Kiwanis welcomes 2005 international oratorical winner at Seventh Annual Grand Charity Ball

LAUDERDALE LAKES – The Kiwanis Club of Lauderdale Lakes will welcome 11-year old Dhanyel Johnson as guest speaker at the Seventh Annual Grand Charity Ball to be held on Saturday September 10, 2005. The black tie event will take place at the opulent Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84, Davie, Florida.

Dhanyel Johnson won first place in the Kiwanis International Oratorical Competition out of hundreds of competitors worldwide, as a result of her presentation titled ‘How Will What I’ve Learnt as a Builder Help Me to Make this World a Better Place To Live’. The annual competition for Builders Club members is organized by Kiwanis International, which sponsors Builders Clubs across the world.

Dhanyel’s videotaped speech was sent to Kiwanis International and in it she argued that persons, young and old could and should do more to help less fortunate children. She singled out street children as needing more shelters and demonstrated how Builders Clubs can also help them by establishing homework centers in their schools.

The Annual Grand Charity Ball is the premier undertaking of the Kiwanis Club of Lauderdale Lakes/West Sunrise and since 1999 has resulted in the distribution of over $210,000 to various deserving charities including SOS Children’s Village; Susan B Anthony Home & Recovery Center, African-American Research Library, Air Jamaica Lovebird Kids; and Caribbean Heart Menders’ Association.

Club President Michelle Cyrus-Brown in commenting on the club’s premier event remarked, “We are looking forward to this year’s event as we continue to work along with our community partners to raise funds for the many deserving charities, which along with us, continue to steadfastly make a difference in our communities.”