10 Oct 2012

The Amy Helpenstell Foundation: $331,500 awarded in Grants - a Foundation Record

By Rick Martin
October 9, 2012

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - Twenty-four area nonprofit organizations will be awarded $331,500 on Wednesday, October 10th during The Amy Helpenstell Foundation's Fall Grant Reception at 8:30 a.m. at The iWireless Center in Moline. This is the largest amount of funding awarded by the Foundation in a single grant cycle.

The Amy Helpenstell Foundation promotes awareness, understanding, diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders in the greater Quad Cities area. Amy Helpenstell passed away in 2003 from complications related to an eating disorder. Ms. Helpenstell created the Foundation through her estate to support causes related to health, education, youth development, community development and cultural activities within a 60-mile radius of Rock Island, where she lived and worked.

"Amy's Foundation has given nearly $3.6 million back to the community since 2005, all to causes that she cared about very much," said Franz "Bud" Helpenstell, Amy's father and President of The Amy Helpenstell Foundation. "With the full impact of state  cutbacks to nonprofits being especially noticeable now, we are happy to support these organizations in every way we can. The important work they do can be felt in the lives of real people every day."

The Fall Grant recipients and the programs that received funding include :

  • Christian Care - Domestic Violence Shelter Counseling and Case Management, $20,000
  • Churches United of the Quad City Area - Winnie's Place Emergency Homeless Shelter, $20,000
  • Family Resources - Core Mission Operating Funds, $20,000
  • Girl Scouts of Eastern IA and Western IL - Quad Cities Outreach Initiative, $10,000
  • Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities, New Home Construction - Habitat House #78, $10,000
  • Humility of Mary Housing, Inc. - Transitional & Permanent Supportive Services for Adults Experiencing Homelessness, $15,000
  • Humility of Mary Shelter, Inc. - Emergency Shelter, Housing, Supportive Services for Adults Experiencing Homelessness, $15,000
  • Martin Luther King Center - King Center Youth Programming, $20,000
  • Project Renewal - Afterschool Program, $10,000
  • Quad City Arts - Visiting Artist Series: Lula Washington Dance Theatre residency, $5,000
  • Quad City Botanical Center, Children's Garden Phase One - Construction & Operations, $10,000
  • Quad City Symphony Orchestra, K-12 Education Programs for 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-14 school years, $10,000
  • Rebuilding Together - Workday and Emergency Home Repairs, $20,000
  • RICO Extension & 4-H Education Foundation - Rock Island County 4-H Leadership Program, $5,000
  • River Bend Foodbank - Backpack Program, $15,000
  • St. Joseph the Worker House Association - Touching Families, $10,000
  • Supplemental Emergency Assistance Program - Client Emergency Financial Assistance/Related Costs, $10,000
  • Thomas Merton House (dba) Café on Vine - Daily Readiness for meal program, $9,000
  • Transitions Mental Health Services - Palm Pilots Project, $10,000
  • Two Rivers YMCA - Healthy Lifestyles for All, $20,000
  • WVIK Augustana Public Radio - WVIK Public Broadcast Fellowship, $10,000
  • Youth Service Bureau of R.I. County - Family Therapy, $25,000
  • YouthBuild Quad Cities - YouthBuild Quad Cities, $17,500
  • YWCA of the Quad Cities - YWCA Youth Programming, $15,000

For more information about The Amy Helpenstell Foundation, visit www.amyhelpenstell.org or
call 563-326-2840. The Amy Helpenstell Foundation is administered by the Community
Foundation of the Great River Bend.

###
10 Oct 2012

Chavez Monument Offers Inspiration for Farmworker Advocates

By Ayrianne Parks
AFOP Commends the Dedication of the César E. Chávez National Monument and Reflects on the Path Forward

Washington, D.C.?Yesterday afternoon, President Barack Obama established the César E. Chávez National Monument recognizing the legacy of the workers' rights champion. The dedication of the monument honoring the farmworker advocate and civil rights leader marks the first time in living memory that a Mexican American has been officially honored.

"As a former farmworker, I found it to be an inspirational event honoring a great civil rights leader and his hard work to protect the farmworkers who harvest our nation's food," said Jesús Gamboa, president of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) and Proteus, Inc. Chief Operations Officer.

