In honor of our 97th season, the QCSO is selling 1000 $97 raffle tickets which could win you $50,000!

In addition to that exciting Grand Prize, over $3500 in preliminary cash prizes will be awarded at Quad City Symphony Orchestra events this season, including a $2500 "early bird" prize on December 4. Winners of the preliminary prizes will remain eligible for the Grand Prize, so the earlier you buy your ticket, the better your chance to win! The $50,000 Grand Prize will be drawn on February 11 at our Valentine's Day concert with guest conductor Alondra de la Para.

Drawing schedule:

  • Masterworks II, November 4, at the Adler Theatre: $250
  • Masterworks II, November 5, in Centennial Hall: $250
  • Holiday Pops, November 19, at the i wireless Center: $250
  • Masterworks III, December 3, at the Adler Theatre: $250
  • Masterworks III, December 4, in Centennial Hall: $2500
  • Lyrebird Ensemble, January 21, at the Figge Art Museum: $250
  • Masterworks IV, February 11, at the Adler Theatre: $50,000

Buy your tickets today at the QCSO Box Office or by mailing a check for $97 to 327 Brady Street, Davenport, Iowa, 52801. Your tickets will be mailed to you upon the receipt of your check.

Monticello, IA– Camp Courageous will sponsor the 3rd annual "Walkin' & Wheelin' for Camp Courageous" on Saturday November 12, 2011.  This fun-filled event will take place from 8:30-11:00 a.m. at Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids.  Registration is from 8:30-9:30, with the walk from 9:30-10:30. Awards will be presented from 10:30-11:00.  T-shirts will be given to each participant who has collected a minimum of $10 in donations. Prizes will be awarded to the individual and team raising the most money for this event.

Participants may pre-register for this event by calling 319-465-5916 Ext. 2130, visiting camp's website at www.campcourageous.org, or may register the day of the event.
Camp Courageous is a year-round recreational and respite care facility for individuals with mental and physical disabilities, located near Monticello, Iowa.  The camp was built and continues to operate on donations, without government support, without formal sponsorship, and without paid fundraisers.  In 2010, the camp served nearly 6,000 individuals with special needs.

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The public is invited to help Humility of Mary Housing celebrate the opening and relocation of its program services and donation center from 1228 East 12th Street to 3805 Mississippi Avenue in Davenport IA. A Ribbon Cutting ceremony will be held at the new location on Thursday, November 3 at 3 pm followed by an open house until 6 pm.

Humility of Mary Housing, Inc. is a transitional and permanent supportive housing program for single parent families who have experienced homelessness. It is a structured program that provides opportunities for growth and development for the family while parents work on education and/or job training goals in order to become self-sufficient. The new location provides the much needed space for additional offices for the housing program staff, expanded food pantry and donation area where families can pick out items they need to furnish their apartments. The space is very welcoming and child friendly for families who have been dealing with the trauma of homelessness. The administrative offices for Humility of Mary Housing and for Humility of Mary Shelter will also be located in this building.

Humility of Mary Housing has been providing their supportive program services for 21 years but could not do it without the support of its many generous donors. The Quad City community is very caring and generous and Humility of Mary Housing looks forward to a long partnership with this community in providing support and hope for better futures to some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Rock Island -- Well-wishers gathered at the Butterworth Center to celebrate Christian Care's 95th year of operation in the Quad Cities. The event coincided with Christian Care's 30-year anniversary of its domestic violence shelter and acknowledging October as national domestic violence awareness month. Although many Quad City residents are aware of Christian Care's results-oriented approach to serving the homeless and survivors of domestic violence, few know the story of the organization's humble beginnings.

In 1916, in the midst of World War I, men came to the Quad Cities from surrounding areas in an effort to find work. Hard times fell upon the country and men and their families were without food and shelter. Luck changed for QC resident Guy Rodgers who "found Jesus" and a $20 bill. He decided to demonstrate his faith by using his windfall in service to others. He opened what he then called the Rock Island Rescue Mission and later was renamed Christian Care. The mission provided hot meals and a place for homeless men to sleep?and fed the spiritual hunger experienced by many of its residents. In 1981, Christian Care responded to the needs of abused women and children in the community by opening the only domestic violence shelter between the Mississippi River and Chicago.

