutierrez
Pomona High School
Nathalie is a scholar athlete who also has a passion for art, expressing herself through drawing, painting and photography. She is the captain of the Pomona High Ballet Folklorico team and also played on the varsity soccer and volleyball teams. After suffering a volleyball injury, she continued to support and encourage her teammates from the sidelines despite not being able to play. During her senior year, she served as manager of the girls’ soccer team and boys’ volleyball team. Nathalie is a leader on campus who is able to connect with people and create a positive environment.
| | Ted Greene Little League Pancake Breakfast | | |
Our Pomona Kiwanis Club provided our grill and pancake cooking expertise to help the Ted Greene Little League celebrate Opening Day on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
We served at least 846 plates - we handled the pancakes and Ted Greene cooked eggs and sausage. Thank you to the Key Clubs from Pomona High and Garey High for all your help. Special thanks to Garey High School Key Club Secretary Monserrate Melena, who jumped on the grill and cranked out pancakes all morning.
Thank you to Kiwanians Brenda Shultz, Barbara Gonzalez, Diane and Gino Elias, Lorraine Canales, Judge Thomas Griego, Kim Johnson, Norma Quinones, Linda Lowry and Rodney Tanaka for volunteering. Mitch Stein and Sonia Ballardo did double duty as Kiwanians and Ted Greene Board members. Lorraine Canales and Victor Preciado also did double duty as Kiwanians and City Council members, presiding over the ribbon cutting for the bathroom facility.
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Pomona American Little League
pancake breakfast, March 21, 2026
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Our Kiwanis Club of Pomona cooked pancakes and sausages for the Pomona American Little League pancake breakfast on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Washington Park. Baseball and softball players took photos and enjoyed a free breakfast from our Kiwanis Club (food provided by Pomona American). Thank you to all who volunteered and supported our efforts, including Mitch Stein and his daughter, Tuolumne, Gino and Diane Elias, Sonia Ballardo (who braved the biggest, hottest grill), Linda Lowry, Judge Thomas Griego, Brenda Shultz, Lorraine Canales, Kim Johnson, Victor Preciado and Rodney Tanaka.
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Thank you to the Diamond Ranch and Garey high school Key Clubs for all your support. We really couldn't do these service projects without the help of these high school students. Special thanks to Evelyn Alvarado and Lilian Lu from Diamond Ranch (pictured here with Diane Elias), who stayed all the way to the end, helping break down the canopies and tables and cleaning up.
| | Who mixed it better? Gino, Linda and Victor demonstrate different pancake batter mixing techniques. All effective, and all very much needed on this busy day. | | |
Congratulations to Pomona Kiwanian Devynn Stein-Marquez and her husband, Sergio, on the birth of their baby, Catalina, on March 20.
Catalina helped Grandpa Mitch preside over her first Kiwanis meeting on April 8. Looking forward to seeing her at many more Kiwanis activities to come!
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Meeting Reminder
Our Scholarship Dinner will take the place of our monthly dinner meeting in April. We will hold a Board meeting on Monday, May 4 on Zoom and then a lunch meeting at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday, May 13 Pomona Eagles Lodge, 954 W. Mission Blvd. Pomona.
Our Pomona Kiwanis Club is part of Div. 15. Our Div. 15 Governor’s Visit is scheduled for Saturday, May 23. It will be a lunch event at Centro Bosco in Chino. We will provide more information in the coming weeks. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.
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Kiwanis Club of Pomona, 101 W. Mission Blvd. Ste. 110-370
Pomona, CA 91766
Meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays.
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