Program Helps Veterans Overcome Problems Transitioning Back from Deployment

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/17/2010)(readMedia)-- Many Soldiers and Airmen have sustained injuries, physical and mental, while serving overseas.

The physical and mental trauma servicemembers are exposed to can sometimes make it difficult for them to transition back to a normal home life. Because of this, agencies that support veterans have created programs to help wounded servicemembers develop a new social and fitness routine.

The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Chicago Park District and the Hines Veteran Affairs Hospital hosted the fourth annual Veterans Adaptive Activity Day Sept. 16 at the Hines VA Hospital in Hines, Ill.

The event provided veterans with disabilities the opportunity to learn about the various recreational and fitness programs available to them and to sample sports equipment that was built specifically for their needs.

"It is really amazing to look around and to see all these people from the community and from various organizations come together to fill in all the gaps and to make sure that any veteran that is wounded or disabled is taken care of," said Dan Grant of Springfield, Ill., Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Grant is also an intergovernmental officer in the Illinois Army National Guard with Joint Forces Headquarters in Springfield, Ill.

The veterans were able to participate in adaptive sports demonstrations like, golf and wheelchair basketball, and attain information from regional adaptive sports and support services like, Diveheart Military Wounded and Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association.

"This is a great opportunity for us to link these community resources in the Greater Chicago Area and throughout the state with veterans who need them," said Grant.

America's Farmers Grow Communities Program to Give $2,500 Awards in 99 Iowa Counties and Benefit Local United Way Chapters with Each Sign-Up

BOONE, IOWA (Aug. 31, 2010) - Today the Monsanto Fund announced the expansion of the America's Farmers Grow CommunitiesSM program at the Farm Progress Show, the nation's largest outdoor farm event, in Boone, Iowa. This program gives eligible farmers the opportunity to win $2,500 for their community. America's Farmers Grow CommunitiesSM program is being offered in more than 1,200 counties across 38 states. Eligible farmers can sign up today through Dec. 31, 2010 at www.growcommunities.com or by calling 1. 877.267.3332.

"More than 95 percent of the land in the United States is home to a rural community, and farmers work hard to support those communities," said Brett Begemann, Monsanto Fund Chairman. "We created the America's Farmers Grow Communities program to celebrate that hard work. Every rural community has vital needs. It's our goal for every $2,500 award to support rural community needs and cause a ripple effect of benefits along the way."

In Iowa, $247,500 will be invested in rural communities in 99 counties. The program is intended to benefit nonprofit community groups such as ag youth organizations, schools and other civic groups important to America's farmers. "A donation of $2,500 could help a community garden buy thousands of seeds, or help a school buy new computers," Begemann said. "It takes just a few minutes for a farmer to sign up online for a chance to really benefit an organization that's important to them, and more importantly, benefit their friends, family and neighbors as a result of that donation."

Monsanto Fund also will donate $1 to the United Way on behalf of each farmer who signs up for the America's Farmers Grow Communities program. The $1 will be donated to the United Way chapter in the home county of the farmer. This offers yet another way for farmers to invest in the future of their rural community.

Farmers can apply online at www.growcommunities.com or they can call 1.877.267.3332 to apply by phone. Farmers, age 21 and over, who are actively engaged in farming a minimum of 250 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cotton, or 40 acres of open field vegetables, or at least 10 acres of tomatoes, peppers and/or cucumbers grown in protected culture, are eligible. The application period runs August 31 through December 31, 2010. The  program is open to all qualifying farmers, and no purchase is necessary in order to enter or win.

One winner will be randomly selected for each of Iowa's 99 participating counties. Monsanto Fund will announce winning farmers and recipient organizations by February 2011.

Eligible counties include Adair, Adams, Allamakee, Appanoose, Audubon, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhaoun, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clay, Clayton, Clinton, Crawford, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Delaware, Des Moines, Dickinson, Dubuque, Emmet, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Howard, Humboldt, Ida, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Kossuth, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Mitchell, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, O'Brien, Osceola, Page, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Sac, Scott, Shelby, Sioux, Story, Tama, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, Worthy and Wright.

Visit www.growcommunities.com to sign up and to learn more about the America's Farmers Grow Communities program. The project is part of a broad commitment by Monsanto Fund to invest in farm communities, in order to highlight the important contributions farmers make every day to our society. To view the official rules for this program, visit www.growcommunities.com or send a written request Eileen Jensen, 914 Spruce St., St. Louis, MO 63102.

About Monsanto Fund

The Monsanto Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company. Incorporated in 1964, the Fund's primary objective is to improve the lives of people by bridging the gap between their needs and their resources. Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org/asp/welcome.asp.

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Low-Cost Leader Expands Presence in Florida from Moline/Quad Cities

Moline/Quad Cities (September 15, 2010) This morning, AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today announced new flights to Florida tourist hot-spot Ft. Myers from the Quad City International Airport. 

AirTran Airways currently offers flights from more cities to Ft. Myers than any other airline. "Ft. Myers is one of the most requested destinations in our route network," said Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways' senior vice president of marketing and planning. "From the pristine beaches of Sanibel and Captiva Islands to the world-class golfing and fishing, not to mention baseball spring training, Southwest Florida is one of the most popular sun and fun destinations in America."
The following nonstop flights between Moline/Quad Cities and Ft. Myers will be available beginning March 8, 2011:

Nonstop Service Between Moline/Quad Cities and Ft. Myers

From	To	Flight	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
Moline/Quad Cities	Ft. Myers	1641	11:34 a.m.	3:30 p.m.	Tu, Th, Sat, Sun
Ft. Myers	Moline/Quad Cities	1640	8:50 a.m.	10:59 a.m.	Tu, Th, Sat, Sun

Bruce Carter, Director of Aviation states "We are extremely pleased with today's announcement for new service to Ft. Myers Florida starting on March 8^th of next year. It proves to me that AirTran is still committed to this market. I hope our loyal area passengers and those who frequent the Ft. Myers and South Florida area, will use this convenient nonstop service with AirTran." Carter adds, "Coupled with this new destination, AirTran continues the Orlando nonstop flights four times per week-- every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Orlando service continues to be popular for families from throughout the regional area throughout the year."

With the addition of the Ft. Myers service, The Quad City International Airport now offers nonstop service on five airlines to eleven nonstop cities in the United States: Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Ft. Myers, Las Vegas, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando, and Phoenix-Mesa. Bruce Carter says "I believe this may be first time in the history of the airport that flights to eleven nonstop cities have been offered."

AirTran Airways is a Fortune 1000 company and has been ranked the number one low cost carrier in the Airline Quality Rating study for the past three years.  AirTran Airways is the only major airline with Gogo Inflight Internet on every flight and offers coast-to-coast service on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. Our low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating, Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. To book a flight, visit www.airtran.com
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