Annual Lobsterfest results in $25,000 awarded to 15 not-for-profit projects

Bettendorf, IA - The Charitable Giving Board of Bettendorf Rotary Club announces the award of a total of $25,000 to 15 not-for-profit projects that serve the Quad City community.

This is the seventh year event proceeds from the annual Bettendorf Rotary Lobsterfest at Rivermont Collegiate create the fund for the Bettendorf Rotary Charitable Giving Board grants.

"We received 43 requests for an amount totaling $92,130 this cycle," said Jeff Hassel, Chair of the Charitable Giving Board. "The club was able to fund 15 requests totaling $25,000 or $27% of the total amount requested. We hope our next Lobsterfest on June 13th enables us to reach an even higher level of support for 2015."

Bettendorf Rotary also presents $7,000 in scholarships to graduates pursuing higher education. These awards are chosen by the participating educational institutions - Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley high schools, Rivermont Collegiate and Scott Community College.

Individual grants of as much as $2,500 are available to any qualified non-profit organization in the Quad Cities by October 1st of each year. Applications, with qualifications, may be completed online or downloaded at www.bettendorfrotary.com/rotarygrants. Grants are awarded by the Bettendorf Rotary's Charitable Giving Board with funds located at the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend.

The Bettendorf Rotary Club (www.bettendorfrotary.com), chartered on May 22, 1957, has more than 100 members fulfilling the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self" in a variety of local, regional and national community volunteer projects. The club meets each Wednesday at Noon. In addition to the website, you can find the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/bettendorfrotary).

Bettendorf Rotary Club is part of Rotary International (www.rotary.org), founded in 1905 by Paul Harris, a Chicago businessman and University of Iowa alumnus. The international organization, now based in Evanston, IL, has more than one million members participating in 32,000 clubs located in more than 200 countries.

The following are the 15 grants that the Bettendorf Rotary Charitable Giving Board selected and had approved by the Bettendorf Rotary Club's Executive Board for funding in 2014:

• Center for Active Seniors, Inc.

Project Title - Fitness Center Equipment

Project Description - CASI requested funds to replace 2 out dated treadmills in the Fit for Life Fitness Center

Amount funded - $1,250

 

• Davenport Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol

Project Title - Search and Rescue Mission Enhancement, Aerospace Education

Project Description - Funds will go toward purchase of an iPad mini for use in aircraft flight operations and a precision dash mount GPS that will connect to the iPad to provide precise aircraft position reference. These tools will greatly increase aircrew capability for search and rescue and aerial photography of critical local infrastructure such as dams and bridges. The remainder of the funds will be used for purchase of aerospace education materials for cadets ages 12 to 20. Projects include model rocketry, RC airplane supplies, and improving our flight simulation and training device (PC with multi-screens and aircraft control hardware)

Amount funded - $1,000

 

• Dress for Success Quad Cities

Project Title - Professional Shoes for Limited Resource QC Women

Project Description - Purchase approximately 80 pairs of professional shoes for limited-resource women who have an interview scheduled or a new job.

Amount funded - $2,000

 

• Friendly House

Project Title - Friendly House Family Nights

Project Description - Family Nights create opportunities for families to engage in activities and spend time together, creating a greater emotional bond and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Amount funded - $2,000

 

• Gilda's Club Quad Cities

Project Title - Cancer to Health

Project Description - Research proven program to reduce stress, strengthen immunity, develop a healthier diet and exercise and feel greater social support.

Amount funded - $1,750

 

• Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities

Project Title - New simple, decent, affordable home build for a low income working family

Project Description - This project will build a simple, decent, affordable home for a family in need in the Quad Cities to help eliminate poverty housing.

Amount funded - $1,000

 

• Handicapped Development Center

Project Title - Promoting Our Mission with a Positive Atmosphere

Project Description - To provide a positive atmosphere, promote our mission, and encourage hospitality, we want to paint some walls and purchase a monitor for the reception area.

Amount funded - $1,000

 

 

• Jason's Box

Project Title - Patriot Place Veterans Resource Center

Project Description - Patriot Place is a location for military to meet with mentors, explore education/training, complete on-line education, resumes, job search, obtain transition information, counseling, recreation, etc.

Amount funded - $2,500

 

• King's Harvest

Project Title - Homeless Overflow Shelter Payroll

Project Description - King's Harvest serves as an overflow shelter for the homeless men, women and children in the Quad Cities from December 1st until April 15th.

Amount funded - $2,500

• New Kingdom Trailriders

Project Title - Horse Care Project

Project Description - Funds were requested to continue our horse care project so that NKT can continue to offer therapeutic horseback riding for people with disabilities.

Amount funded - $2,000

 

• People Uniting Neighbors & Churches (PUNCH)

Project Title - Renters Neighborhood Winterization Project

Project Description - We provide interior winterization service to the Hilltop residential community when funds are available.

Amount funded - $1,000

 

• QC Unity

Project Title - The Pete the Purple Bull Program

Project Description - Pete the Purple Bull: on a mission to teach Humans (through example & interactive lessons), the social/emotional skills needed to rid the World of Bullying.

Amount funded - $1,000

 

• Quad City Marathon

Project Title - Run With Us

Project Description - Pay entry fee to micro-marathon for 150 disadvantaged/low-income children to enhance their health, well-being, and social skills.