Over time, both facilities have evolved from focusing on an emergency response to emphasis on transitional housing and transforming lives. Christian Care's holistic approach to programming targets the whole person?body, mind, heart and soul as clients work to take people off the street and provide them with the resources and support they need to become productive members of our community. In addition to the services provided by the Rescue Mission and the Domestic Violence Shelter, Christian Care also operates a Community Meal Site that is open to anyone in need of a meal and a 24/7 Crisis Line for those needing emergency help and resources.

If you know someone in need, or would like to help Christian Care as it serves the homeless and abused of the Quad Cities, call (309) 788-2273. For more information about Christian Care, go to www.christiancareqc.org or www.facebook.com/christiancareqc.

Soles4Souls® Teams Up Again with The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
for November Boot Trade-In Event
September 2011 Shoe Event Raised over $21,000

Nashville, TN (October 31, 2011) - Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity proudly announces its partnership with The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. for a trade-in boot drive for the second year.  The retailer will be collecting customers' gently worn boots for charity.

Beginning on November 2nd until November 12th, customers will be invited to donate gently worn boots at all Bon-Ton Store locations to get $15.00 off their boot purchase of $50 or more. To find a participating location you can visit www.bonton.com.

The Bon-Ton Stores and Soles4Soles also partnered back in September at 62 Bon-Ton Store locations for Sole Sisters Shoe Shopping Events. $1 was donated for every pair of shoes purchased and the partnership successfully raised $21,316 dollars for Soles4Souls.

"We are excited to be partnering with The Bon-Ton Stores again for this boot trade-in event," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "Customers will have the opportunity to give back and thousands of people will be the recipient of the gift of shoes because of their efforts." he said.
The Chief Operating Officer, Barbara Schrantz of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., will be presenting the $21,316 dollar check to Souls4Souls this November 8th, 2011. Photos of this presentation will be available upon request.
For more information on how to get involved and to find a recycling location near you, visit www.giveshoes.org.

Color Care Across America comes to Davenport, Iowa

What: The Benjamin Moore Color Care Across America Project - free painting & color makeover for men's, women's, family, domestic abuse and homeless shelters. The program is servicing 50 shelters in 50 states in 50 days (+ another shelter in DC).

Who:  Iowa's beneficiary shelter: The Salvation Army Family Service Center Shelter. Mayor Bill Gluba nominated the shelter into the national program. Mayor Gluba?as well as the Salvation Army's Major Gary Felton?will be on-site, prepared for interviews.

Local professional paint contractors from J&J Painting have volunteered for the project, and will be painting during the event. The local Benjamin Moore retailer Keim's Paint Center (Rock Island) tinted and delivered the paint to the shelter.

When: Wednesday, November 2 at 10:00 a.m.

Where: The Salvation Army Family Service Center Shelter, 301 West 6th Street #1, Davenport, Iowa, 52803-5129

Why: The power of color has proven emotional impact, and even the simplest painting makeover can yield an uplifting experience. Color Care was inspired in part by President Obama's call to service and also by the growing ranks of homeless

Color Care Across America, developed in cooperation with the USCM and PDCA, launched this September with plans for makeovers in all 50 U.S. states plus D.C. within 60 days. All told, between Canada and U.S., Benjamin Moore expects to donate more than 7,000 gallons of paint.

Contacts: Josh Schoenfelder, 605.350.4138, joshs@vpcpartners.com

Boys Teams Grades 3rd-4th grade and 7th-8th Pre-Season Basketball Tournament

A pre-season boys basketball tournament will be held at the Monticello Berndes Center in Monticello, IA on Saturday, October 29th and Sunday, October 30th. This event will be a fundraiser for Camp Courageous that is sponsored by 5th Quarter Sports. Steve Cooper, a past Camp Courageous counselor, is organizing this annual event.

The tournament will be open to boys in 3rd & 4th grades on Saturday.   The 7th & 8th grade boys will play on Sunday. There will be a limit to eight teams in each division.  Expect a 9 AM to 4 PM time-frame. No schedule requests will be accepted for this tournament.

Team entry fee is $135.00 for 7th & 8th grade and $65 for 3rd-4th grade. Spectator admission will be charged and concessions will be offered. All concessions and door from this event will go to benefit Camp Courageous, a year-round respite and recreational facility for individuals of all ages with special needs that is run on donations.  For more information contact Steve Cooper by e-mail at:   zebra_2000_62704@yahoo.com
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MONTICELLO, IOWA–An AmeriCorps NCCC team is spending nine weeks at Camp Courageous of Iowa in Monticello, Iowa working as camp counselors with special needs adults.

