Kiwanis Prosthetic Hand Program | October 2017

On October 28, 2017 the Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates held their second annual project to assemble 12 prosthetic hands. The prosthetic hands will be donated to a nonprofit organization for distribution to needy children that have lost their fingers as a result of birth or injury.

The components were manufactured by Palos Verdes on the Net (PVNeT) a nonprofit technology center using 3D printing. Sixteen Kiwanis Key Club high school students assembled the hands. The students were from the three local high schools, Peninsula, Palos Verdes and Mary Star.

The Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates joins the global network of passionate volunteers using 3D printing to help children, giving them a “Helping Hand” where medical care is hard to find and where owning a traditional prosthetic device is nothing but a dream.

Project Shoe 2017

On Saturday September 9th the Kiwanis of RHE held their annual Project Shoe Program at the local Payless Shoe Store in Torrance. Ninety one pairs of school shoes, backpacks and school supplies were given out to children from the Boys and Girls clubs, Volunteers of America and children from military families.

What makes this program unique is that the children learned that this was not a handout but a hand up. Each child was asked to do a task at home in return for receiving the shoes and school supplies.

The children were able to have drinks and snacks as they waited for their turn to receive their shoes. To round out the program there was music and dancing.

High school students from the Kiwanis Key Clubs and KIWINS help the children select their shoes.

We would like to thank Walgreens, Big 5 and Staples for the backpacks, and Costco and Ralphs for the snacks as well as the many sponsors who financially supported the program and Payless Shoe Store who hosted the program.

Scholarship Luncheon 2017

On June 4, 2017, the Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates honored 24 students, their families and their counselors at the Los Verdes Golf Course.

Outstanding high school graduates represented Palos Verdes, PV Peninsula, Phineas Banning, Port of Los Angeles, and San Pedro High Schools. Continuing scholars represented: Boston University; Washington College; Marymount California University; Northeastern University; Ohio State University; and West Virginia University. Awards are based upon academic achievement, service and “heart.” In addition to a monetary award (which may continue throughout undergraduate and into graduate work), the club offers year-round support and mentoring for these future leaders.

Special awards were presented to student leaders in Key Club and in KIWINS. Nathanial Pereira, President of the Palos Verdes Peninsula KIWINS Club was honored for his service to the Palos Verdes and greater South Bay community. Huy Nguyen, President of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Key Club, was recognized for his outreach and service to the campus and greater South Bay community and his sponsorship of fund raising events, for the Pediatric Trauma Program, with other South Bay Key Clubs. Both Nathan and Huy have engaged their members to support all of the projects of the Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates. Nathan will attend California State University, Long Beach in preparation for a graduate professional doctorate program in physical therapy. Huy will study Electronic System Engineering Technology at Cal Poly Pomona.

Scholarship Applications are available every February at www.kiwanisclubrhe.org/scholarships/.

2016 PV Half Marathon

On Saturday November 19th the Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates held the 51st annual PV Half Marathon. 1375 runners in three groups, half marathon, 10k and 5K, participated in the run.

The start/finish line was at Pelican Cove in Ranch Palos Verdes. Mayor Ken Dyda kicked off the race at 7 am as part of the Lexus LaceUp running series. The race proceeded along the scenic coastal roads of Palos Drive South and along Palos Verdes Drive West into the City of Palos Verdes Estates, returning to finish at Pelican Cove.

Approximately 138 Kiwanis volunteers supported the run. Included in the volunteer list were the Key Clubs and KIWINS from the local high schools, Beacon House, Palos Verdes Amateur Radio Club, REACH and Union Bank.

Prosthetic Hands for Children

On Saturday, October 22nd nineteen young adults from the three local high schools, Peninsula, Palos Verdes and Mary Star, met at the Palos Verdes on the Net (PVNet) Education & Technology Center in the Promenade Mall, Rolling Hills Estates and assembled ten prosthetic hands as a one day Kiwanis project. The students were all members of one of the Kiwanis on campus service clubs, the Key Club or the KIWINS.

The project was developed in an association with the Kiwanis and PVNet, a 22 year old established emerging technology center. PVNet fabricated the parts and provided the facilities for the project.

The prosthetic hands will be donated to Enable Community Foundation who will than distribute the hands to needy children. The Enable Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation created to deploy innovations for people with limb differences.

Each hand required twelve different part types to be fabricated using the 3-D printing technology manufacturing process. To make up one hand a total of thirty one parts were required. This meant that PVNet had to 3D print a total of 310 parts to make up the ten prosthetic hands. PVNet began printing prosthetic hands in 2015 as science project for one of its interns, Eric Chen.

Prior to assembling the parts, Kiwanis members, Herb Stark and Marty Dodell inspected the parts and removed any remaining flashing resulting from the manufacturing process. This was done to insure that each part would fit properly during assembly. The parts for each hand were than kitted and packed into individual kits ready for assembly by students. On the day of the project, ten work spaces, including tools, were setup at PVNet.

Good partnerships such as this create opportunities for youth to gain confidence and experience by contributing positively to society. It also demonstrates not only the need for youth STEM education, but also delivers the opportunity to combine education with community service where the outcome measurably improves the lives of those in need.

Prosthetic Hand Project - Kiwanis Club of RHEIn case there is any doubt, just ask Ryan, the 7 year old boy who received one of the PVNet’s prosthetic hands.

Prosthetic Hand Project - Kiwanis Club of RHE

Project Shoe 2016

Each year the Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates hosts a children’s school shoe party.  This year Project Shoe was held on September 10th at the local Payless Shoe Store in Torrance.

The children are from the local Boys and Girls Club, ranging in age from 5 and 7 years, and come from the low socioeconomic families in our community.  Each child is provided with a new pair of school shoes and a backpack filled with school supplies.

This year 89 children participated in the program.  After receiving their shoes and backpack the children were entertained with music and dancing.  Kiwanis and high school Key club members, along with staff from the local Payless Shoe store, assisted the children in selecting the shoes.