Kiwanis International was founded on January 21, 1915, with the first club established in Detroit, Michigan. The name "Kiwanis" was coined from an American Indian expression, "Nunc Kee-wanis," which means, "We trade." In 1920, the motto of Kiwanis became “We Build.” Kiwanis Club of Fremont, Ohio, Inc. was chartered on August 4, 1921, through the sponsorship of the Kiwanis Club of Sandusky, Ohio. 

Kiwanis Club of Fremont is well-known for its long running annual pancake festival. The first pancake festival was held in February 1960. The Club’s second longest fundraising event was Peanut Day which started in October 1982 and was eventually discontinued around 2015. Additionally, gumball machines were placed around the community beginning in 1952 to raise money for community projects. The fairgrounds related fundraisers commenced in 2016.

The longest running service project is the sponsorship of Fremont Recreation Department’s Kiwanis Baseball League. In September 1983, Kiwanis Club of Fremont began sponsorship the Punt, Pass & Kick competition resulting in a national champion in 2017 (Elly Evarts). The NFL discontinued PPK in 2012 so Fremont Kiwanis eventually replaced it with Pitch, Hit, & Run in 2019. The Gibsonburg girl Evarts placed nationally in PHR for several years. To commemorate the club’s 100th anniversary, the million dollars Fremont Kiwanis Play Park was constructed in 2021 – the biggest club project to date!

Responding to the call for beautification, Fremont Kiwanis, led by Community Services Committee Chair Bill Bowlus, erected a Welcome to Fremont sign on East State Street in about 1985 and shortly after started participating in the ODOT Adopt-a-Highway program on SR 6 near Sycamore Hills Golf Course.

On July 7, 1987, delegates at the annual Kiwanis International Convention in Washington, DC, voted in favor of allowing Kiwanis Clubs worldwide to elect women to membership. Soon after, on January 28, 1988, Laurie Young, Mary Vandersluis, Sue Babione and Peggy Bliss became members of Fremont Kiwanis. By 2015, the majority of Fremont Kiwanis members were women.

The Stoner and Warner families donated the former ADP building in Kessler Industrial Park to the Kiwanis Club of Fremont in 1985. Fremont Kiwanis kept, maintained, renovated, and leased space in the building for five years and then sold it to A. Eickert Company which manufactured fine scissors and shears. Proceeds from the sale of the building in 1992 were used to begin the Fremont Kiwanis Endowment Fund. The following year, Kiwanis Club of Fremont began awarding annual scholarships to area high school seniors. In addition to the scholarships, money from the Endowment Fund has been used for a variety of community projects such as building playgrounds at Rodger Young, Birchard, Walsh, and Anderson parks.

Kiwanis Club of Fremont started sponsoring the Key Clubs at Ross High and St. Joseph Central Catholic long before the 1980’s. Fremont Middle School Builders Club was added about 1985, Gibsonburg Key Club in 1997, Bishop Hoffman Builders Club in 2000 and Clyde High School Key Club in 2016.

Thanks to the help of Kiwanian Secretary/Treasurer Jon Kerns, the club became computerized in 1993. Later Secretary Barb Wildermuth is credited with initiating the Quick Books program for our club financial budget and statements in about 2010.

Past Presidents who served more than one year include Neil Berlekamp, Linda Combs, Rick Frank, Hilary Frater, Mike Jay, Sara Sherick, Frank Vanyo and Laurie Young. Frater made Fremont Kiwanis history by being the first ever President to serve consecutive terms.

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Fremont, Ohio who served as Division 12 Lt. Governors (except where noted) include Ridgeway Bartlett 1928 (Division 4), Alexander Hyzer 1941 (Division 4), Clarence Cooper, 1955 (Division 6), Art Johnson 1962, Hugh Whittington 1966, Joe Turner 1972-73, John Evanoff 1978-79, Roy Klay 1984-85, Clarence Glassford 1991-92, Frank Vanyo 1998-99, Peg McQuistion 2011-12, Laurie Young 2015-16, and Rick Frank 2016-17.