Vision: A strong America, safe communities, and unified people.
Mission: Exchange, inspiring communities to become better places to live.
Core Values: Family, Community, Country
Motto: Unity for Service
The National Exchange Club is the only service organization exclusively serving communities in the United States. More than 630 local clubs throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico provide individuals with opportunities to use their time and talents to benefit their local communities and the country as a whole. Exchange’s Core Values are family, community, and country.
Exchange is an all-volunteer, national service organization for people who want to serve their community, develop leadership skills, and enjoy new friendships and is known to millions as America’s Service Club.
From our organization’s earliest days, Exchange Clubs have been serving their communities and improving the quality of life.
The diverse array of Exchange-sponsored programs and projects have made a considerable impact on communities across the US and beyond enhancing the lives of countless men, women, and children.
The National Exchange Club History
Charles A. Berkey is credited with the founding of this great organization. At his suggestion, the name “Exchange” was selected because the group wanted to exchange ideas and information with like-minded individuals about how to better serve their communities.
The first local Exchange Club was formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1911. The second was the Exchange Club of Toledo, Ohio, formed in 1913. Subsequently, two others were organized in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Cleveland, Ohio. These four clubs were the first to be chartered by The National Exchange Club after it was organized as a nonprofit, educational organization in 1917.
Exchange Clubs sponsor activities under the organization’s Programs of Service – Americanism, Youth Programs and Community Service – as well as its National Project, the prevention of child abuse.