The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada has raised $26,000 toward a five-year goal of $74,000 to eliminate child deaths from tetanus. The Kiwanis theme is saving the children of the world, one child at a time. The ongoing worldwide Kiwanis goal is to raise $100 million to eradicate neonatal tetanus, a preventable disease that kills scores of children each year in Africa and other Third World nations where people do not receive tetanus vaccines. It is a preventable disease that could be wiped out with vaccines, which are effective for 10 years. The La Cañada club is a part of the Cal Neva district; the district has thus far raised $2 million. The Kiwanis program is named Eliminate.

On Sunday, Feb. 9, members of the Noon Kiwanis, along with members of the Key and Builders clubs from La Cañada High School, will be stationed outside of Ralphs supermarket at 521 Foothill Blvd., at Gould Avenue, in La Cañada Flintridge, and Vons at 2039 Verdugo Blvd. in Montrose. The youth will be selling peanuts to raise money for the Eliminate program. Last year, a similar program raised $2,000 in one Sunday afternoon. Volunteers will be on duty from noon to 4 p.m. and are urging the public to contribute, even if they don’t wish to purchase peanuts.

Past President Jim Phillips is heading the effort this year and will be accompanied by President Tom Passanisi and many members of the clubs.