The historic occasion took place at La Paz in Keene, California, where the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) is headquartered and Chávez lived. It was attended by President Obama; Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, an ardent defender of farmworkers; Paul Chávez, the son of the César Chávez; and thousands more, including many notable Latino advocates, farmworkers, and school children, who came to pay homage to the man who made so many sacrifices to ensure safer and more humane working conditions for workers.

Some in the advocacy community have questioned the administration's actions yesterday, however, given its withdrawal earlier this year of updates Secretary Solis proposed to the safety rules for children employed in agriculture.

"We commend the Obama Administration for establishing this monument, but are still profoundly disappointed in its action in April to pull the updates to the Hazardous Orders for children employed in agriculture. Without those updates, farmworker children's lives continue to be put in jeopardy harvesting America's food," said Norma Flores López, director of AFOP's Children in the Fields Campaign and chair of the domestic issues committee for the Child Labor Coalition. "It was a missed opportunity to follow in the footsteps of César Chávez who advocated so persuasively for the protection of the nation's farmworkers."

Those rules, which have not been updated in more than 40 years, came after changes were made to the Hazardous Orders for children employed in non-agricultural occupations; those proposed changes were implemented with little fanfare or difficulty.

"While some things have improved for farmworkers over the years, AFOP knows much remains to be done, and I was encouraged to hear the President underscore that point during his speech yesterday," said Gamboa. "This historic step provides us with motivation for the path forward. In the words of César Chávez, '¡Si se puede!'"

or Parks@AFOP.org

10 Oct 2012

Partnering to emPOWER

By Janet Martin

Join us on Thursday, October 18th from 4 - 7 p.m. is the annual Partnering to emPOWER event!

This year the event will be held at Renwick Mansion, 901 Tremont Avenue, Davenport. (This is just up behind Winnie's Wishes! on the corner of E River Dr and Tremont).

Vendors such as Mary Kay, Longaberger, Pampered Chef, Norwex Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products, Tastefully Simple, Maxx Models & Talent Jewelry will be there along with other vendors! This event raises funds for Winnie's Place Women's Shelter!

10 Oct 2012

Fall Migration Tour

By Heather Shelby
One behalf of the Audubon Society, we would like to invite you to attend the first-ever Mississippi Flyway Fall Migration Tour.

The tour will be stopping in your area tomorrow night, and we hope you can make it! Here are the details:

When: Thursday, October 11th from 7-9pm
Where: Butterworth Center
1105 8th Street
Moline, IL 61265
Click here to RSVP.

The Quad City Audubon Chapter meeting will be open to the public, and will feature a very special guest. Stephanie Powell, Field Director for the Mississippi River Delta Restoration campaign, will be joining us all the way from Washington, D.C.

Stephanie will be speaking about the Mississippi River Delta restoration, the importance of implementing the RESTORE Act to help the Gulf Coast recover, and ? perhaps most importantly ? the role you can play in helping to protect the Mississippi Flyway, and ensuring that it continues to provide a healthy habitat for the birds and wildlife we all love.

We hope you'll be able to attend the event. Please click here to RSVP, and Stephanie will be in touch!
09 Oct 2012

IOWA FARM BUREAU, U OF I ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCE OCTOBER 20 ANF GAME DAY ACTIVITIES

By Laurie Johns

Former Hawkeye/NFL Players on Hand to Support Iowa's Farmers

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - October 9, 2012 - The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and the University of Iowa (U of I) Athletics Department have once again teamed up to raise awareness of the food and energy options that today's farmers provide through the America Needs Farmers (ANF) campaign. ANF Game Day will be celebrated at Kinnick Stadium October 20 against Penn State.

During ANF Game Day, the U of I will unveil ANF Plaza located in the space between the west grandstand and the north grandstand of Kinnick Stadium and will feature its first inductee into the ANF Wall of Honor, former Hawkeye and Kansas City Chiefs player, Casey Wiegmann. "Casey was a natural choice as our first inductee," said Hawkeye football coach, Kirk Ferentz. "He is a role model for other student athletes about the importance of persevering and always striving to do your best." The ANF Wall of Honor recognizes former U of I student football athletes who exemplify the tenacity, work ethic and character of the Iowa farmer, qualities that have helped Iowa remain the leading agriculture state in the nation.

A key feature of the IFBF's Legends Tent at Krause Family Plaza will be an autograph session of former Hawkeye/NFL players including Casey Wiegmann, Robert Gallery, Jared DeVries, Brad Banks and Tim Dwight, and U of I personalities Gary Dolphin and Ed Podolak to name a few. Although he won't be able to attend ANF Game Day, a new supporter of the ANF initiative announced earlier this year is Dallas Clark.

