The Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) was founded in 1986 when residents of Bloomington, Indiana, rallied around a toddler who needed a life-saving liver transplant.  In less than eight weeks, the community raised $100,000 to place the boy on the organ waiting list.  But the child died before an organ became available.  Those community volunteers, along with his parents, turned tragedy into triumph by using the funds they raised to help other transplant families. That was the beginning of COTA.

Since that time, COTA has assisted thousands of patients by helping to raise funds for transplant-related expenses.  COTA has built extensive volunteer networks across the nation in an attempt to ensure that no child or young adult needing an organ or tissue transplant is excluded from a transplant waiting list due to a lack of funds.

COTA needs your help to make sure that tragedies, like the one that was the catalyst in founding COTA, are not repeated.

Every day 21 people die waiting for an organ transplant here in the United States.  April is National Donate Life Month.  One organ donor can save eight lives. Please register today to become an organ donor by going to www.donatelife.net and registering to be an organ donor in your state.

You can do more. Find out how you can help a COTA family living nearby who needs your help by visiting www.cota.org and clicking on the COTA Families link at the top of the page.

The Children's Organ Transplant Association is a national charity based in Bloomington, Indiana, which is dedicated to guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-related expenses. COTA's priority is to assure that no child or young adult is denied a transplant due to lack of funds. 100% of all funds raised in honor of patients are used for transplant-related expenses.

CEDAR RAPIDS - The grassroots support for City Councilwoman Moncia Vernon's congressional campaign continues to grow. Vernon reports raising almost 90% of her contributions from Iowans, with over 1,000 contributions in just the first three months of the year.

The campaign has raised over $300,000 since kicking off in January and has landed critical endorsements from Teamsters Local 238, EMILY's List, one of the nation's most powerful political organizations, and over twenty local Iowa Democratic leaders including President of the Senate Pam Jochum and Senators Liz Mathis, Rob Hogg and Bill Dotzler.

"As we continue to build this grassroots campaign, I am proud to receive support from across Iowa, and honored to receive the endorsement of EMILY's List, a driving force for change across the country. This endorsement means so much," said Vernon. "Every day I talk with Iowans who want fundamental change in Washington - a Congress that works for the middle class, not the special interests. There is no more important conversation we can have, and I'm excited about the strong grassroots campaign we're building here to change the priorities in Washington and put Iowa families first."

For additional inquires please contact Sarah van Deest at sarah@monicavernonforcongress.com or 319.431.3144.

Monica Vernon is a Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Iowa's First Congressional District. A life-long Iowan and working mom, Vernon is a leader dedicated to putting the people of Iowa first.

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For more information visit: www.monicavernonforcongress.com

ANKENY - The Iowa FFA Supreme National Chapter Award Program will be held during the 87 Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in Ames, on April 19-21, 2015. 31 chapters participated in this year's award program. The first place chapter for the event was the Oelwein FFA Chapter. The Agricultural Education Instructors/FFA Advisors are Mr. Michael Haden and Mr. Daniel Doeing. The second place chapter for the event was the West Liberty FFA Chapter. The Agricultural Education Instructors/FFA Advisors are Mr. Dick Brand and Mr. Zach Morris.

The National Chapter Award program encourages participating chapters to plan activities and carry them out with a successful Program of Activities. Chapters are recognized for outstanding  achievement in the areas of Student Development, Chapter Development, and Community Development. The National Chapter Awards are sponsored by John Deere as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.

Three FFA Chapters were recognized for outstanding achievement in the three development areas. The Oelwein FFA Chapter was named the winner in Student Development as well as the top chapter in Chapter Development. The West Liberty FFA Chapter was named the top Community Development Chapter. The top 22 FFA Chapters in Iowa will advance to the National FFA competition and will be recognized at the 88 National FFA Leadership Conference in Louisville, KY.

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About Iowa FFA Association
The Iowa FFA Association is a youth organization of over 14,600 student members as part of 225 local FFA chapters across Iowa. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The Iowa FFA Association was organized by delegates from 23 schools at Iowa State College on May 17, 1929 and is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The Iowa Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the Iowa FFA Association online at IowaFFA.com, on Facebook, and Twitter.

Rock Island, IL: Local libraries have announced a new partner in the goal to help Quad Citians protect their identities with this year's Community Shred Days. Arc Industries, a division of The Arc of the Quad Cities area, will provide four free drop-off events at Rock Island, Bettendorf, Davenport, and Moline Libraries during Money Smart Week Quad Cities, April 18-25.

Arc Industries secure document destruction operation will provide free shredding of up to two containers of personal papers per person dropped off during Shred Days at the Rock Island, Bettendorf, Davenport, and Moline Public Libraries. The 2015 events are made possible with sponsorship from Vibrant Credit Union, the new name for DHCU.

The first drive-up and drop off event is Saturday, April 18, from 9:30 to 11:30 am at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street, Rock Island. Additional Shred Days in the Arc Industries/Library partnership include the Bettendorf Library, on Tuesday, April 21, and the Davenport Library Eastern Avenue Branch, on Thursday, April 23, both from 10:00 am to noon, and the Moline Library on Saturday, April 25, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. More information is available at presenting libraries.

Arc Industries document destruction operation is certified by the National Association for Information Destruction. Under NAID guidelines, all materials collected will be secured in locked bins and shredded under monitored conditions at Arc Industries secure shredding facility in Rock Island.  Paperclips should be removed if possible. Participants do not need to remove staples from materials.

Local libraries host annual Shred Day events during Money Smart Week as a money-saving means of identity protection. Money Smart Week is an annual program of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, www.moneysmartweek.org.

For more information about Rock Island Library services and programs, visit the library's online branch at www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-READ (7323) or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter.

Founded in 1872, the Rock Island Public Library provides resources to enhance personal achievement and stimulate the imagination through the Main, 30/31 and Southwest Branches, community outreach efforts, and online opportunities.

Arc Industries provides work opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and provides business services to the highest quality professional standards.

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