Club Information

Club History

Mercury 64 was presented its charter on October 3, 1962 by Dennis Edwards of the Newport News Kiwanis Club. Dennis Edwards was most instrumental in forming our club. Mercury 64 was the first breakfast Kiwanis club on the eastern seaboard. On the morning of our first regular meeting, Oct 3, 1962, Comdr. Walter Schirra was our guest. He was an astronaut who went into space. While listening to his radio, our first president Mayer Sarfan, missed his exit and was late to the first meeting.

Our name comes from our meeting place and service area being Mercury Blvd. and Interstate 64. We have met continually at the Holiday Inn since our inception. Over the years our membership has been between 27 and 40 members and we have always participated in Kiwanis International's Major Emphasis Programs and tried to live up to the Kiwanis motto "We Build".

Over the years we have supported many organizations with monetary donations but more importantly with untold hours of our time, Some of the projects which we participated in have been painting and cleaning at camp for scouts, driving handicapped children to summer day camp, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, helping administer CPR classes, working at Special Olympics, presenting Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to the needy, many hours doing different projects at the Battered Women's Shelter, reading to pre-school children, car seat program, Adopt-a-Spot, and many other hands-on activities.

We have planted trees to help beautify the city, helped senior and handicapped citizens fix up their residences. We sponsor a Teacher's Breakfast welcoming the new teachers to the Hampton schools and our community. Over the years one of our larger projects has been supplying volunteers for Bay Days. This project started out with Mercury 64 having a booth or rides at the Hampton employees Fair Day and has now become a three-day event. Many of our fundraising activities have included selling candy, soap, first aid kits, coloring books, peanuts, fruit, pancakes, pizza, roast beef sandwiches, raffle tickets and many other items. We have worked at Party at the Point, held flea markets and a Chinese auction, as well as supplying people to run bingo games and many other activities.

We sponsor two Key Clubs and have sponsored a Circle K and Builder club. We also present a scholarship to an outstanding Key Club Member each year, We have sponsored students at the President's Council in Washington and to Boys and Girls state. Our present roster of members and past members includes 3 past Lieutenant Governors for our division.

Mercury 64 has received many awards from Kiwanis International, local organizations and the city of Hampton for its community involvement and work to make this a better place for all.