"We are so honored to have these celebrities support our cause," said Craig Hill, president of the IFBF. "The ANF initiative is an opportunity to reach new audiences about farming today and these players help us achieve that. We understand that consumers today are interested in knowing more about their food and that starts with farmers. There may be fewer of us than when Coach Fry launched ANF during the 1985 Farm Crisis, but there are also more challenges with a growing global population. We invite you to visit www.americaneedsfarmers.org to learn more about your food and energy and the farm families who produce it."

In addition to the autograph session, the IFBF Legends Tent will also feature games like Tailgate Toss where visitors can interact with Iowa farmers and earn a chance to win ANF prizes, or participate in a drawing for autographed ANF items.  The tent will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the autograph session running from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

ANF Game Day will also help raise funds for the Iowa Food Bank Association, a collaboration of eight food banks which collect and distribute food and essential supplies to needy Iowans.  "The ANF initiative has really helped the food banks," said Executive Director of the Iowa Food Bank Association, Jordan Vernoy. "This year's drought is already driving up food prices in some areas and that's bringing even more families to our doors.  These are proud, hard-working Iowans who want short-term help, not a long-term handout to put food on the table. ANF is helping us feed these Iowans, because every dollar donated helps provide three meals to our neighbors struggling against hunger."

On ANF Game Day, ANF 'Farm Strong' merchandise will be available at Herky's Locker Room outlets with an expanded assortment available at the Herky's Locker Room location inside ANF Plaza. A portion of proceeds from the sale of ANF 'Farm Strong' merchandise goes to support the Iowa Food Banks.

ANF was first launched in 1985 during the height of the Farm Crisis by legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry, who wanted to show an increasingly urban nation why agriculture matters.  For more information about the Iowa Farm Bureau/U of I ANF partnership, click on www.americaneedsfarmers.org.

To learn more about the growing number of Iowans in need and ways to help, click on http://iowafba.org/.

-30 -

About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online Newsroom page at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

09 Oct 2012

Project Bundle Up Cold Weather Clothing Collection Begins

By Holly Nomura

The Salvation Army Announces the 2012 Project Bundle Up Campaign with new collection locations at NorthPark and SouthPark Malls

Quad Cities, USA: As families find it harder and harder to make ends meet, The Salvation Army asks the community to step in and help children stay warm this coming winter. The ninth Annual Project Bundle Up Campaign begins today.

The Salvation Army will deliver thousands of cold weather clothing items to Quad Cities' elementary & middle schools to fill the needs of students who arrive at school without these essential items. School teachers are on the frontlines watching for children who come to school without mittens & gloves, hats, socks, underwear, and scarves, and Project Bundle Up A new way to donate to this much-needed program is located in the Quad Cities Malls! Items can be dropped off in NorthPark Mall at Guest Services in Younkers Court, or in SouthPark Mall at Guest Services located in the mall office.

"The need increases every year. Last year's delivery to 23 schools was over 4,000 items, and yet we received calls a few weeks later from schools seeing if we had any more!" stated Holly Nomura, Development Director at The Salvation Army.

Donations can also be mailed, marked "Project Bundle Up," to: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 3972, Davenport, IA 52808. A gift of any size by October 22, 2012 will greatly help!

Businesses are also asked to do a collection drive. For further information, please call Holly Nomura at 563-324-4808.

***

09 Oct 2012

Senator Amy Klobuchar Headlines Annual Bruce, Blues, and BBQ Fundraiser

By Jeff Giertz
U.S. Senator from Minnesota to address Braley supporters in Waterloo


Waterloo, IA - On Sunday in Waterloo, Rep. Bruce Braley will hold his 8th annual "Bruce, Blues and Barbeque" Iowa grassroots fundraising event. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) will headline the event and address supporters.

Bruce, Blues and Barbeque is open to the public. Tickets are still available at http://www.brucebraley.com/BBQ or at the door. Cost is $15 for students, $30 for individuals, $50 for couples, and $75 for families.


