All proceeds to benefit River Bend Foodbank

On Saturday, Sept. 20, Modern Woodmen of America will host the Race to Knock Out Hunger, a 5K charity run/walk and free kids' fun run to support River Bend Foodbank. All proceeds from the race and the summer-long Knock Out Hunger campaign will be presented to River Bend Foodbank in a pre-race ceremony.  The event begins at 8:25 a.m. with the kids' fun run, followed by a shotgun 5K start at 9 a.m. Media coverage is welcomed and appreciated.

"The Race to Knock Out Hunger is very special for Modern Woodmen," said President and CEO Kenny Massey. "It's our first-ever race in the Quad Cities, but more importantly, it's the grand finale of our four-month long Knock Out Hunger campaign to support River Bend Foodbank."

During the Knock Out Hunger campaign, Modern Woodmen employees, their families and community members collected more than 2,500 pounds of food and donated almost $3,000. This does not include proceeds from the Race to Knock Out Hunger. Modern Woodmen also sponsored three mobile food pantries staffed by employee volunteers this summer.

"We are extremely grateful for the support from Modern Woodmen and its employees," says Tom Laughlin, executive director of River Bend Foodbank. The Knock Out Hunger Campaign is making a tremendous difference in our efforts to alleviate local hunger."

Knock Out Hunger campaign

In 2014, Modern Woodmen selected River Bend Foodbank to support through a Knock Out Hunger campaign. Modern Woodmen employees and members donated time, money and food to the food distribution center.

Some of the efforts included sponsoring multiple mobile food pantry events, a home office food drive and backpack programs for local children. On August 15, Modern Woodmen employees packaged 50,000 meals for hungry families in the Quad Cities. The Race to Knock Out Hunger will be the culmination of these efforts, on Sept. 20.

River Bend Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organization in the Quad Cities and surrounding communities, distributing more than 8 million pounds of food annually to feed the hungry. The Foodbank serves more than 10,000 individuals every week through its distribution network of 300 charitable feeding programs in a 22-county service area in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

Founded in 1883, Modern Woodmen of America touches lives and secures futures. The fraternal financial services organization offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.

For more information about the Knock Out Hunger campaign or the effort to support River Bend Foodbank, contact Amber O'Brien at 309-793-5660 (office), 309-798-6704 (cell) or visit modern-woodmen.org.

Alex's Million Mile Initiative enlists supporters to Run. Walk. Ride. One Million Miles this September to raise the profile of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Philadelphia, PA (July 2014) - In an effort to raise the profile of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation will go the distance this September, launching Alex's Million Mile - Run. Walk. Ride. With firsthand knowledge of just how far parents of children with cancer would go to find a cure for their child, the Foundation will challenge supporters everywhere to go the extra mile this September, collectively running, walking or cycling one million miles to work toward better treatments and ultimately cures for all kids with cancer.

The brainchild of Foundation Co-Executive Director, Jay Scott, a running enthusiast, Alex's Million Mile invites ambitious individuals, as well as teams, to pledge to run/walk/ride and contribute to the one million mile goal during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Drawing from the inspiration of Foundation creator Alexandra "Alex" Scott, who set out to raise $1 million through lemonade stands in 2004, Jay Scott feels that through combined efforts, reaching one million miles in just thirty days is attainable. The initiative provides a fun, easy and free way for people across the country to make a difference in the fight against childhood cancer.

"I am thrilled to bring back Alex's Million Mile for the second annual initiative to help Childhood Cancer Awareness Month attain the same status that other awareness months have," says Scott. "Alex's Million Mile is as an easy way for runners, walkers and cyclists of all abilities to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer, build community support and get fit," says Scott.

Alex's Million Mile will utilize both the MapMyFitness applications and the ability for participants to manually enter the miles they log daily. Individuals and teams who participate can log as many or as few miles as their ability level allows, every mile will count toward the larger goal. For those wishing to push themselves to reach 100 miles throughout the month, individuals will need to average 3-4 miles a day, while teams can split up the 100 miles. For instance, a group of 4 employees can walk a mile at lunch every day and easily reach their goal.

