19 May 2009

A commitment to changing women's lives - re-building in Parkersburg

By Rick Martin

(ROCK ISLAND, IL) - The Royal Neighbors Foundation continues its efforts in Parkersburg, IA by sponsoring a "Remembrance & Renewal" breakfast on Monday, May 25 from 7 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Parkersburg Veterans Building at 205 Cemetery Street.  Iowa Governor Chet Culver will speak at this special event marking the 1-year anniversary of the F5 tornado that damaged or destroyed over 400 homes in this small Iowa town.

Royal Neighbors began their relationship with Parkersburg in October 2008 by announcing its Foundation will assist two women as they rebuild their lives after a tornado destroyed their homes.  Construction on one home began earlier this month.

"We're pleased to have the opportunity to help these women rebuild their lives after such a devastating disaster," said Judith Tshibangu, Vice President of the Royal Neighbors Foundation. "Our organization's Foundation is dedicated to changing women's lives.  In Parkersburg, we are doing this by assisting two individuals in starting over in their newly built homes."

Royal Neighbors of America is a non-profit fraternal life insurance corporation dedicated to helping women and their families for close to 115 years. It insures lives, supports women, and serves communities by offering insurance and annuity products. Its members receive valuable benefits and can participate in a variety of local volunteer activities.

The Royal Neighbors Foundation is an independent philanthropic arm of Royal Neighbors of America.  As a 501(c)(3) public charity, it was established to promote charitable and educational causes that align with the organization's mission.  Its focus is changing women's lives by supporting programs such as scholarships for women veterans and building homes.

For more information about Royal Neighbors of America and the Royal Neighbors Foundation, call (800) 627-4762, or visit www.royalneighbors.org.

END 

19 May 2009

YMCA HONORS AREA VETERANS

By Kathy Horrell

West Family YMCA Invites Community to Military Appreciation Day

Davenport, Iowa - May 18, 2009 - Area veterans, military personal and their families are invited to attend a special flagpole dedication and Military Appreciation Day cookout on Wednesday, May 27, at the West Family YMCA.

The YMCA recently installed a 40 foot flagpole and will dedicate it to area service men and when and their families. A special American flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capital will be presented to the YMCA and will be raised during the dedication. Following this ceremony, community members are invited to attend a celebration cookout and are encouraged to take part in special military appreciation activities at the West Y.

The flagpole, flag, lighting and landscape have been made possible through generous contributions from the following community partners; Humana MarketPoint, Runge Mortuary & Crematory, Weerts Funeral Home, Wal-mart, Hy-Vee Food Stores, Rick Hollingsworth and Darrel Doss, Davenport West High School and YMCA members Doug Scovil and Larry Axtell.

YMCA Military Appreciation Day begins with an 11am cookout followed by the flagpole dedication at 12:15pm. Special military memberships are available for those who have loved-ones currently serving our country. The West Family YMCA is located at 3503 West Locust Street, Davenport. For more information about YMCA Military Appreciation Day call (563) 386-4414.

The YMCA: A Long-Standing Commitment to Health of Spirit, Mind and Body

The Scott County Family Y is one of the area's largest community service organizations. Serving more than 2-million people in 2008, the Scott County Family Y offers a variety of programs and services focused on the holistic development of children and youth, family strengthening and health and well-being for all. The YMCA unites men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels - proudly serving the Quad Cities for nearly 150 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all. For more information visit the Scott County Family Y website, www.scottcountyfamilyy.org.

18 May 2009

GRAND OPENING FOR NEW LOCATION

By The Buzz Gallery of modern Art

On Thursday, May 21st from 4pm-6pm, Purple Polka Dotted Hippo will hold a Grand Opening at its new location in Davenport's Old Town Mall on Kimberly Road.  The event will start with a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. and there will be plenty of child friendly refreshments on hand as you browse our new site. To show our appreciation of your support, all attendees are eligible to win a custom designed diaper cake and a Purple Polka Dotted Hippo Basket.