Sunday October 14th, 2012

5:30pm -- Bruce, Blues, and Barbeque
UAW Hall, Local #838
2615 Washington St.
Waterloo, Iowa


###
09 Oct 2012

Loebsack to Visit Iowa Schools to Highlight 21st Century Skills

By Vonnie Hampel

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he will visit Iowa City West High School, Muscatine High School, and Muscatine High School's East Campus, TOMORROW, Wednesday, October 10, 2012.  Loebsack is a co-chair of the bipartisan 21st Century Skills Caucus along with Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), and they have together introduced the 21st Century Readiness Act, H.R. 2536.  Loebsack will speak with students and educators about their experience in the development of 21st century skills.  There will be media availability at each stop.

 

21st Century Skills Visits at Area High Schools

 

Iowa City West High School

2901 Melrose Avenue

Iowa City, Iowa

8:00 a.m.

 

Muscatine High School

2705 Cedar Street

Muscatine, Iowa

10:15 a.m.

 

Muscatine High School East Campus

1409 Wisconsin Street

Muscatine, Iowa

11:30 a.m.

 

###
09 Oct 2012

Quad Cities Interfaith Newsletter

By Quad Cities Interfaith

QCI Fire of Faith Leadership Meeting Oct. 25th

Join lay and clergy leaders on October 25th, 2012 at 6:30 pm at Sacret Heart Catheral Parish Center (422 E 10th Street, Davenport, IA) for our 2012 Fire of Faith Meeting.The theme this year is Fire of Faith- rekindling our congregations, rekindling our economy, rekindling our democracy. Local congregations will be gathering to discuss local issues, to plan and develop strategies on ways to work together to rejuvenate our congregations. This Fire of Faith campaign is a kick off of our strategic vision and plan for the next three years- a fresh way to look at faith-based community organizing. Congregations have always been the backbone of Gamaliel and QCI. We recognize the congregation, the central place of faith in all religions. We will use the skills of community organizing to build our congregations in membership, in public presence and in financial strength. When our congregations are strong, QCI is strong and our work for Justice is strong. We invite your congregations to find out more about this campaign and join us for this exciting campaign. Materials and more information will be available this week on our website.

Reserve your place at this year's  QCI Fundraising Breakfast- "Honoring Our Founders, Embracing Our Future"


Join Quad Cities Interfaith on Tuesday, November 13th, 2012 for QC Interfaith's Annual Fund-raising Breakfast at the St. Ambrose Rogalski Center from 7:30-8:30am. This year's theme is honoring QCI's founders. We encourage indificuals, corganizations and congregations to take an ad in our Ad Book. If you would like to place an ad with us, Pricing is as follows: Breakfast sponsor (Includes 2 tickets) $500.00, Full page (Includes 2 tickets) $350.00, Half page (Includes 2 tickets) $200.00, and Business Card (Includes 1 ticket) $100.00. To place your Ad, please call Beth at QCI 563-322-4910.  Plan on being there to celebrate another year and to raise money to build a strong 2013!


What's New at QCI



September Clergy Prayer Vigil Built Community,
Raised Awareness for Jobs Equity

Local faith leaders led a prayer vigil for local jobs, equitable access to jobs and social inclusion for the proposed QC Passenger Rail Project on Sunday September 23rd . The vigil brought together leaders and clergy from the Christian , Muslim and Jewish and Unitarian Faith community -- Lay leaders, clergy, community leaders,  elected officials and candidates joined in prayer to lift up the economnc equity issue and use the rail project as an opportunies to change "business as usual." As Reverened Dave Geenen stated,  "We believe that how the QC Passenger Rail  Project is crafted and administered should reflect our moral concern that all in our community should benefit from this project?especially those living in poverty and are often at a disadvantage to gain access to this great economic development opportunity." Thanks to all who made this happen.



QCI Issue Updates



Transportation and Jobs Equity

As part of  Gamaliel of Illinois, the task force is working to secure a State wide Project Labor Agreement (PLA) from the contractors,unions and Department of Transportation that will include requirements for diversity in the work force on all transportation projects in Illinois. The Task Force is also looking to build a local monitoring committee in early 2013, that will hold accountable IL DOT on the Community Benefits Agreement principles it agreed to. Our next meeting is Wednesday, October 17th at 10:00am at Church of Peace-12th and 12th in Rock Island. Join us! For information, please contact Reverend David Geenen, Task Force Chairman at daveg@15thavenuechristainchurch.org


Immigration

The task force will be meeting at 5:30pm on Tuesday, October 30th at the Village Inn on Harrison Street in Davenport.

