(Rock Island, IL)– Members of Royal Neighbors of America Chapter 30, Sterling, IL, will make a surprise $3,500 check presentation to Carol Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the YWCA of the Sauk Valley. The funds from Royal Neighbors' Nation of NeighborsSM Program will help Carol enhance the YWCA's services by creating a Fearless Future Micro-Loan Fund. The program will provide loans to women served by the Y so they can meet the costs of GED fees, job uniforms, computer and career training, etc.
Women in the program will work with the Y staff to develop a repayment schedule to fit their needs. Any repayments will go directly back into the Fund to help other women develop a more positive future for themselves.
In addition to providing leadership at the YWCA, Carol touches the lives of her neighbors by serving as chair of the Rock Falls Fire and Police Commission, secretary and personnel chair of the Whiteside County Board of Health, and as a member of the Executive Committee for the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Advisory Council for the Whiteside County Community Health Center.
What: Surprise $3,500 check presentation
Where: Candlelight Inn, 2200 1st Ave., Rock Falls
When: Tuesday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m.
Local contacts: John Espinoza (815) 625-7237 or Darcy Smith (309) 236-3034
Focusing on its history of standing strong for women, Royal Neighbors has given more than $1 million to assist 900-plus families and individuals in reaching their goals and rebuilding their lives through its Nation of Neighbors Program. The program, which was launched in 2007, demonstrates the neighbor-helping-neighbor philosophy on which Royal Neighbors was founded in 1895.
Through the 2012 program, determined women of strength and courage are empowered with financial assistance to achieve their full potential, realize a sense of renewed personal growth, and give back to their communities. Each year, Royal Neighbors members and sales agents across the country are asked to nominate individuals they know who want to change their lives for the better. A panel reviews each nomination and determines the recipients and the monetary amounts awarded.
Royal Neighbors of America, one of the nation's largest women-led life insurance companies, exists for the benefit of its members. It offers insurance products to fulfill financial needs of growth, savings, and protection. Members receive valuable benefits and can participate in volunteer activities through the organization's local chapters to help make a difference in their communities. The organization's philanthropic efforts are dedicated to changing women's lives through its national programs, including the Nation of NeighborsSM Program, and through the Royal Neighbors Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.
Headquartered in Rock Island, IL, with branch offices in Mesa, AZ, and Austin, TX, Royal Neighbors serves more than 200,000 members and is licensed to do business in 42 states and the District of Columbia.
For more information about Royal Neighbors of America, call (800) 627-4762, or visit www.royalneighbors.org.
