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Mike Haven and the Kiwanis Club: ‘Improving the lives of children in our world’

“Believe to achieve” is Mike Haven’s personal motto and everything he does reflects that.

“Mike is persistent, persuasive and relentless for all the right reasons,” said Dawn Astin, a fellow Kiwanian and a past president of the local group. “His passion makes other Kiwanians want to be better.”

As governor of the state Kiwanis, a position he was chosen for at this past summer’s convention here in Williamsport, Haven spends his time visiting the members of the 165 Kiwanis Clubs statewide.

“He is making a big impact as Kiwanis’ Governor of Pennsylvania with his theme Make-A-Wish Foundation promoting programs that improve and enhance the lives of kids here in our state; uniting Kiwanians in our service to others and keeping us focused on the goals,” Astin continued.

“I just can’t tell you how comforting it is to know that he’s in that position — he’s that kind of guy. He has an agenda, he organizes it. He just embraces volunteers. People will do so much for him. He gets the job done,” shared Connie Tobias, another member of the local Kiwanis Club.

When it was founded in 1919, the local Kiwanis Club began with 75 members. This year, as they celebrated their 100th year anniversary and as many service organizations have struggled to keep members, Kiwanis’ numbers have remained as constant as their mission of “improving the world one child, one community at a time.”

Not only did the local group celebrate a milestone anniversary, but they were host to the group’s annual state convention.

While the 250 or so guests were in town for the event, the local group had scheduled activities that highlighted what Kiwanians do best — things that improve the lives of children and their families. Billed as an unconventional convention, the event offered those attending a chance to perform various service projects throughout the city.

Haven was the driving force behind the change in the format for the convention, and according to Gerry Fausnaught, a member of Kiwanis who has worked with him for years, the feedback from those who attended was very positive.

“They said it was one of the best ones they have ever had,” Fausnaught said.

Another past president, Jason Hurwitz also noted that the feedback from those attending the convention was good. He said that they shared that the sessions made them think and made them re-evaluate.

“It made them better Kiwanians and therefore better members of the community,” Hurwitz said.

Community and service are also words that were echoed again and again as people described the qualities that Haven displays in his leadership.

“Mike is an amazing guy. He has so much enthusiasm and energy for community work, for just sharing the love that he has for the community,” Tobias said. ” He’s just about kids and the community, what can I say,” she added.

Current Williamsport Kiwanis president Anna Thompson shared, “His enthusiasm for helping others is truly contagious. His energy is a constant inspiration for Williamsport Kiwanians to change lives for children in our community. As PA Kiwanis Governor, our entire state now gets to benefit from his unmatched commitment to service.

“Mike is very dedicated to the principles of Kiwanis. … improving the lives of children in our world. He was president of the Williamsport Kiwanis Club, which is a three-year commitment. Mike gives any task his ALL and sees it through to the finish. He is compassionate about people, period,” said Astin.

On a more personal note, Astin, who is a cancer survivor, detailed a story illustrating Haven’s compassionate nature.

“He made a big impact on me as a Kiwanian during my cancer journey,” Astin said. “I traveled with Sam (her husband) to one of the Kiwanis conventions in Pittsburgh one year and I was feeling pretty poorly. We went on a boat ride (big mistake) and Mike kept asking how I was doing and offered numerous ways to make me comfortable. Mike Haven cares. He cares about humanity. He cares about kids. He cares about people. His dedication is unwavering to make our communities a better place to be and live.”

As the local Kiwanis Club heads into its second century, one project that Kiwanis has championed and worked with other community groups, such as the Rotary Club, the Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation and the county government, is an all-inclusive playground to be located next to Stevens Primary School.

“That’s huge for us. Huge as in it’s something that is a large investment, a huge cost,” Haven said. He added that if they had taken on this project alone, it definitely would have been challenging.

The total cost of the project is expected to be around $400,000. The group had already has secured a Matching Funds Hero’s Grant, leaving a balance of $292,000. As of this month the amount raised is within $25,000 of the total needed.

Although Haven does not work directly with the playground project, one of the co-chairs, Fausnaught, said that Haven’s has a gift for putting together the right people to get the job done.

“He’s a great delegater,” Fausnaught said. “He knows who to choose to get things done.”

Fausnaught also shared that Haven’s mother also served in leadership in Kiwanis and that she (his mother) taught him about serving and doing for others.

“Mike’s just an all-around person. He loves to travel. He loves music and theater,” she added. “He’s very generous. Mike has a big heart.”

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