George D. “Jake” Swartout, 1988-89 Governor of the Florida District, organized the first Aktion Club, for adults who live with a disability, in Putnam County, Florida, in 1987.   With the assistance of fellow Kiwanians, Ed Brooks and Dick Wittner, the Aktion Club concept spread throughout the Florida District and, by world-of-mouth, throughout the Kiwanis world.   Aktion Club became an official Sponsored Program of Kiwanis International on October 1, 2000.

Today, in addition to the US, there are clubs in Australia, Bahamas, Barbados,Canada, Jamaica, and Malaysia.