QCI is in the process of developing a round table on education and is looking for cleregy and community leaders to join together. If  you are interested please email us at qcinterfaith@gmail.com



Community Events

Continuing Series -Race Matters at St. Ambrose
October 18th-Figge Art Museum, Reception 6pm & Lecture 7pm
October 25th-Rogalski Center, workshops 9:25 & 10:50 am. Film and Discussion 1:30-2:45 pm. Workshop 7 pm
November 9th, 7:30 pm Concert  
For more info and Race Mattters updates visit: www.sau.edu

Rock Island County NAACP will hold the annual mutlicultural Harvest Fest from 11 am to 4 pm on October 13th at Hereford Park, 4th Avenue & 13th Street, East Moline. There will be Celtic sports, community choir, and ethnic, dance, crafts, and food. Call 309-236-2581 or 309-788-6573 for details.


Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, November 13th - 6:30pm 
QCI Leadership Assembly 
St Mary's Church , 516 Fillmore, Davenport 


Welcome to Quad Cities Interfaith Newsletter


Hi, we are hoping you are enjoying our newsletter. Please take some time and check out our new website. It's the same web address, but a whole new look. We'd  love to hear any feedback from you about our newsletter and our website at www.qcinterfaith.org. QCI welcomes information about faith-based activities to post to our newsletter. We reserve the right to edit for space and content.  If you like this, please forward to your friends. Have a Blessed Day!

09 Oct 2012

How to Prepare Your Teen for 21st-Century Challenges

By Ginny Grimsley
Psychologist Offers 6 Character-Building Techniques

Parents today contend not only with yesterday's worries -- drug abuse, bullying, teenage sex and delinquency - but new challenges. The digital age has introduced adult predators and other online hazards, and body-altering decorating such as tattoos and piercing's are popular temptations, says James G. Wellborn, a clinical psychologist with 18 years of experience working with parents and teens.

"The teenage years are unlike any other in a person's life - it's a unique in-between period from childhood to adulthood, and it's helpful to remember that problems during this time are actually normal," says Wellborn, author of the new book "Raising Teens in the 21st Century: A Practical Guide to Effective Parenting," (www.drjameswellborn.com). "But teens still require guidance, encouragement and good ideas to see them through to adulthood."

A universally admired trait, spanning all cultures, religion and philosophy, is compassion. A truly compassionate teen will inevitably have a host of other positive qualities, Wellborn says, including patience, understanding, sensitivity, tolerance, intuition and more. He says parents can encourage compassion in the following ways:

• Model it: Compassion is largely learned, so be aware of how you act around your children. How did you respond to the request for money from that panhandler on the street?  What comment did you make behind his back, in the presence of your kid? What did you say about that idiot driver who just cut you off in traffic? Your teens are watching and listening.

• Notice it: Point out examples of compassion that occur around you. It comes in many forms. Relevant to our daily lives are the people who quietly, and without recognition, help others in need, including volunteers of all types. Make a game of identifying instances of compassionate deeds you've witnessed.

• Teach it: Compassion has to be taught, so be prepared to provide direct instruction on how your teen needs to think and act in order to develop that quality. One important component empathy. If your teens can't see things from another's perspective, it is difficult for them to appreciate what that person is going through. Help them learn to walk a mile in their shoes.

• Anticipate it: Character can be fostered by projecting moral strength into their future. In this way, you will be subtly shaping the adult they are working to become. Say things like: "By the time you're an adult, you will be such a person of strong character. That'll be really cool."

• Guilt it: A personal value system serves as a means of accountability to oneself (and your family and community). This begins with the value system parents promote in their kids. If they fulfill the promise of personal values it is a source of justifiable pride. Violating personal values should result in guilt for not doing what's right and shame for letting other people down. Parents need to help their kids along with this.

• Repeat it: Once is not enough when it comes to character. Find every opportunity to work it into the conversation. Using all of the strategies mentioned above, you will be able to work character issues into every possible situation in a remarkably diverse number of ways. You need to have mentioned character so often - at least once every couple of days - and in so many different forms that they are sick of hearing about it by the time they graduate from high school.

About James G. Wellborn, Ph.D.

Jim Wellborn is a clinical psychologist who specializes in individual, family and group psychotherapy, with children and adolescents. He graduated from Louisiana State University in Shreveport with a bachelor's in psychology, and earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Rochester. He completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in developmental psychopathology at Vanderbilt University, and has been a consultant to school districts developing system-wide programs to address motivation and academic engagement in at-risk youth. Wellborn has served as a clinical director for outpatient psychotherapy services in two local agencies.

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