DES MOINES, IA - The Des Moines Area Sports Commission, a division of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, is seeking an additional 1,500 volunteers for the AAU Junior Olympic Games, July 22 - August 2 in Greater Des Moines. Principal Financial Group, West Bank, Nationwide and Wells Fargo & Co. have committed to providing more than 500 volunteers towards the event. Areas of need include event assistance, awards assistance, registration and set-up/tear-down. Shifts are available for sign-up atcatchdesmoines.com/aaujo.

The 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games will include 14,000 athletes and 40,000 total visitors in Central Iowa over 12 days. Athletes range from ages 3 to 22 competing in 23 sports at eight Greater Des Moines facilities?including the Iowa Events Center and Drake Stadium. The Games are expected to generate $47 in economic impact for Greater Des Moines. Des Moines hosted the Games previously in 1995, 2004 and 2009.

"We're proud to again host AAU athletes, coaches and fans this summer," says Greg Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and Des Moines Area Sports Commission. "Our community's support is vital as volunteer interaction greatly enhances the overall city experience for visitors."

"The Junior Olympic Games provide thousands of youth with an opportunity to learn sportsmanship, physical fitness and teamwork," says Suzie Glazer Burt, Honorary Chair of the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games. "It takes volunteers from our community to educate and support these youth athletes, providing a positive and impactful experience they'll always remember."  

Signature Sponsors of the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games include Principal Financial Group, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines, Wells Fargo and Co. and Markey's Rental and Staging. Champion Sponsors include MidAmerican Energy, Nationwide Insurance, Prairie Meadows, West Bank, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Alliance Technologies, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Adventureland Park. Supporting Sponsors include Classic Tents, ColorFX, Copy Systems, Electronic Engineering, Knapp Properties, NB Golf Cars, Scheel's, Sigler, Greg and Suzie Glazer Burt, Vital Signs and Reynolds and Reynolds.

About the Amateur Athletic Union

Founded in 1888, the Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest multi-sport, not-for-profit, volunteer organizations in the United States. It is dedicated to the development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs for youth and adults. The AAU Junior Olympic Games are the largest national multi-sport event for amateur youth conducted in the United States.

The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote Greater Des Moines as a fun, vibrant and affordable destination statewide, nationally and internationally. Our focus increases visitors to our community through meetings, conventions, sports events, leisure travel, and group tours, thereby contributing to the local economy.

Are you looking for a way to volunteer, have fun and give back to the community supporting 600+ students age 9-14?

~ 150 Volunteers (adults and students in college & high school) are needed for supporting the 5th annual Quad Cities FIRST LEGO League (FLL) regional qualifiers on December 7 in Moline at John Deere Middle School for Illinois teams and December 14 & 15 in Davenport for Iowa Teams at the Putnam Museum.  In total, the combined tournaments will have 87+ FLL teams with over 600 students with the expected number of attendees over 2,500+ people.  The top teams from the qualifiers will go on to the State Championships in Iowa & Illinois. 

No previous experience or technical background is required for many of the volunteer positions.  Positions requiring a technical background  and /or requiring pre-work with training  are noted including for judging and referees.  

Volunteers will be provided food, beverages and a great experience supporting our local youth!

Link to further information including registering to volunteer. (Please register by 15Nov or sooner)

Thanks for your support!

Feel free to forward this note to others interested in volunteering including students in high school and college.

October 15 Training Session in Moline Now Open for Registration

PEORIA - Have you ever thought about the impact you could make in the life of a child with a life-threatening medical condition? More than 11,000 children across Illinois have experienced the magic of a wish coming true, thanks to the hundreds of community supporters of Make-A-Wish Illinois. Volunteers in your community are needed to help grant wishes for local children.

Make-A-Wish Illinois is hosting a free training session for wish-granting volunteers in the Moline area on Tuesday, October 15th with a 5:00 PM check in and training from 5:15-7:45 PM.  Exact training locations will be provided upon sign up.  Volunteers bilingual in English and Spanish are especially needed.

Wish-Granting volunteers will work in teams of two to help grant the wishes of children in their community. Volunteers plan and carry out wishes from start to finish with support from the Make-A-Wish staff. Wish Granters are asked to give 10-12 hours per month to grant at least three wishes per year.

To attend the training, potential volunteers must complete the volunteer application and online training in advance; therefore RSVP is required by October 1.  Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Reserve a spot by contacting Tonisha Daniel at daniel@illinois.wish.org or 312.602.9413. All volunteers must be over 21 and submit an application, reference and background check; complete an online and brief in-person training to begin granting wishes.

Make-A-Wish^® Illinois grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy. Since being founded locally in 1985, the chapter has granted more than 11,000 wishes and continues its mission to share the power of a wish^® with special children across the state with help from dedicated volunteers and generous community members. For information visit www.illinois.wish.org.