Come join us for the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's First Annual Meeting.

You are invited to celebrate with us as we highlight past year accomplishments and recognize our volunteers and those businesses who invest in our community.

Thursday, January 21, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Moline Community Center, 1613 5th Ave., Moline, IL 61265.

Cost $10 per ticket. Please RSVP by January 15, 2010 to (309) 721-9072.

Presentations for Volunteer of the Year and Latina Small Business and Latino Small Business.

NASHVILLE, TN./EVANSVILLE, IN. (January 18, 2010) - Soles4Souls (www.giveshoes.org) and Shoe Carnival have joined forces to provide shoes and other aid to victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

As part of its ongoing partnership with Soles4Souls, Shoe Carnival will raise funds to support the donation of more than 100,000 pairs of shoes as well as other necessities, including food, bottled water,  medical supplies and baby products, to affected areas. Beginning January 15, customers at Shoe Carnival's more than 300 stores will have the opportunity  make a contribution during checkout, which will directly support relief efforts.
Soles4Souls has partnered with Operation Compassion, a charity that mobilizes support for victims of natural disasters around the world, to transport and distribute the aid. Thirty containers of supplies, including work boots, rain boots, children's athletic shoes and clothing items, are already en route to Haiti.
"As we struggle to comprehend the magnitude of this disaster, we cannot forget how important basic necessities - such as shoes - will be in the ongoing rescue and rebuilding efforts," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "We deeply appreciate the support of Shoe Carnival and their customers in helping us provide shoes and other essential items to survivors and volunteers as they work in horrific conditions."

The death toll from Tuesday's quake continues to rise, and survivors and rescuers are facing dire health conditions including stifling heat, lack of clean water, broken glass and raw sewage.

"We feel the deepest compassion for the survivors in Haiti as they begin to rebuild their lives and communities," said Todd Beurman, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Shoe Carnival.  "That is why we want to help in any way we can to ensure the people of Haiti are able to get back on their feet in these very difficult times."

For more information on how to get involved and donate to the victims in Haiti, visit www.giveshoes.org.

About Soles4Souls®
Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you.  We distribute these shoes, free of charge, to people in need around the world. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 7 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently distributing one pair every 9 seconds). The shoes have been distributed in 125 countries, including Haiti, Kenya, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.

About Shoe Carnival
Shoe Carnival is a chain of more than 300 footwear stores located in the Midwest, South and Southeast. Combining value pricing with an entertaining store format, Shoe Carnival is a leading retailer of name brand and private label footwear for the entire family. Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, Shoe Carnival trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the symbol SCVL. Visit www.shoecarnival.com for more information.

January 15, 2010

Q:  Why do you conduct oversight of Veterans Affairs (VA)?

A: I regularly conduct pro-active and vigorous congressional oversight of the executive branch of government on behalf of taxpayers and beneficiaries of federal programs, including veterans.  I recently received an internal memo from the Department of Veterans Affairs which stated that the wrong filter was used last year in dialysis machines at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. That accident put at risk 83 patients, and maybe more, who were treated using the machines because they were possibly exposed to infectious diseases such as hepatitis or HIV.  What's more, I'm told that the VA has known about this for months but has yet to inform all of the possibly infected patients at the VA's Palo Alto Health Care System about the situation.  It's of great concern that America's current and former service members who rely on the VA's facilities would receive this kind of treatment.  They deserve better.  It's even more troubling that this isn't the first incident of contaminated equipment being used in the VA health system.  Both in April 2006 and February 2009, it was reported that service members might have been put in harm's way when contaminated equipment possibly exposed them to infectious body fluids or agents.  The VA needs to hold those responsible accountable and do what's necessary to prevent a repeat of incidents like these.

Q:  How else are you working in the U.S. Senate to help veterans?

A: Veterans have risked their lives to protect the American way of life and to help preserve freedom around the world.  The burden placed on service members often takes a major physical and emotional toll on both the service members and their families. Veterans need proper care to deal with the wounds they have received in our defense.  I've continued to work in the U.S. Senate to improve treatment and care for veterans suffering from mental injuries like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury resulting from service in combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan.  I'm working to protect service members with PTSD or Traumatic Brain Injury from being discharged unfairly and losing benefits.  A bill I cosponsored providing training and funding to family members who take care of injured veterans full-time has now become law.  I also worked with the Iowa delegation to enact the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act.  And, I won a commitment from the federal government to put a greater focus on hiring veterans. My record of support for those who have served our country was recognized with the American Legion's 2009 National Commander's Distinguished Public Service Award. Through my work with legislation in the U.S. Senate and my constitutional duty to perform government oversight, I will keep fighting to make sure our service members and veterans receive fair, timely and appropriate treatment from the federal government.

Linda DeLessio, Bettendorf, IA, has joined the National MS Society North Central States Chapter Board of Trustees.  In order for the chapter to reach its lofty goals in fundraising and client services, it is crucial to have a group of talented, engaged board members to provide leadership and governance.  Linda's skills were identified as fitting these objectives.

Linda grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and moved to Madison, WI for medical school in 1986.  She completed her pediatric residency and began working as a pediatrician in a group practice in Madison until 1998 when she moved to Bettendorf, IA.  She is currently employed as a pediatrician on a part time basis for Genesis Health Group -Pediatrics in Bettendorf, Iowa.  Linda first became involved with the chapter by attending the Taste of Generosity.  She then joined the committee in 2007.  Linda has witnessed MS firsthand.  Her mother was diagnosed in 1982 and her sister-in-law was diagnosed 5 years ago.  She enjoys traveling, golfing and gardening as well as spending time with her husband, Steve, and their three children, Nick, Julianne, and Marie.

About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

• The National MS Society helps each person address the challenges of living with MS through our 50-state network of chapters.
• The North Central States Chapter serves North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa.
• Through our home office and 50-state network of chapters, we fund more MS research, provide more services to people with MS, offer more professional education and further more advocacy efforts than any other MS organization in the world.
• The Society is dedicated to achieving a world free of MS.  We are people who want to do something about MS now.  Join the movement at www.nationalmssociety.org.

About Multiple Sclerosis

• Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system.
• Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis.  The advancement, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS.
• Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease.
• MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and 2.5 million worldwide.