Annual Key Club Scholarship

Fourteen of the GTA’s top high school role models were honoured with scholarships at a luncheon at the Glass Pavilion at Casa Loma on June 7th, 2022. 

This is the 26th consecutive year that the Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma (KCCL) has presented the scholarships. The luncheon returned to Casa Loma after a 2-year absence due to Covid-19 (the scholarship program was presented on Zoom during the past 2 years).

Key Club is the name of the Kiwanis organization for high schools. There are 11 high schools across 3 School Boards in the GTA with Key Clubs. Each school names one graduating Key Club student, who receives a scholarship of $1,500 for their first year of post-secondary studies. The scholarship winners are chosen based on (1) strong academics with a minimum 70% average (2) financial need (3) service and leadership in the school and community in keeping with the Kiwanis spirit. Many of the scholarship winners have truly heart-warming stories of overcoming obstacles, leading to successfully being accepted into post-secondary studies.

In addition to the Key Club scholarships, KCCL awards 3 special scholarships each year:

• The $1,500 Nick Di Donato Hospitality Scholarship – which honours Mr. Di Donato, the CEO of the Liberty Entertainment Group, which manages Casa Loma
• The $2,000 John Bird Music Scholarship – jointly funded by the Bird Family in memory of John Bird, a leading Canadian music executive
• The $1,500 Mark Brogden Business Scholarship in memory of a former KCCL President and Treasurer

One hundred guests attended the event, including family, friends and faculty members for each of the scholarship winners. Principals from many of the schools and a TDSB Superintendent also participated. Mr. Di Donato provided the keynote address.