he Kiwanis Club of Texarkana celebrated another impactful year of community service and philanthropy during its 2025 Annual Banquet, held on Tuesday, June 17 at the Truman Arnold Student Center on the Texarkana College campus.
A signature moment of the evening was the presentation of more than $32,000 in grants to a wide range of local nonprofits and organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children, families, veterans, and underserved communities throughout the Texarkana region. This year’s grant recipients represent vital causes including youth development, education, food security, healthcare, and more.
Grant recipients included:
Ag Learning Center at Four States Fairgrounds, Beds for Kids, Boy Scout Troop 86, Caddo Area Council, CASA of Northeast Texas, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Domestic Violence Prevention, Downtown Veteran Support Group, East Texas Food Bank, Fearfully & Wonderfully Made, First Choice Pregnancy Center, For the Sake of One, Girl Scout Troop 2123, Hope 29, Hospice of Texarkana, Mariah House, NVST TXK, Razorback EAST Pig Pantry, two Running WJ Grants, Salvation Army Kids Club House, Stuff the Bus, Texarkana AR Police Department PRIDE Program, Texarkana College Foundation, Texarkana Presidential Scholarship, Texarkana ISD Resource Center, Texarkana Resources for the Disabled, Texarkana Young Marines, Today’s Youth Tomorrow’s Leaders, and the Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council (TRAHC).
In addition to these grants, over $3,000 in scholarships were awarded, including the Sophomore of the Year Scholarship to Karsyn Burns and Leadership Scholarships to Kylie McAlister, Shekinah Perlas, Mackenzie Wiley, Stephanie Shimpock, and Grant Shaw.
The club also proudly recognized the success of its inaugural Kiwanis K.I.D.S. Camp, a free summer day camp created for children living with diabetes. The long-awaited program, originally dreamed up over 30 years ago by Mary Johnson, finally came to life in 2025, providing a safe, educational environment for young campers to learn, build confidence, and connect with others managing similar health challenges.
Kiwanis Vice President Barbara Walker shared, “We are so proud to support these incredible organizations and launch new programs like K.I.D.S. Camp that directly touch the lives of children in our area. When we invest in our youth, we’re investing in the future of Texarkana.”
The evening also honored outstanding community leaders and Kiwanis members. Mayor Bob Bruggeman presented the Citizen Award to Mary Johnson for her decades of service, and Destiny Carter received the Kiwanian of the Year Award for her leadership and dedication.
For more information about the Kiwanis Club of Texarkana, upcoming programs, or ways to get involved, visit www.kiwaniscluboftexarkana.org.
