Meet Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe
The Santa Fe Downtown Kiwanis Foundation was established in 1965 by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe to safeguard and celebrate Santa Fe’s distinctive arts, music, and cultural heritage. The Foundation’s mission centers around Zozobra, a renowned artistic event conceived in 1924 by Will Shuster of Los Cinco Pintores and later entrusted to the Santa Fe Kiwanis.
Beyond its stewardship of Zozobra, the Foundation supports local youth in several ways. It awards scholarships to high school graduates pursuing further education, a program expanded in the mid-1990s to include students in two-year degree programs. Since 1978, the Foundation has also distributed grants to Santa Fe County non-profits addressing fundamental youth needs, such as health, shelter, education, arts, and recreation.
The Foundation’s community impact is funded by the annual Burning of Zozobra, having generated $3.4 million to benefit local children. The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe is now preparing for Zozobra’s centennial celebration.
