Civitan, a worldwide community service organization, was founded in 1917 by a group of businessmen in Birmingham, Alabama who began meeting weekly to discuss how they could improve their community.  Civitian International was established three years later in 1920.

The name Civitan is taken from the latin word Civitas which means citizenship.  Civitan's motto is "Builders of Good Citizenship."

Today, there are approximately 55,000 men, women, and young people in nearly 1800 Civitan and Junior Civitan Clubs worldwide.

In 1974 Civitan became the first previously all-male service organization to welcome women as equal members.

Since the 1930s, Civitan International's major focus has been toward helping people with mental and physical disabilities: however, local clubs are involved in a variety of community service projects based on the needs of their communities.

Civitan's most recognized fund-raising project is the Civitan Candy Box Project.  Serviced soley by volunteers, 100 percent of the net proceedss of the project go to benefit individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities locally and internationally.

Civitans believe in helping others through "hands-on" projects.  Since 1960, the Civitan International Foundation has contributed more than $12 million to build group homes for the menatlly challenged, given scholarships, supported the Special Olympics, educated school children, helped mentally and physically handicapped individuals, and created the Civitan International Research Center.