The Exchange Club of Dayton

On March 27, 1911, the National Exchange Club was founded for the purpose that professional men could exchange ideas and serve their community. The Dayton Chapter of the Exchange Club was started on April 11, 1919, then chartered on September 22, 1919. There are hundreds of Exchange Clubs throughout the United States and Puerto Rico with nearly 24,000 members. Thirty Exchange Clubs exist in Ohio. In 1985, the National Exchange Club started accepting female members.

Today, the Exchange Clubs are an all-volunteer, national service organization of professional men and women who strive to make communities better places through programs of service in youth activities, community service, and their national project, the prevention of child abuse. The Dayton Chapter still meets weekly and its non-profit foundation has donated over $300,000 to many organizations in the greater Dayton area since 1963. Sinclair Community College, University of Dayton, Wright State University and Wittenburg University are the four colleges that have benefited from scholarships set up by the Dayton Exchange Club.

The Dayton Chapter has supported and funded numerous community projects aimed at helping disadvantaged youth including: Adopt-A-Family, Care House, Boy's Village, Youth of the Year/A.C.E Award, Kids in New Directions (KIND), Hanbleceya House, and child abuse prevention centers.

The Dayton Exchange Club also participates/sponsors two projects for public enrichment: The Freedom Shrines and One Nation Under God. The Freedom Shrine project was started by the National Club in 1949 to install permanent displays of important American documents in schools, libraries and other public places so that all Americans would have access. Locally, Freedom Shrines exist at Wright State University, Sinclair Community College, Oakwood High School, and Centerville High School thanks to the Dayton Chapter. The One Nation Under God project was started on July 30, 1964, by the National Club to set aside November as the month to remember the important roles of religious faith and freedom in our nation's history.

Apart from its projects and donations to causes, the Dayton Exchange Club holds fundraisers and various social events yearly including: the Snow Ball Dinner/Dance, George Ford Golf Memorial, Spring Event, Lobsterfest, Thanksgiving Luncheon, and the Tom and Jerry Party.

From the guide to the The Exchange Club of Dayton Records, 1928-2006, 1972-2006, (Wright State University, Special Collections and Archives)