Russell Construction is pleased to announce the Scott County Family Y as the recipient of their charity golf outing. The 21st annual event was held on Tuesday, August 4 at the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Course in Rock Island, IL.

Each year, the company hosts the golf outing to raise proceeds for their charity of choice.

The golf outing is organized and staffed by an internal Russell Construction employees, in order to assist worthy organizations in the surrounding Quad Cities communities. "Our event has become so successful thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, sponsors, raffle contributors and, of course, the golfers. It's an event that we look forward to every year," noted Jim Russell, President.

2009 marked another record-breaking year, as Jim Russell presented a check in the amount of $20,000 to the Scott County Family Y.

"We are extremely grateful to Russell Construction for designating the Scott County Family Y as the beneficiary for the proceeds from the Annual Russell Construction Charity Golf Outing," said Kellie Esters, Vice President for Fund Development. "This outstanding gift has been directed to support this year's Partner with Youth & Kids to Camp Annual Campaign, which helps disadvantaged children and families enjoy services like memberships to the YMCA, youth sports programs, child care, and a week at YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln."

In previous years donations have been made to Genesis - Clarissa Cook House ($17,500), CASI ($18,000), Community Care, Inc. in DeWitt, Iowa ($24,000) and the American Cancer Society ($47,775). Over the last ten years more than $165,000 has been donated to charitable organizations in the Quad Cities area through the Russell golf outing.

Established in 1983, Russell Construction is a regional provider of Construction Management, Design Build and General Contracting services. For more information on Russell Construction, please visit their corporate website at www.russellco.com.

Charity Navigator Awards the Y Its Highest Honor, Three Years in A Row

DAVENPORT, Iowa - August 7, 2009 - The Scott County Family Y is one of the best charitable organizations in the country, that according to Charity Navigator.  The nation's largest independent evaluator of charities has awarded the Y its coveted 4-Star rating for the third straight year.

The Scott County Family Y is the only Iowa Quad City charity to receive this rating; is one of 10charitable organizations in Iowa and one of only 16 YMCAs in the United States to receive this recognition in 2008.  In addition, only 12-percent of not-for-profit agencies receive this rating in consecutive years, according to Michael Smith, Interim President and CEO of Charity Navigator.  "The Scott County Family Y outperforms most charities in America in its efforts to operate in the most fiscally responsible way possible," said Smith.  This four-star rating was awarded to the Scott County Family Y for efficiently managing and growing its finances.

"One way in which the Scott County Family Y expresses its gratitude to our donors is by being a good steward of the gifts that have been entrusted to us - making the most of every donated dollar, said Kellie Esters, Vice President of Fund Development for the Scott County Family Y.  Frank Klipsch, President and CEO of the Scott County Family Y, stated that he was proud that our commitment to donors and our community, fostered by our partnership between our board of directors and staff has been recognized by this prestigious national organization.

Founded in 2001, Charity Navigator uses an unbiased and objective rating system that evaluates the financial health of more than 5,000 charities, with the goal of helping charitable givers make informed, intelligent donation decisions.  All of Charity Navigator's information is available to the public at no cost and can be found on line at www.charitynavigator.org.

Davenport, IA - August 7, 2009 - Helping men, women and children through rough times has been part of the Scott County Family Y's mission since its beginning in October of 1858.  From World War I to the Great Depression through the ups and downs of the Quad City area's economy, the Scott County Family Y has remained true to its belief - no one is turned away due to their inability to pay.

That is more than a saying at the Scott County Family Y especially when it comes to providing a safe and positive environment to area children.  The Scott County Family Y is the largest child care provider in the Iowa Quad Cities.  Serving more than 450 children a week and connecting more than 1,300 family members, the Child Care and Family Services Division is committed to all those it touches.

