Plant a tree with Jewish National Fund before or on Tu BiShvat, February 8, and you will be entered into a raffle to win:

• 2 roundtrip tickets to Israel with EL AL Israel Airlines
• A free trip to JNF's Harvey Hertz Ceremonial Tree Planting Center at Neot Kedumim to plant a tree in Israel's soil with your own hands

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Each tree purchased qualifies for one entry. JNF and EL AL employees and families of employees are not eligible.
Purchase must be a tree certificate. Other donations and purchases of any kind, including water certificates, will not be eligible for entry into the raffle.
Offer expires 2/8/2012 at 11:59PM EST.
The 2 EL AL tickets to Israel are available on a nonstop EL AL flight from EWR, JFK, or LAX. The applicable taxes of approximately $100 per ticket are not included. Travel must be completed by June 13, 2013; some restrictions and blackout dates apply. Tickets are based on availability as well as on the rules and regulations of "N" class, and are non-endorsable, non-refundable, and non-transferable. The award is not valid for receiving frequent flyer points nor will the tickets provide entitlement to involuntary compensation in the event of an over-sale or denied boarding situation.

The Salvation Army is overwhelmed by the community's generosity!

Quad Cities, USA -Major Gary Felton, Quad Cities Coordinator for The Salvation Army, would like the community to know that the organization is simply blown away by the generosity and enthusiasm shown this year. The goal of $700,000 was achieved, and $717,625 is the final total for this fund raising Major Felton said, "The Quad Cities heard our cry for help, and responded! It feels good to know that we have the community's support as we help people tackle some very tough issues.

"To every Quad Citian that donated at the kettles, directed checks our way, and volunteered to ring bells or work an event, our hearts are filled with gratitude - Thank you!"

During this Red Kettle Campaign, The Salvation Army also packed and distributed 2,300 food boxes to over 2,000 local households. The 3,000+ children in those households received toys Christmas morning because of the generosity of the community at the Angel Trees.  Major Felton continued, "Because the goal was reached, our largest programs at the Family Service Center -- Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, and Meal Site -- will remain strong. Last year we saw a 35% increase in the number of residents living at the Center. 32,000 nights of lodging were provided to the families, and over 43,000 meals were served from this facility to our residents and the community."

Felton extends his gratitude to The Salvation Army's community business partners. Felton said, "I'd like to thank every one of our community partners for giving The Salvation Army the opportunity to ring our bells in front of their establishments."

"And a special thank you to VON MAUR for their match days on December 23rd and 24th. The goal still seemed out of reach, but when we saw a 26% increase for those two days over last year's kettles - a record breaking two days - those additional donations brought us within sight of the $700,000 target."

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DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Three Quad-Cities area families who endured the heartbreak of the loss of a toddler in 2011 also felt the warmth of Kennedi's Kisses.

Parents of those lost children received assistance with burial expenses and memorial costs as well as the more important message that a community cares, through money raised by Kennedi's Kisses.

Kennedi's Kisses is a support organization and charity founded by Matt and Crystal Sherwood following the death of their young daughter Kennedi Eve on April 27, 2009.

The second annual Kennedi's Kisses Poker Tournament, a primary fundraiser for the fledgling organization, will take place on Friday, Feb. 24, at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport.

Seats are available for 296 players, and the inaugural event sold out last year well before the first hand was dealt. Buy-in is $40 with one $20 rebuy. Prizes include a first-place award of airfare for two and a three-night hotel stay in Las Vegas, plus a $1,000 entry into a World Series of Poker qualifying event.

Cards will hit the air at 6 p.m., with doors to open at 5 p.m.

Pre-registration is recommended at kennediskisses.org. Registration also will take place the night of the event until all seats are sold.

For more information, contact: Kennedi's Kisses, 120 Crestview Drive, Eldridge, IA, 52748, or call Matt Sherwood at (563) 529-4623 or email kennediskisses@yahoo.com.

I'm participating in the MDA Muscle Walk and I need your help!

I'm walking in the MDA Muscle Walk this year because I want to do something meaningful this year and I hope to have your support. I chose MDA because of all the incredible things they do for my family and those they serve in our community. If you didn't hear, Madison was chosen as our local Goodwill Ambassador for MDA. The people in this organization go above and beyond any job calls for. We have developed such close relationships.

I am super excited to tell all of you that Madi may be attending the MDA camp this summer for the first time. It looks and sounds amazing. Kids get to do courageous and astounding adventures that "normal" kids do every summer. She will get to swim, climb trees, ride horses, and so much more. I am anticipating this event incredibly. I know Madison will only grow from this experience. Wanna know the best part? It is of no cost to every participant. That is only possible through so many contributors and donors like you. Please help me reach my goal of $1000 to help send Madi and other kids to camp.

I truly believe that some of the reasons Madi is as strong as she is today are because she has so many things to look forward to, odds to beat, the support around her, and the boosts of confidence that family, friends, and our MDA provide for her. She is walking a lot. A dream I didn't think that would ever come true! She does a forward roll on her own, she lowers herself onto the potty, has many self help skills, and LOVES to perform. The smile on her face as she accomplishes new things everyday is priceless! The fear still lives within me that she will soon lose some of these new found independent skills. I can only dream of a world with no SMA right now. But with your help and contributions, that dream is one step closer. A portion of proceeds goes directly to research her disease.

Make your muscles work for something good. Please sponsor my effort with a donation.

Make a Muscle. Make a Difference.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www2.mda.org/site/TR?px=1062917&pg=personal&fr_id=1381&et=YNoklakugjzGVEEPR64l2A&s_tafId=2965

Click here to view the team page for Madi's Miracle Mob
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://www2.mda.org/site/TR?team_id=7105&pg=team&fr_id=1381&et=c9NL2jhBoK8KDgKMgFHOWw&s_tafId=2965