THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE NOON KIWANIS RELEASE
DANVILLE, IL – August 14, 2025 – Seventy-five years. Thousands of pancakes. One incredible mission. The Danville Kiwanis 75th Annual Pancake & Sausage Day is just around the corner. Thursday, August 28, the David S. Palmer Arena will be filled with the sizzle of sausage, the sweet aroma of golden pancakes, and the joyful buzz of a community united for a cause. From 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., more than 4,000 hungry guests are expected to gather, all in the name of helping local children and youth organizations. Thanks to loyal sponsors, ticket sales, and tireless volunteers, this event has funneled tens of thousands of dollars into programs that impact lives for the better.
The very first Pancake Day flipped onto the scene in 1950 at First Presbyterian Church, serving 1,700 plates. As the tradition grew, so did attendance — from 2,800 in 1956 to 3,500 in 1961 and over 5,000 in 2008. The event moved from First Presbyterian to St. James United Methodist, then to the Masonic Lodge, and finally to the David S. Palmer Arena in the 1980s. Over the decades, the Danville Kiwanis Breakfast Club and Golden K Club joined to provide extra hands.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child at a time, and the Danville Noon chapter has been serving Vermilion County for more than a century. They have invested thousands of dollars into local children’s programs, and at their 4th Annual Day of Giving this past April, they distributed over $22,000 to 27 organizations including Arts in the Park, Boys & Girls Club of Danville, CASA, Danville Bears Football Club, Danville Family YMCA, DHS Madrigal Singers & Music Boosters, Fair Hope Ministries, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Food for the Children Program, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Hooves of Hope, BHRA Key Club, Peer Court, Prairielands Council – Boy Scouts, Project Success, Salvation Army, Shop with a Cop, The Dwelling Place, The Hope Center, Vermilion County 4-H Federation, Vermilion County Conservation Foundation, Vermilion County DARE, Vermilion County Museum Society, Vermilion County Red White & Blue Program, Vermilion County Youth Orchestra, Women’s Care Clinic, and various high school scholarships.
“We are so grateful for those who make Pancake Day possible — the volunteers, sponsors, and community members who show up year after year,” said Kiwanis President Dave Anderson. “This isn’t just breakfast. It’s an investment in our kids, our future, and our community.”
The 75th Annual Pancake Day will be held on Thursday, August 28, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the David S. Palmer Arena. Please note that the arena requires a clear bag policy. Tickets are $8 at the door and may be purchased with cash, check, or credit card. For questions or to get involved, contact noonkiwanisdanville@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/DanvilleNoonKiwanis.