Amount funded - $1,500

 

• Quad City Symphony Orchestra Association

Project Title - Music Education Outreach for Bettendorf

Project Description - The Quad City Symphony Orchestra will provide free music education outreach to elementary schools in the Bettendorf.

Amount funded - $2,000

 

• St. Mark Lutheran Church Food Pantry

Project Title - Food Pantry

Project Description - The St. Mark food pantry is an emergency resource for Davenport families and individuals who are food insecure.

Amount funded - $2,500

 

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Presented by the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities at the Putnam Giant Screen Theater, 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport

Admission: Adults - $7; Seniors (60+) & Military - $6; Students - Free.

All films have won multiple awards and all have adult content. For more info, contact (309) 793-1300 or aross@jfqc.org

The German Doctor Sunday, Sept. 7, 4:00 pm

Patagonia, 1960. A German doctor meets an Argentinean family and follows them on a long desert road to a small town where the family will be starting a new life. Eva, Enzo, and their three children welcome the doctor into their home and entrust their young daughter, Lilith, to his care, not knowing that they are harboring one of the most dangerous criminals in the world. At the same time, Israeli agents are desperately looking to bring the German doctor to justice.
94 minutes - Hebrew/Spanish/German - Thriller/Drama - PG 13 (2013)

Aftermath Sunday, Sept. 14, 4:00 pm

Franek and Jozek Kalina, sons of a poor farmer, are brothers from a small village in central Poland. Franek immigrated to the United States in the 80's, and cut all ties with his family. Only when Jozek's wife arrives in the US, without explanation, does Franek finally return to his homeland. Franek discovers that Jozek has been ostracized from the community, and constantly receives various threats. As Franek and Jozek struggle to rebuild their relationship, they are drawn into a gothic tale of intrigue. The two brothers eventually uncover a dark secret that forces them to confront the history of their family and their hometown.
104 minutes - Polish - Thriller/Drama - NR (Adult Content) (2013)

Igor & the Cranes' Journey Sunday, Sept. 21, 4:00 pm

Since his parents' divorce, 11-year-old Igor cherishes yearly visits to the Russian countryside to see his dad, Peter, a world-renowned crane specialist. On an expedition, Igor witnesses the birth of hatchling Karl, and vows to watch over him. But when Igor's mom decides to emigrate to Israel, Igor is forced to leave everything behind. Feeling lost and needing his dad more than ever, Igor connects through his father's video blog on the migration patterns of a family of cranes flying from Russia to Africa. In an attempt to draw his father closer and earn acceptance from his classmates, Igor comes up with an extraordinary plan to build a watering hole for Karl and the cranes' stopover in Israel.
90 minutes - Hebrew/Polish/Russian - Family/Adventure - PG-13 (2012)

WHO: Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities
WHAT: Israel Scouts Tzofim Caravan Magal 2014 Friendship Tour
WHEN: Sunday, July 27th, 2014 - 2:00 to 3:30 PM
WHERE: Congregation Beth Israel at Tri-City Jewish Center (2715 30th St., Rock Island)
WHY: The Friends of Israel Scouts, Inc. (www.israelscouts.org) is an organization started in 1990 which encompasses programs with roots traced back to the 1960's. The friendship caravans are a group of Israeli teens with five boys, five girls and two leaders that travel the United States annually with a high-energy, interactive performance highlighting Israeli culture.

Investment in the Davenport market brings the finest automotive experience to the community in a LEED Certified Building

DAVENPORT, IA - May 12, 2014

NEW FACILITY FOR SMART TOYOTA

Today, Smart Toyota of Quad Cities, celebrates the ground breaking of its new facility at 1501 East 53^rd Street, at the corner of 53^rd and Eastern Avenue. The new location is expected to be ready for occupancy by late Fall 2014.

LEED CERTIFIED PROJECT

Smart Toyota of Quad Cities is reinforcing its commitment to the Davenport market by providing a state-of-the-art customer experience encompassing nearly 40,000 square feet on two levels. The dealership is planned as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) fully-certified structure - one of the few privately owned in the Quad Cities and the first area car dealership to use the industry standard for "green" design. This will be one of the area's most environmentally-friendly and energy efficient facilities.

LOCALLY BUILT

As a hometown business, and as part of the LEED Certification, materials and labor will be sourced from local contractors and suppliers. Earthmoving will begin on the site in mid-May. When the project is complete, Smart Toyota of Quad Cities will employ over 80 team members.

ENHANCED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

"We are pleased to bring to Davenport, and the entire Quad Cities Market, the finest Toyota sales, service and ownership experience with this new state of the art facility," said Nick Tarpein, a Quad Cities native and General Manager of Smart Toyota of Quad Cities. "With our additional space and new facility, we will be adding an automated car wash, as well as a luxury waiting area and multiple quick service lanes for our customers. None of this would have been possible at our current location."

TOYOTA HISTORY

Toyota has been in Davenport since 1969, and was purchased from the Guilfoyle family in June 2011 with a commitment of keeping it in the Davenport market for years to come. Smart Toyota of Quad Cities will continue to operate at its current location on Brady Street in Davenport and online at www.smarttoyotaquadcities.com before relocating in the Fall.

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