The Kiwanis Club of Statesboro made a $1,000 donation to Bulloch County Schools’ Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) program during its regular meeting Sept. 15.
    The Donation was facilitated by the Club’s Auditory Services Committee Chairman William “Bill” Anderson.
    “We budget funds annually for local needs as well as statewide for Georgia District Kiwanis’ Buck-N-Ear program which helps support the Auditory-Verbal Center, in Atlanta,” said Anderson.
    Bulloch County D/HH Teacher Leslie Buchan and D/HH Interpreter Cheri Zittrauer were on hand to accept the funds for the school system. 
    “We are very appreciative of how they support our students,” said Buchan. 
    Kiwanis also is collaborating with Buchan on several special events for D/HH children, their families and the community during the upcoming Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair and Rodeo.
    “We’re excited about the possibility of additional partnerships with the Kiwanis Club,” said Buchan.  “We’ve begun discussions with the Club about providing interpreters during special tour times both at the Fair and Rodeo for adults and children within Bulloch County’s deaf and hard of hearing community.”
    “We like to coordinate with those who do it best day in and day out,” said Anderson.  “I have a deaf daughter, I’m aware of what it takes to educate the hearing impaired. Bulloch County has a good program that enables students to achieve,” said Anderson.
    Last year, the Kiwanis Club made a similar donation to the school system that helped supply sign language dictionaries.
    “Our students are very visual, and this year the funds will be used to help purchase computer software that will aid in instruction,” said Buchan.
    The Kiwanis Club of Statesboro has 28 functioning committees serving the club and community. Through its Education Committee, Auditory Services Committee and others, the Club donated more than $6,000 to the Bulloch County School System last school year.  They also were key volunteers for the Special Olympic Games and donated free Kiwanis Rodeo tickets to the entire District’s Pre-Kindergarten through second grade students. 
    The Kiwanis Club donates 100 percent of its proceeds from the Fair and Rodeo to local education and charitable needs in Bulloch County.