Always Charitable, Wilton Kiwanis Club Celebrates 75 Years of Community Service

This year is a year for anniversaries in Wilton: the Congregational Church, founded in 1726, celebrated its 300th Anniversary earlier this month; America’s 250th birthday will be marked by a July 4 parade as well as evening fireworks; and the Wilton Kiwanis Club, founded in 1951, marks its 75th anniversary in 2026.

Members will celebrate the milestone at a special luncheon next Wednesday, Jun. 17, and are inviting the community to attend.

When the Club was established, Wilton’s population was 4,600. Harry A. Marhoffer, Jr. was first selectman. There were no playing fields, no high school, and no YMCA. Several dairy farms were still in operation.

Forty-three local citizens, including Town officials, business owners and ministers, met June 13, 1951, at the junior high school (now Cider Mill School) to accept a charter from the National Kiwanis organization. They dedicated the Club to enhancing the Town, especially the lives of children.

Kiwanis has made good on its desire to improve Wilton. The first Town ambulance was a gift of Kiwanis. The Club purchased the 21-acre Kiwanis Park land by the Norwalk River and dug the first Town swimming hole there. Subsequently Kiwanis Park became the home of the Y and two Little League fields. The swimming hole is now part of the Y’s campus.

Other early property acquisitions included Merwin Meadows Park and land occupied by the high school and its football field.

During its first 75 years, the Wilton Kiwanis Club and its charitable foundation have raised and donated significantly more than $1 million to improve life in Wilton. Recent fundraisers have included the annual pumpkin sales, the annual citrus and chocolate sales, the quarterly “Feed Wilton” food drives and the annual Memorial Day Pancake breakfast. Recent signature contributions have included the River Rd. Chess Park, flags for light poles in the Town Center, the “Puzzle Pieces” exhibit at the Wilton Historical Society and major renovations to the Wilton Little League Fields.

“The Wilton Kiwanis Club is proud of its 75 years of service to the community,” Current President Joe Fiteni said. “I and our other 65 current members look forward to many decades of future service and support to the community.”

Members of the community who are interested in attending the 75th Anniversary luncheon, to be held at the WEPCO complex on Wednesday, Jun. 17, from 12-1:30 p.m. can find information on the Wilton Kiwanis Club website.