The motto of the Kiwanis Clubs internationally is “Serving the Children of the World.” Kiwanis Clubs across the United States have many programs designed to do just that.

Here in Kirkland, the Kiwanis Club has a special way of adding their support to that endeavor through the KCK Keller Foundation.

In the early 1980s a long time Kirkland Orthodontist, Jack Keller, died in a tragic hunting accident. Keller had been a long time member of the Kirkland Kiwanis Club and had been very generous through the years by doing dental work at no charge for adults and children with financial restrictions. Two of Keller’s fellow Kiwanians and dentists, Dennis Welsh and Arne Ness, wanted to do something to pay tribute to Keller, so they came up with the idea of a fund in his honor to carry on his work — thereby forming the KCK Keller Foundation.

The fund was jointly established by Keller’s family, friends and the Kirkland Kiwanis Club for children under the age of 16 who need orthodontic treatment and can’t afford it.

Kiwanis member Ed Irwin was instrumental in involving several Kirkland orthodontists in delivering this reduced fee care to these children. Orthodontists Dr. Michelle Neal and Dr. Tony Lovrovich were among those who generously donated their services in past years.

Currently, the KCK Keller Foundation is partnering with the University of Washington School of Dentistry for this project. The most recent recipient of the KCK Keller Fund has just completed this process.

The full program takes about two years and costs about $5,000. There is another child currently going through the initial stages of the program and will be underway with treatment soon.

The KCK Keller Foundation is one of the many ways that the Kiwanis Club of Kirkland serves the community of Kirkland. For more information about the club or other projects they are involved in, please visit the website at www.kirkland.kiwanis.org or contact Matt Gregory, Secretary at 425-828-0231.