In its inaugural year, Alex's Million Mile (formerly known as the Million Mile Run), mobilized more than 5,000 participants to log 250,000 miles and raise over $500,000 for the cause. Among the various ways that miles were logged by participants from coast to coast: parents walked their children to school each day, logging one mile each way; families walked to Friday night dinners and back; instead of taking public transportation, individuals ran to work or evening outings. The possibilities are endless, with each step being counted toward the ultimate goal of logging one million miles, and more importantly raising vital awareness of the number one disease killer of children under the age of 15 in the United States.

"September has become highly recognizable within the childhood cancer community as an important time of year," says Liz Scott, Alex's mom and Co-Executive Director of the Foundation. "However, for many, the cause September is attached to remains widely unknown. While we've made progress in the fight against childhood cancer within the past ten years of our existence, there is still a long way to go. We hope that through the collective efforts of Alex's Million Mile participants, we can close the distance between better treatments and ultimately cures."

New to the 2014 event, Booster, LLC  (www.booster.com) will provide participants a platform to easily launch their own t-shirt fundraising campaigns to support their Alex's Million Mile efforts. Participants who sign up for Alex's Million Mile will have the opportunity to use Booster to create their own designs and in turn sell custom t-shirts to raise money without buying in advance or holding any inventory.  To learn more, or to launch a Booster campaign to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit: https://www.booster.com/alexs-lemonade-stand.

Individuals and teams who are interested in participating or learning more about Alex's Million Mile can visit AlexsMillionMile.org where they will find a video detailing the effort, testimonials from those who participated last year, and starting in September - live updates from social media on efforts in 2014 utilizing the hashtag #Journey2aMillion.

About Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra "Alex" Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $80 million toward fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 450 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.

How far is 1 Million Miles?

A trip to the moon and back, twice.

More than 40 times around the earth.

More than 3,000 trips from NYC to Los Angeles.

More than 38,000 Marathons.

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Gamaliel of Illinois & QCI Rally in Support of  Jobs Training , Education Equity at State Wide Public Meeting. Nearly 1000 lay and clergy leaders, elected officials and allies rallied at New Life Community Church in East St. Louis Thursday August 14th for Gamaliel of Illinois's first ever state wide public meeting.  The "Fire of Faith" public meeting brought together hundreds  from Illinois (and our allies in Iowa too).

Governor Pat Quinn and local office holders listened to testimony  from people calling on infrastructure jobs and jobs training, equitable early learning education and addressing criminal justice issues across Illinois and the QC region. 
GOI won support for a state wide summit on restorative justice; for the Springfield and Quad Cites Community Benefits Agreement and a rail station in East St Louis!

Michael Jones from Rock Island, a graduate of the Highway Construction Careers Training Program (HCCTP) at Black Hawk College testified to his success in getting the job he wanted thanks to the HCCTP.

QCI Trivia Night Fundraiser is this Saturday, Sept 13th

Rock Island, IL - Christian Care has received a $500 grant from the Rock Island Community Foundation to help provide counseling for children who arrive at its domestic violence shelter with their mothers.

As victims or witnesses to domestic violence, these children are affected emotionally, socially, psychologically, physically, and behaviorally during their formative years, and their well-being and cognitive development ultimately impacts their adult functioning if left untreated. These children are three times more likely to grow up and repeat the patterns of domestic abuse, either by becoming a victim of an abusive relationship, or an abuser.

By intervening in the lives of the children, and providing legal advocacy if needed, Christian Care creates an opportunity to heal what would otherwise become long-term and perhaps even permanent emotional and mental scars resulting from the trauma of the children's exposure to domestic violence.

Christian Care is transforming the lives of homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illness. Its two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for abused women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men?provide safe shelter, nutritious meals, clothing, counseling, referrals and guidance to those in need. Its services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the goal of nourishing the bodies, minds, hearts and souls of the men, women and children who come seeking a new way of life. If you know someone in need, call the Christian Care crisis hotline any hour of the day or night at (309) 788-2273.

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