Rock Island, IL - Christian Care recently received a $1,000 grant that will go toward helping homeless men and abused women pay for medical co-pays and prescriptions. Having this grant will mean a greater sense of security and peace of mind for its clients, knowing they do not have to sacrifice their health because of an inability to pay.

"We are especially grateful to In From the Cold because, even though the Affordable Healthcare Act expands Medicaid eligibility, homeless individuals will still need funds to pay for their health and prescription co-pays until their Medicaid application is approved," said Christian Care's Executive Director, Dr. Elaine Winter. "In From the Cold of the Quad Cities is helping us to provide as many resources as possible for homeless men and abused women, so that they are not tempted to return to their old ways of life, including abuse, just to obtain minimal, but much-needed services."

Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization operating two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for abused women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men. It serves homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illnesses.

Christian Care's community meal site is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays Monday through Friday, and for breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast is served at 6:30 a.m., lunch at 12:15 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m. If you know of someone in need, call Christian Care's crisis hotline any hour of the day at (309) 788-2273 or visit online at christiancareqc.org.

DES MOINES, IA (10/14/2013)(readMedia)-- The seventh annual Fairgrounds 5K will take place on Sunday, November 3, 2013 on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Runners, joggers and walkers will have the opportunity to experience the Fairgrounds' park-like setting without the hustle and bustle of the Fair. Nothing compares to an Iowa State Fair corndog and this is your chance to enjoy one "guilt free".

The Blue Ribbon Foundation invites the entire family to participate in the afternoon's events including the 5K run, one mile walk, and the Chase the Cow Kids' Run. The entry fee price increases on October 21. Register today at www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org.

"In August, the Fairgrounds are filled with great people, music, entertainment, rides and the best food we all look forward to every year. The 5K is the perfect opportunity for Iowans to see how one of a kind our Fairgrounds are while the Fair is not going on and also support its preservation and renovation," said Peter Cownie, Blue Ribbon Foundation's new Executive Director. "I encourage all runners, walkers, and avid Fair-goers to take part in this special event."

For more information about the Fairgrounds 5K or the Blue Ribbon Foundation, please visit our website or call 1-800-450-3732.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $95 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, agriculture Sec. Bill Northey and DOT Director Paul Trombino today announced a new biofuels pilot program called "Fueling Our Future," a public-private partnership that aims to assist in expanding the market for mid-level biofuels blends, building on Iowa's history as a leader in ethanol and biodiesel development and production.

Through the use of current funding, this initiative will redirect federal funds to further leverage state dollars in the existing renewable fuel infrastructure program, establishing more blender pumps containing E-30 and biodiesel at gas retailers around the state.

"This pilot program will provide Iowans with additional access to higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel, which will help our farmers, communities and economy in producing, processing and profiting locally," said Branstad.

Iowa State University will work closely on this initiative to evaluate consumer perceptions and the impact of increased assess to mid-level biofuels blending options, including impacts on improved air quality.

"Iowa's success in biofuels is due to our abundant natural resources, the hard work that goes into its production, and the choice that consumers make in supporting locally-produced and renewable biofuels," said Reynolds. "I look forward to the installation of these new mid-level blender pumps at locations around Iowa next spring and am hopeful that neighboring states will take a similar approach."

The Fueling Our Future program will be supported by the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Department of Transportation, Iowa State University and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board.

"This initiative is a great example of coordination and collaboration between the DOT and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship," said Trombino. "Better leveraging resources from a variety of stakeholders in this public-private partnership will help increase market access to biofuels for Iowa consumers and further diversify our energy portfolio."

Northey highlighted the value-added component.

"Iowa has a robust biofuels industry that is an important value-add to our state's agricultural sector," said Northey. "Bolstering biofuels infrastructure will help Iowa consumers and farmers through increased access to these renewable fuels that are produced right here in Iowa."