Purple Polka Dotted Hippo opened in 2009 at 3601 North Division in Davenport to provide affordable quality clothing and accessories for children and to give mothers the opportunity to sell and consign their gently used children's and maternity clothing.  "After providing so many children with a new look, we decided the Purple Polka Dotted Hippo deserved a new look as well," Melanie Schneckloth said.  "The new location has more room and parking for our customers, while still maintaining its warm and welcoming surroundings to parents and children alike." Schneckloth adds, "We're excited to get the opportunity to provide a more central location for our local customers."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact: Melanie Schneckloth

Telephone: 563-388-5076

18 May 2009

Mississippi Valley Paranormal announces their Quad Cities Most Haunted Contest

By Sarah Knowlton
Mississippi Valley Paranormal is sponsoring the Quad Cities Most Haunted Contest. We are looking for
the most haunted location in the Quad Cities area. We have heard all the stories and urban legends and
now we want someplace new. All that we ask is that the location is public property or permission is
easily obtained. Also, private residences may only be entered by someone currently living there.
The person who submits the winning entry will then be able to investigate with the Midwest's Premier
Paranormal team, Mississippi Valley Paranormal for the night at their location. All entries must be
received by no later than midnight, June 30th 2009. To submit a location to Mississippi Valley
Paranormal and to read the complete contest rules, please go to our website at www.mvparanormal.org
Mississippi Valley Paranormal is a paranormal research team that was formed to help further the field of
paranormal research through scientific techniques. Mississippi Valley Paranormal covers the Quad Cities
and surrounding areas. We are non-profit group and offer our investigation services to the public for
free.
We would also be open to members of media investigating the chosen location with the team.
Sarah Knowlton
Mississippi Valley Paranormal
sarahk@mvparanormal
phone: 309-235-4868
Fax: 928-223-4868
15 May 2009

QUAD CITIES YMCAS PROVIDES SUPPORT TO MILITARY FAMILIES AS PART OF NEW $31-MILLION INITIATIVE

By Kathy Horrell
Armed Services YMCA and Department of Defense partnership gives military families access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs

Davenport, IA & Moline, IL - May 15, 2009 – As part of the new Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Outreach Initiative, The Scott County Family Y and the Two Rivers YMCA also known as the Quad Cities YMCAs, are providing military families with access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs at community YMCAs nationwide. Membership fees will be underwritten by the DoD and administered through Military OneSource, an information and referral service for military families. YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for America's 2,686 YMCAs, will help launch the initiative at participating YMCAs across the country.

"The Quad Cities YMCAs are happy to help meet the critical needs facing families of deployed military service members," said Tony Calabrese, Chief Operating Officer for the Scott County Family Y. "Families are the most affected when a loved one gets deployed, so we are deeply committed to providing them with the support they need."

The ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative responds to a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to support military family readiness and to ensure that military family readiness programs and activities are available to all military families, including those of the National Guard and Military Reservists.

Eligible military families participating in the initiative are eligible for YMCA memberships based on participation requirements. Those eligible to participate in the new initiative include :

  • All interested families of joint deployed National Guard and Reserves of all military branches;

  • Families living in newly established Joint Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) bases;

  • Active Duty Independent Duty station personnel and their families; and

  • Relocated spouses and family members of deployed Active Duty personnel.

"The YMCA has a long history of supporting military service members and their families - since the Civil War - so it was natural for us to join this initiative," said Mike Wennekamp, Associate Executive Director of the Two Rivers YMCA. "During this time of conflict, it is more important than ever that we continue providing services and support to these families in the absence of a deployed spouse."

More information about the ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative can be found by visiting www.asymca.org. For information about participating YMCAs, please visit www.ScottCountyFamilyY.org or www.TwoRiversYMCA.org or www.ymca.net.

15 May 2009

Grand Victoria Foundation Honored for Collaboration with Illinois Community Foundations and The Moline Community Foundation

By Linda Martin

A groundbreaking project to strengthen local philanthropies has received national recognition for its impact on Illinois communities.

