MOUNT OLIVE (11/13/06) - The Mount Olive Kiwanis and Lions Clubs have donated another $720 to the Flanders Fire Department and First Aid Squad to help purchase eight infant/child defibrillator kits which will be used to help save the lives of children. The two service organizations have donated a total of $6,645.

These funds were raised at the Mount Olive Community Day last summer by dunking several current and former elected officials in a dunk tank.

The Kiwanis Club previously donated $1,500 towards a new pediatric-capable defibrillator for the Budd Lake Fire Department and $1,800 to add pediatric capability to four defibrillators for the Budd Lake First Aid & Rescue Squad. The Kiwanis and Lions also have donated $2,625 to the Mount Olive Police Department for seven defibrillator voltage upgrades and seven infant/child kits.

"We started off focused on new units and expensive voltage upgrades, but defibrillators still aren't technically pediatric-capable if they don't have these infant/child kits," said Kiwanis President Brian Siegelwax, "we hope to help replace every one of these kits before expiration dates, and we hope no child will need them before then."

Participants included Mayor David Scapicchio, all the members of the Town Council… President Rob Greenbaum, Vice President Steve Rattner, Ray Perkins, Russ Tepper, John Biondi, Colleen Labow, and Jim Buell, Assemblyman Guy Gregg, former Assemblyman Dick Kamin, former Councilman John Mania, and Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen also participated. The participants raised money both inside and outside the dunk tank.

The top three fundraisers, in order, were the team of Guy Gregg and Dick Kamin, followed by Colleen Labow, followed by David Scapicchio.

Steve Rattner was crowned the "Undisputed King of the Dunk Tank" for not only raising the most money while inside the dunk tank, but also for putting on a show. For example, Steve was the only participant to both enter and exit the water feet first. Short video clips are available at www.MtOliveKiwanis.org/news.asp.

DISCLAIMER: Kiwanis Clubs and Lions Clubs are not political and do not endorse candidates or parties. Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired. Founded in 1917, 1.3 million Lions Club members in 45,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographic areas also tackle tough problems like drug abuse prevention and diabetes awareness. SightFirst grants fight preventable and reversible blindness by building hospitals and clinics, training doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, distributing medicine and raising awareness of eye disease. SightFirst, initially funded by Lions with US$144 million, fights the major causes of blindness: cataract, river blindness, trachoma, and, especially in developed nations like the United States, diabetic eye disease and glaucoma. To volunteer, to donate, or for more information, visit www.LionsClubs.org or call Club President Drew Van Dam at 862-219-5110.

Founded in 1915, Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Kiwanis International and its service leadership programs for young people, including Circle K, Key Club, Key Leader, Builders Club, K-Kids, Kiwanis Junior and Aktion Club dedicate more than 19 million volunteer hours and invest US$100 million to strengthen communities and serve children annually. The Kiwanis International family comprises 600,000 adult and youth members and 8,600 clubs in 96 countries and geographic areas. Kiwanis members make their mark by responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address worldwide issues. Globally, Kiwanis International has focused humanitarian efforts on eliminating iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), through the Worldwide Service Project, a US$75 million campaign in partnership with UNICEF, which began in 1994. To volunteer, to donate, or for more information, visit the Kiwanis Club of Mount Olive at www.MtOliveKiwanis.org or call Club President Brian Siegelwax at 973-713-5839. Brian N. Siegelwax, CEO