Dr. Glen Kleine (left), a member of the Richmond Kiwanis Club and a professor emeritus of Eastern Kentucky University, is awarded a George F. Hixson Fellowship, by Dr. Kenneth Clawson, past governor of the Kentucky Tennessee District of Kiwanis International.

Kleine was recognized with the Hixson Fellowship for his leadership as president of the the Richmond Kiwanis Club and as Lieutenant Governor for an area which includes Kiwanis clubs in: Beattyville, Berea, Clark County, Fleming County, Irvine-Ravenna, Jackson County, Morehead, Mt. Sterling, Owingsville, Powell County, Richmond, Winchester, and Wolfe County.

Kleine has also served as web site administrator for Richmond (http://www.RichmondKiwanis.info/), for his division, and for Kentucky-Tennessee. Most recently he was named as administrator of the Circle K Clubs (collegiate service clubs) for all colleges and universities in Kentucky-Tennessee.

The George F. Hixson Fellowship represents a $1,000 donation, in Dr. Kleine's name, to the Kiwanis International Foundation which funds its Worldwide Service Project. The George F. Hixson Fellowship, dedicated to eliminating Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) in the world, is named after the first Kiwanis International President.

During the past decade, the Kiwanis family collected more than $75 million as part of its Worldwide Service Project, which allowed Kiwanis International, in cooperation with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, to implement salt-iodization programs throughout the world. Worldwide IDD rates have declined significantly, however, every day, 113,000 babies are born at risk of iodine deficiency.

Children with iodine deficiencies learn more slowly than others, and this often hinders their chances of success in life. Worse still, many suffer severe mental and physical retardation. Mothers who have iodine deficiency cause damage to their children before they are even born.

The future of a society lies in the health and talents of its children. Iodine deficiency hampers the development of entire nations when, child by child, its young people are unable ever to reach their full potential. 

Every child deserves a smart start in life.  We need just a teaspoonful of iodine throughout our lifetime, but we need it in tiny amounts, daily.  Iodizing salt can provide the iodine we need to grow, to develop, and to achieve our greatest dreams for ourselves and for our children.