Communityworks, a collaboration between Grand Victoria Foundation and seventeen Illinois community foundations, including the Moline Community Foundation,was honored with the Critical Impact Award from the Council on Foundations at its annual meeting this week in Atlanta.

From 2003-08 Grand Victoria Foundation invested $12 million in Communityworks, which sought to strengthen Illinois community foundations by building endowments, supporting high-performing operations, and encouraging collaboration with local leaders around important local priorities.  Over the past five years, the community foundations more than quadrupled their assets and created promising ventures in early childhood care and education, workforce development, and land use and protection.  The effort is continuing, with up to $42 million in new grants along with new collaborative initiatives announced last September.  The Moline Community Foundation is a partner is this second phase of initiatives as a leader in Rock Island County.

The initiative is one of four winners of this year's Critical Impact Award from the Council on Foundations based in the Washington, D.C. area.

"We believe community foundations can be the civic hubs of their communities, and through Communityworks, we supported them in taking that kind of leadership," said Grand Victoria Foundation Executive Director Nancy Fishman.  "We're delighted that the work has received this recognition from the Council, but even more we're encouraged about the partnerships and collaborative ventures created as a result of Communityworks."

Joy Boruff, Executive Director, The Moline Community Foundation said "Communityworks helped strengthen our role as community leadership as well as organizing statewide collaboration among the foundations."  Boruff noted that building relationships among other community foundations throughout Illinois has assisted in the development of the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations.

Boruff is the current President of the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations (http://site.allianceilcf.org)

Other participating Illinois community foundations in the Communityworks project include Community Foundation of Central Illinois (Peoria), the Community Foundation of Decatur/Macon County (Decatur), DeKalb County Community Foundation (Sycamore), Community Foundation of East Central Illinois (Champaign), Community Foundation of Grundy County (Morris), Community Foundation of the Quincy Area, the DuPage Community Foundation (Wheaton), Evanston Community Foundation, McHenry County Community Foundation (Woodstock), The Moline Foundation, Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation (Effingham, formerly Effingham County Community Foundation and Mattoon Area Community Foundation), and Southern Illinois Community Foundation (Marion).

Founded in 1953, The Moline Foundation is a community-based, non-profit organization which provides grants to health, human services, education, community development, the arts, and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of the Quad City region. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and has a current endowment fund of approximately $13 million.  For more information contact Executive Director Joy Boruff at (309) 736-3800 or visit The Moline Foundation Web site at www.molinefoundation.org.

Grand Victoria Foundation provides strategic funding to Illinois organizations working for long-lasting economic, educational and environmental change. Since it was established in 1996 by the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Illinois, the Foundation has provided more than $100 million in grants to help communities in Illinois. More information about the Foundation and Communityworks is on Grand Victoria Foundation's website, www.grandvictoriafdn.org.

-30-
14 May 2009

Moline Foundation Elects New Chairman

By Linda Martin

Officers have recently been elected by the Moline Foundation Board to lead the local community foundation in their grantmaking and community activities. 

Jon Tunberg, Moline, Co-Owner Whitey's Ice Cream, has been elected Chairman of The Moline Foundation.  

Dr. Paula Arnell, Rock Island, Pathologist, Laboratory Director of Metropolitan Medical Laboratory, has been elected Vice Chairman. 

Jim McLaughlin, Moline, Vice President, Southeast National Bank, has been elected Secretary. 

The other members of the Moline Foundation Board include Peter Benson, Moline, Attorney, Lane & Waterman; Gene Blanc, Moline, CEO & Chairman of the Board, Midland Information Resources; Dennis Fox, Attorney, Califf & Harper; Sandra Kramer, Moline, Community Volunteer; Mary Lagerblade, Rock Island, Community Volunteer; and Dennis Schwartz, , Vice-President, Pension Investments, Deere & Company. 

The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation and non-profit organization which provides grants to health, human services, education, community development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and has a current endowment of over $13 million. For more information, please refer to The Moline Foundation's web site at www. molinefoundation.org

The Moline Community Foundation offices are located at the Deere-Wiman House, 817 11th Avenue, Moline.