One of the ways the Scott County Family Y Child Care and Family Services is able to make this connection is through its participation in the United States Department of Agriculture's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).  CACFP helps the Y insure that nutritious meals are provided, at no separate charge to children enrolled in the following programs: YMCA/Palmer Learning Center, Davenport Family YMCA's Learning Center, YMCA Kid's Club Before and After-School programs at Riverdale Heights Elementary School in Bettendorf and at the Davenport Family YMCA. Meals are provided without regards to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability and the Scott County Family Y's Child Care and Family Services Division receives partial reimbursement based upon the income information provided by the children's parent or legal guardian.  Eligibility guidelines for reduced price meals are as follows:

Income Eligibility Guidelines for Reduced Price Meals

Effective 7-1-2009 to 6-30-2010

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The Scott County Family Y's Child Care and Family Services division is committed to maintaining federal and state standards, which meet the physical, intellectual, emotional and social needs of area children.  All child care programs are licensed by the State of Iowa and staff members are trained to meet initiatives above and beyond licensing requirements.

In addition to following these income eligibility guidelines, the Scott County Family Y Palmer Learning Center has earned a level 4 rating from the Iowa Department of Human Services - one of the highest quality assurance ratings the state offers.

The Iowa Quality Rating System for Child Care Providers (QRS) is a voluntary program that rates child care providers on quality indicators such as professional development; health and safety; environment; family and community partnerships; and leadership and administration.  Established in 2005 by the state legislature, QRS is designed to make providers aware of the many paths and steps they can take to improve the quality of their care.  The system also offers parents another resource in evaluating and selecting a child care provider.

The Scott County Family Y Palmer Learning Center is one of only six licensed child care centers in Scott County to receive this rating, showing that the YMCA goes above and beyond state licensing standards.  "We believe that quality is an ongoing process and we continually strive towards maintaining and improving the quality of care we provide, said Deb Gustafson, Executive Director, YMCA Child Care & Family Services.  "This rating shows along with our participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program helps show that we arecommitted to nurturing the whole child, and his or her family, all while making sure they have a healthy and safe environment to grow and learn in."

For more information about the programs and services offered through the Scott County Family Y's Child Care and Family Services Division, call (563) 323-5725 or visit the Scott County Family Y website, www.ScottCountyFamilyY.org.

Arnold's Body Shop in Davenport received recognition last week for leading Iowa's collision repair industry in switching to environmentally friendly water-based paint. On July 29, 2009, Governor Chet Culver honored the company at the State Capitol with the 2008 Governor's Iowa Environmental Excellence Award with the Special Recognition in Air Quality. Arnold's was the first collision repair shop in Iowa to convert its processes away from petroleum-based base coatings, reducing its output of volatile organic compounds (VOC) by 54 percent and hazardous air pollutants (HAP) by 91 percent.

"Ever since our family started this business in 1969, we have continually used the most sophisticated products and systems available to meet or exceed environmental standards," said John Arnold, CEO of Arnold's Body Shop. "Now, with water-based base coatings and improved exhaust systems that exceed EPA standards for 2011, we can repair vehicles so they're like new and safe for families as well as the planet."

Arnold said that the effort to go green involved dramatic changes for the four-person paint team. The team consists of Refinish Manager, Jeremy Gripp, who accepted the Governor's award in July, as well as paint team members Joe Schoenthaler, Aaron Houzenga and apprentice Mitch Matje.

"With an attitude of success, they implemented the new product, trained for it, learned it and made it part of a very efficient, earth-friendly process," said Arnold.

According to Arnold, the water-based paint formulas only recently became suited for midwestern climates, and Arnold's Body Shop is among the first in the region to convert. In addition to spending many hours of labor on the conversion, the company invested approximately $60,000 in new paint formulas and air-handling systems. This enabled huge reductions in VOCs and HAPs, substances that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone pollution. New fans also reduce energy consumption by curtailing the need to dry vehicle finishes with intense heat.

"Despite the dramatic changes to our process, the customer won't be able to tell the difference," said Arnold. "That's why we're eager to educate anyone with an interest in this advance in refinishing vehicles."

As education chair of the Iowa Collision Repair Association (ICRA), Arnold is volunteering to educate body shops statewide about making the water-based conversion through a series of seminars this fall. The ICRA, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Waste Reduction Center are sponsoring the seminars.

Arnold's Body Shop has served Davenport, Iowa, and the greater Quad Cities community with comprehensive collision repair since 1969. It became Iowa's first body shop to adopt environmentally friendly water-borne refinishing system in 2008. It is a member of the Automotive Service Association and the Better Business Bureau. See www.arnoldsbodyshop.com for details.

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