In 1953, The Moline Foundation was founded during the month of November thanks to a gift of over $3.8 Million in today’s dollars from the estate of Robert K. Swan; a lifelong Moline resident and businessman. Other donors joined in the initial funding including gifts from 28 Quad Cities area businesses. In just a few months, a Board was formed with five volunteers who reviewed grant applications and gave funding to the 15 following non-profits who still serve others today: Arrowhead Ranch, Bethany for Children and Families, Junior Achievement of the Heartland, Trinity Health Systems (formerly Moline Public and Moline Lutheran Hospitals), Quad City Music Guild, ARC (formerly the Association of Retarded Citizens), Quad City Symphony, Two Rivers YMCA, Rock Island YWCA, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Moline Boys Choir, Playcrafters, and City of Moline Parks and Recreation.
Three celebratory events have been planned for November to celebrate The Moline Foundation’s history of serving others for the past 65 years. A Preview Party was held at the new hotel, The Bend, East Moline. Over 160 people attended the event hosted by the Advisory Council of the East Moline Community Fund. The EMCF is an affiliate fund with The Moline Foundation.
Representatives from the 28 initial business donors and the 15 non-profits who received grants 65 years ago, along with other community members, were invited to a “Rise and Shine” breakfast held at the newly opened Bridgepointe (formerly the offices for Kone/Montgomery Elevators). The early morning event included a view of the new I-74 bridge under construction.
The third 65th Anniversary observation will be held Wednesday, November 28th with an invitation only event “An Investment in Art.” A large 6 ft. x 9 ft. oil painting will be revealed at The Moline Foundation offices in downtown Moline.
The Moline Foundation Board of Directors will also announce a major arts initiative and the receipt of a large estate gift with an endowment fund to benefit three local cultural and historical arts organization.
As a Community Foundation, The Moline Foundation offers a range of charitable funds, allowing donors to advance a cause such as education or the environment, support an individual organization, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants. Sometimes compared to a charitable “supermarket”, The Moline Foundation Board and staff gathers people together to solve and address community issues. Then, The Moline Foundation provides funding to health, human services, education, community, workforce and economic development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of Scott County, Iowa and Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Warren, McDonough and Henderson counties in western Illinois. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and handles additional funds to benefit donor wishes. The Moline Foundation also serves as a catalyst and convener to bring about solutions to issues affecting quality of life in our region.
Contact: Joy Boruff, President/CEO, The Moline Foundation
(309) 736-3800 or after 5:00 p.m. (309) 721-9744
e-mail:jboruff@molinefoundation.org
website: www.molinefoundation.org
