RIVERVIEW REGISTER • SEPTEMBER 9 - OCTOBER 13 2026 • Page 19
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Kiwanis of Riverview seeks community support
In an age of search engines, smartphones and voice assistants, it may be tempting to think a printed dictionary has outlived its usefulness. Spend a few minutes with a third grader receiving a dictionary of their very own, however, and you will see something different: curiosity, excitement and the confidence that comes from having a trusted learning tool right at their fingertips. That is why the Kiwanis of Riverview Dictionary Program remains one of our club’s most meaningful annual traditions. Since 2007, with the generous help of local businesses and community supporters, Kiwanis has distributed 4,856 dictionaries to third-grade students in Riverview schools. This fall, they hope to continue that promise once again. Third grade is an especially important time in a child’s education. It is often described as the point when students begin moving from learning to read toward reading to learn. A dictionary helps children meet new words independently, learning spelling, pronunciation, meaning, and usage while building vocabulary for reading, writing and classroom discussion. A printed dictionary also offers benefits that a quick online search cannot fully replace. It is always available, requires no device or internet connection, contains no advertisements or distracting notifications, and encourages a child to slow down and explore. One word often leads to another, turning a simple homework question into discovery—and discovery into a lasting love of words. The Dictionary Project notes that a dictionary may be the first reference book a student personally owns. That ownership matters. The child can keep it nearby at school, take it home, write their name in it and return to it again and again. More than a book, it becomes a dependable companion and a quiet invitation to be resourceful: “I can find the answer. I can learn this word. I can understand.” “When a child opens a dictionary, they are not simply looking up a word—they are learning how to seek knowledge for
themselves. That confidence is exactly what Kiwanis wants to nurture.” Said Diane Kinlen, President, Kiwanis of Riverview. Kinlen calls the program an investment that families can see and children can hold. “There is something powerful about placing a book directly into a young person’s hands and saying, ‘This belongs to you,’” Kinlen said. “Our members look forward to distribution day because the students’ enthusiasm reminds us why this project is worth doing year after year.” As a longtime Kiwanian and Mayor, Andy Swift has seen many community programs make a difference, but this one is wonderfully direct. “Every contribution becomes part of a child’s education,” he said. “When Riverview businesses, organizations and residents support this program, they send our students a clear message: your learning matters, your potential matters, and your community believes in you.” The goal for the 2026 program is to raise $1,400 to cover the cost of the dictionaries, scheduled for distribution in early October. Donations of any amount are sincerely appreciated. Supporters contributing at least $75 may have their name or company name listed in the front of every dictionary distributed. A contribution of at least $100 also includes a 5-by-5-inch supporter decal for display at a business, along with recognition inside the dictionaries. To be included on the 2026 sponsor list, donations must be received by Wednesday, September 23. Checks or money orders may be made payable to Kiwanis of Riverview—Dictionary Project and mailed to P.O. Box 2057, Riverview, MI 48193. Contributions may also be made through PayPal at the QR code above. For questions, please contact Andy Swift at 734-284-5034 or swift1@ comcast.net. With our community’s help, another generation of Riverview students will receive more than a dictionary. They will receive a set of keys—keys to new words, new ideas and a lifetime of learning.
Suggestions or Comments? We are listening at 734-282-3939
thejefferycompany@yahoo.com
A Dictionary Is Still a Key to a Child’s Future