- 30 -

14 May 2009

IOWANS INVITED TO RECOGNIZE THEIR ROLE MODELS

By Amy Smit

CHARACTER COUNTS! In Iowa is encouraging Iowans to nominate their role models for an Iowa Character Award. The awards annually honor individuals and organizations that consistently demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Nominations must be postmarked by June 15, 2009.

"We don't always get a chance to recognize and thank our role models," said Scott Raecker, executive director of CHARACTER COUNTS! In Iowa. "Nominating an individual or organization for an award that highlights good character is a great way to pay tribute to the people who make a difference in our lives."

Award Categories include : Business/Organization of Character, Citizen of Character, Community of Character, School of Character, and the Pursuing Victory With Honor Award.

All nominees will receive a congratulatory letter and certificate. Award recipients will be honored at the Iowa Character Awards Banquet on October 17, 2009.

Nomination forms are available at CharacterCountsInIowa.org.

XXX

14 May 2009

Back To Jekyll Island to Defend the Constitution

By Nancy Brandt
On May 21st, many leaders of national organizations dedicated to the defense of Liberty and the Constitution are retracing the 1910 travels of the global financiers who quietly gathered at a private resort at Jekyll Island, Georgia to covertly plot the creation of what we know today as the privately-owned (and unconstitutional), "Federal Reserve System."

Next week, Freedom leaders travel by train from New Jersey to that notable location to join their organizations in support of the upcoming historic "Continental Congress 2009" initiative.  CC2009 will be a multi-week, assembly of Delegates from the fifty states to formally document for the nation a century of Constitutional violations and the federal Government's patent refusal to be held accountable to the Law of the nation.  Among the violations are the Treasury and Fed bailouts which use public monies for unlawful expenditures for private benefit. 

The CC2009 Assembly will recommend specific actions the People can take to peacefully restore Constitutional Order.  These actions may well include a nationwide call for the People to (lawfully) withdraw all financial support from the government until the Constitution is fully obeyed.

To learn about the little-known, 900-year history and profound power of the Petition clause, visit www.WeThePeopleCongress.org.

Nancy Brandt, Andover, Illinois

14 May 2009

YMCA Offers FREE Military Kids Camp

By Kathy Horrell

Scott County Family Y Helps Quad City Military Families Enjoy Their Summer

Davenport, Iowa - May 13, 2009 - Military families make a tremendous sacrifice on a daily basis and the Scott County Family Y wants to make sure military children have the opportunity to enjoy their summer vacation. This year, YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln along with the Sierra Club and Armed Services YMCA will offer a FREE 4-day/3-night resident camp for children of families who were, are or will be deployed.

Military Kids Camp will be held June 28 through July 1, and is designed for children ages 8 to 14. Space for this camp is limited to 50 children. Campers can expect to participate in action-packed activities such as canoeing, archery, horseback riding, camp fires, swimming and team building. In addition campers will take part in daily interest sessions specifically designed for military families that cover age appropriate topics while helping them build relationships among each other.

The cost of this week of camp is $315.00 per child however generous contributions from the Sierra Club through the Armed Services YMCA allow the Scott County Family Y to provide this unique camping opportunity free of charge. The University of Iowa and Illinois Extension Offices are also involved in this unique partnership.

For more information about Camp Abe Lincoln's Military Kids Camp call (563) 381-3053 or visit the Camp Abe Lincoln website, www.YMCACampAbeLincoln.org.

YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln was recently voted Best Camp by River City Readers and offers year-round character development programming at its 250-acre site located just outside Buffalo, Iowa. Camp Abe Lincoln has been serving Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois for more than 85 years.

The YMCA: A Long-Standing Commitment to Health of Spirit, Mind and Body

The Scott County Family Y is one of the area's largest community service organizations. Serving more than 2-million people in 2008, the Scott County Family Y offers a variety of programs and services focused on the holistic development of children and youth, family strengthening and health and well-being for all. The YMCA unites men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels - proudly serving the Quad Cities for nearly 150 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all. For more information visit the Scott County Family Y website, www.scottcountyfamilyy.org.

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