Ron Smith of Fountain Hills has been appointed as a trustee to the Kiwanis International Foundation board.

Smith, a former president of the Noon Kiwanis Club of Fountain Hills and former governor for the Kiwanis Southwest District, will take his three-year seat as international trustee beginning Oct. 1.

This is the first time since Kiwanis was started in 1917 in the Southwest District – Arizona, New Mexico and a slice of Texas near El Paso – that it has had representation on the Kiwanis International Foundation Board.

The Board of Trustees (total of 10) is elected to oversee the foundation’s administration, or the charitable arm of Kiwanis International.

Its main mission to financially assist Kiwanis and its clubs in “serving the children of the world,” which is the motto of Kiwanis International.

“I’m extremely honored by this appointment,” Smith said. “This opportunity will provide a presence for the Southwest District at the international level.”

Serving alongside him will be wife Joanne.

They both share a passion for Kiwanis International’s Eliminate Project.

The worldwide project aims to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus from the earth. Tetanus is still prevalent in more than 30 countries around the globe.

“We promise to serve honorably, dedicating all of our energy to ensure the continuation of the goals and mission of Kiwanis International as we continue to ‘serve the children of the world.’”

The appointment was announced by Kiwanis International President Tom DeJulio at the 98th annual KI convention in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in late June.

The organization’s Executive Board approved the appointment.

Eliminate

Following his term as district governor, Smith agreed to serve as district coordinator for the Eliminate Project.

Under his leadership, the district has secured more than $650,000 toward its goal of raising $1.5 million by 2015.

“Our efforts are changing the world and truly fulfill the mission of Kiwanis – serving the children of the world,” Smith said about Kiwanis and Eliminate.

The district, one of the smaller ones in Kiwanis, ranks fifth in the world with per-capita contributions and No. 1 in the United States at $225 per member.

The Eliminate Project is a global campaign that will save or protect millions of women and babies.

Neonatal maternal tetanus is typically contracted through unhygienic childbirth practices.

The project’s goal is to eliminate this swift, painful and highly preventable disease by immunizing women of childbearing age, which will not only protect the mothers, but also their future babies.

Kiwanis International has pledged to raise $110 million by 2015 for the project, which will ultimately protect more than 61 million women and their future babies, and make Kiwanis the world’s largest single donor to MNT elimination efforts.

The funding supports UNICEF and its partners who have already eliminated MNT in numerous countries.