Meet Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe
In 1965, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe founded the Santa Fe Downtown Kiwanis Foundation. The Foundation’s core mission is to protect, preserve, and promote Santa Fe’s distinctive artistic, musical, and cultural heritage. Central to this work is Zozobra, the celebrated arts event created in 1924 by Will Shuster, an artist from Los Cinco Pintores entrusted to the Santa Fe Kiwanis.
The Foundation demonstrates its commitment to local youth by awarding scholarships to deserving high school graduates and, since the mid-1990s, also to students pursuing two-year degrees. Furthermore, beginning in 1978, it has awarded grants to non-profit groups in Santa Fe County that provide vital services to young people in areas like health, housing, education, arts, and recreation.
The Foundation’s achievements are made possible by the proceeds from the annual Burning of Zozobra. This event has contributed $3.4 million to support the growth and development of children in the community. Currently, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe is actively planning for the 100th anniversary of Zozobra.
