Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. The organization was originally called the Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order of Brothers. A year later, the name changed to Kiwanis, which was selected by the organization’s founders based on their understanding that the word was translatable to “we build” from the Algonquian Native American language family. That same year, Kiwanis became an international organization with the founding of the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 

Initially focused on business networking, the organization changed its focus to service in 1919. More specifically, the service was centered on assisting children achieving the maximum potential. Kiwanis also places emphasis on building and serving the community in numerous capacities.

Over the years, more clubs were created in the U.S. and Canada, and worldwide expansion was ultimately approved in the 1960s. Today, there are Kiwanis clubs in nearly 80 nations and geographic locations.

The Crossroads Kiwanis traces its direct history back to the Merrillville Breakfast Kiwanis Club. Merrillville, also, had a Merrillville (Noon) Club at one time. Crown Point and Cedar Lake also had Kiwanis Clubs in the past. There is a children’s park in Cedar Lake that is still known as Kiwanis Park as it was donated to the communkty by the Kiwanis Club.