(Quad Cities, IA) - When Al Pena announced that his beloved boxing club was being forced to move, it seemed like the Club was being dealt a knock-out punch.

For almost 50 years, the Davenport Boxing Club has been in the same downtown Davenport location. But in April this year the building where they rent space was sold leaving them looking for a new centrally located space for their youth boxing program.

While they have since found a home at the former Lincoln School in Davenport, their operating costs have skyrocketed. When the Jaycees of the Quad Cities heard about their predicament, they stepped in to support the Club with a $1,200 donation to help defray costs.

The Jaycees of the Quad Cities have an 80 year history of supporting youth in the Quad Cities - closely aligned with the Davenport Boxing Club's mission to build self-esteem and confidence in today's youth, inspiring them to develop positive attributes of character as responsible young adults.

The Boxing Club has a long-standing relationship with youth in the community but also with the Jaycees of the Quad Cities (formerly known as Davenport Jaycees). In the 1980's the Jaycees hosted two National Silver Glove Level tournaments in 1983 and 1984 which served as the chapter's primary fundraising vehicle.

Because of this relationship, the Jaycees of the Quad Cities and the Jaycee Foundation teamed up to double the donation to assist Coach Pena and his team.

"This donation not only allows us to keep the gym open and running but also helps funds for trips and equipment. Traveling, the kids see new places and gain a better understanding of different levels of competition as well as different environment surroundings," said Coach Pat Pena.

Pena's Boxing Club was founded by Coach Pat Pena's father Alvino who was an active member of the Jaycees. He was awarded the Walter Busey Award for Community Service in the 1980s by the Davenport Junior Chamber for his work so the partnership today was an extension of previous relationships and members.

Community donations like this are made possible because of the year-round efforts of the Jaycees. Individuals and groups interested in volunteering with Jaycees of the Quad Cities should contact info@jayceesqc.org or call (563) 484-0041.

About Jaycees of the Quad Cities: Jaycees aim to build personal and professional relationships by working together on projects to strengthen and grow the Quad-Cities community. The Quad Cities chapter is one of the oldest chapters in the state of Iowa and has grown to include young professionals from both sides of the Mississippi River. They pride themselves on blending social opportunities with service - like planning the annual Bridal Expo and the Brew Ha Ha that raise funds for charitable initiatives.

About the Davenport Jaycees Foundation: The Davenport Jaycees Foundation is an affiliated group that consists of past Presidents and leaders who continue to have a vested interest in the success of our organization. This group mentors and endows our chapter. The Davenport Jaycees Foundation provides additional financial resources to large chapter projects, and is responsible for owning and maintaining the hall. The Davenport Jaycees Foundation meetings are on the first Wednesday of each month.

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Rock Island, IL: Due to road closures for The Rock Island Gran Prix cart races, the downtown Rock Island Main Library at 401 19th Street will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 5. The Rock Island 30/31 and Southwest Branches will be open until 5:00 pm to serve patron needs this Saturday.

All Rock Island Libraries will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

For more information on library hours and events, contact Rock Island Library at 309-732-READ (7323), visit the library website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, or follow the library's Facebook and Twitter sites.

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Iowa City, IA - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he will be touring River Bend Food Bank in Davenport on Thursday, September 3^rd to learn more about the services they provide to the community. While he is at the River Bend Food Bank, Loebsack will also take part in activities to honor the National Hunger Day of Action to raise awareness around the issue of food insecurity. Media are invited to attend.

DAVENPORT - Tour River Bend Food Bank

4010 Kimmel Dr.

11:30am

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 2, 2015) -Maximizing the profit potential of every U.S. soybean farmer means seeing beyond today; it means driving soybean innovation in products and services to meet customers' needs tomorrow.

That's why the farmer-leaders of the national soy checkoff made driving innovation the center of their new, groundbreaking 5-year strategic plan, which will guide all national soy checkoff investments from fiscal years 2017 to 2022.

"We American soybean farmers have had a good run these past few years, but being profitable in the future will mean something different than being profitable in the past," said United Soybean Board (USB) Chairman Bob Haselwood, who raises soybeans, corn and wheat on his farm in Berryton, Kansas. "We need to focus on meeting our customers' changing needs, and giving them a reason to keep choosing U.S. soy over increasing competition. That's what's going to help us ensure our children and grandchildren will have the same chance to maximize their profit opportunities that we have had."

The new plan sets its sights on a future in which the U.S. soy industry increases the value of soybean meal for various species, from poultry to pork to aquaculture, and is recognized by customers for its highly desirable attributes such as its superior amino-acid profile and sustainability. The new plan also prioritizes supporting soybean farmers' use of technological advances to maximize their on-farm profit opportunities, as well as the ongoing development of high oleic soybean oil to increase soy's share of the edible-oil market.

"We are intensifying our focus on the areas that matter most to farmer-profit potential," said USB Vice Chairman Jared Hagert, who led a panel of national- and state-checkoff farmer-leaders in drafting the new plan. "The nine central goals of the plan focus on the areas that stand to bring the most value to U.S. soybean farmers, and we worked with others throughout the U.S. soy value chain - state soybean boards, land-grant universities, extension, processors, buyers and customers - to ensure we're all aligned for the good of the industry," said Hagert, who raises soybeans, edible beans, corn and wheat on his farm in Emerado, North Dakota.

"USB has always been forward-thinking and strategic in how it invests farmer checkoff dollars," said Chairman Haselwood. "But the national soy checkoff has risen to a new level with this progressive framework, and the American soybean farmers we serve - our families, friends and neighbors among them - deserve nothing less."

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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