More information on the program can be found at: www.iowaagriculture.gov/agMarketing/IRFIP.asp

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Consumer Advocate: Life Insurance is Finally
Changing to Meet Today's Needs
Expert Shares 4 Ways It's Becoming More Relevant

The percentage of Americans who have life insurance has hit a 50-year low, despite the fact that more Americans than ever have grave concerns about their ability to financially weather a crisis or to someday retire, according to recent surveys.

That tells consumer advocate Ted Bernstein that people are unaware of recent changes that make life insurance more affordable, more accessible, and more relevant to today's needs.

"The fact is, more of us need life insurance. Nearly half of all couples are in dual-income households; if something happens to one spouse or partner, the survivor is likely to have trouble paying the bills," says Bernstein, founder of Life Insurance Concepts, Inc., (www.lifeinsuranceconcepts.com), and a leading proponent of innovations that benefit consumers.

"Add to that, 38 percent of Americans believe they won't have enough money to retire," he says, citing a 2012 Pew Research survey. "Life insurance provides that retirement income."

Finally, he notes, large numbers of people who had corporate life insurance lost it when they were laid off during the recession.

"While some of those people are back to work, they're at lower paying jobs with fewer benefits. Now, they believe they can't afford a new policy, or they fear they may be rejected if they try to get an individual policy," Bernstein says. "Most of those people are wrong. In fact, unless a person has serious health issues, buying an individual policy -- not part of an employer program -- will cost less and offer more benefits."

Bernstein details four ways life insurance is becoming more accessible and relevant:

• Don't assume you'll be rejected or pay more because you're overweight, use tobacco or marijuana infrequently, or have been treated for substance abuse. Underwriters are trying to determine whether lifestyle or medical issues affect your mortality today, Bernstein says. So if you're 30 pounds overweight with no related medical issues, you have a good shot at standard coverage. As for tobacco use, a blood test determines the amount of cotinine - a byproduct of nicotine metabolism - in your system. A certain level is acceptable to some carriers. Marijuana use may not automatically trigger rejection if you have no associated issues. For those with a past history of drug addiction and successful treatment, standard coverage is possible. The key is disclosure.

• Getting older does not mean you automatically pay more. The old rule was to buy young and lock in lower premiums, then hang onto your policy for dear life. "That only benefited insurance companies and the agent who sold the policy," Bernstein says. Today, healthy buyers will get more insurance for the same or less premium by refinancing their existing coverage. "It's a refi - use the built-up equity, the cash value of your policy, to neutralize your older age. Thanks to better mortality rates, healthy buyers always get better coverage today than the policy they bought 10, 20 or 30 years ago," Bernstein says.

• You can save on premiums and provide guaranteed income for your beneficiary by choosing the payout in installments. Traditionally, life insurance claims are paid in one lump sum. The new Installment Life Option is an innovation to meet the needs of people without sufficient retirement savings, and for those concerned their loved ones may lose the principal through mismanagement or a stock market correction. "When the policy owner chooses a deferred payout at the time of purchase, the insurance companies can reduce premiums by as much as 50 percent because they will have more time to pay the claim," Bernstein says. "Plus, your beneficiary doesn't have to worry about managing a very large sum of money."

• Purchasing no load insurance = better value across the board. In the past, life insurance buyers had no option but to buy a policy from companies with built-in commissions. These are non-negotiable and not disclosed to the buyer. While Bernstein strongly recommends buying through a knowledgeable agent, he urges buyers to inquire about "no load" policies priced without the built-in commissions. "You pay a fee to the agent that is typically lower than built-in commissions, and it's transparent; making comparison much easier," Bernstein says.

About Ted Bernstein

Ted Bernstein is a third-generation life insurance specialist with decades of speaking out and advocating for changes on behalf of consumers. He was the first to introduce "no-load" life insurance in the mid-1980s and recently developed the Installment Life Option. Bernstein is a nationally recognized expert in alternative distribution strategies and life insurance product development.