From September 6th through November 8th, "Cedar Three" is serving as camp counselors to help promote a safe and enjoyable week for campers with disabilities.  As camp Counselors they are working with other staff to lead groups of 4 to 5 campers. Work ranges from assisting campers with various camp activities to aiding with personal care.

Camp Courageous is a year-round recreational and respite care facility for individuals of all ages with disabilities. Camp Courageous was founded in 1972 when 40 acres of land was donated for the establishment of a camp for the disabled. The following year, five buildings were built from donated labor and materials. By 1974 the camp had opened and totaled 211 campers. Today the camp is open year-round, has over 150 acres of land with 14 buildings, and annually serves over 6,000 campers, ranging in age from 1 to 105. Camp Courageous runs solely on donations.  Due to the popularity of the camp, many people with disabilities are put on a waiting list. By having an AmeriCorps NCCC team of ten people serve as camp councilors, over 100 people have been taken off of the waiting list.

This is not the first time Cedar Three has volunteered at Camp Courageous. The team painted staff dormitory rooms in March as part of their first project working together. During their three day stay, they had the opportunity to get familiar with the campus and meet some of the campers. Cedar Three also had the opportunity to spend time with the campers at the weekly dance that takes place on Thursday nights.

According to Team Leader Drew Simmons, Cedar Three Corps Members were apprehensive of the personal care aspect of the project because they had not had experience with it before but have accustomed to the process, "Everyone was nervous at first because it was something they had not done before, but they have been doing a great job. It's not easy work but it means so much to the campers and other counselors that they are getting this kind of help."

According to the Camp's Volunteer Director Shannon Poe, Cedar Three has been a big help, "They have been a great addition to the camp staff and they are wonderful with the campers. It's always great to have AmeriCorps NCCC come and help us out because we don't get as many volunteers as we would like to."

After serving as camp counselors, Cedar Three will travel back the main base in Vinton, Iowa to conclude their Corps year with a graduation date of November 17th.

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A news conference held this morning at the East Point Metro Facility, 1201 14th Avenue, East Moline, Illinois announced the establishment of a new foundation for the community of East Moline.

Chairman of the newly formed East Moline Foundation, Doug Reynolds said, "I grew up, went to school and had my business in East Moline. I want to give back to the community. This can be accomplished by creating a foundation. Other communities have a foundation...now East Moline will have one too. We have many needs that need to be answered." The group also announced a Leadership Challenge Grant of $108,000 that will match all gifts made to the East Moline Foundation in the next year. The amount of the fund signifies the 108 year old history of the City of East Moline as it was established in 1903.

Co-founder Ben Ryan, Jr. noted, "Many loyal East Moline natives toil at their life's work only to  find that, when finally successful, no entity is available for promotional or  charitable gifts specifically directed to East Moline.  An East Moline  Foundation will alleviate this short coming and fill a need long overdue for a city of our history and size."

At this morning's news conference, Bob Baecke said, "During the many years which East Moline has been incorporated as a city, there has never been a foundation established for charitable gifts.  We now have that opportunity and we are hopeful that the citizens of East Moline will join with us in making the East Moline Foundation a success for the future of our city."

East Moline attorney, Bill Phares, noted, "East Moline has, for many years, lacked a permanent organization to independently evaluate community goals and needs. We have needed a way to solicit contributions to fund programs to achieve those goals and meet those needs. The East Moline Foundation will serve as this permanent organization for the citizens of East Moline.

The East Moline Foundation will be led by an initial Board of Bob Baecke, Bill Phares, Ben Ryan, Jr. and Doug Reynolds. Other citizens will be encouraged to join the work and leadership of the East Moline Foundation. Donors and volunteers should contact: William Phares, P.O. Box 457, East Moline, IL 61244-0457 (309) 796-0170

Leaders also acknowledged the partnership with The Moline Foundation as the East Moline Foundation will be formed as an affiliate fund with their neighboring community foundation to the west.

The Moline Foundation Board Chairman Jon Tunberg said, "It's a special day for East Moline and Moline and one that will influence lives in our communities for years to come."

As a charitable foundation, The East Moline Foundation will offer a range of charitable funds, allowing donors to advance a cause such as education or the environment, support an individual organization, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants. The East Moline Foundation will provide funding to health, human services, education, community, workforce and economic development development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of East Moline and the surrounding area in the Illinois Quad Cities. The East Moline Foundation will receive and administer charitable gifts, grow an endowment fund, and handle additional funds to benefit donor wishes. It will also serve as a catalyst and convener to bring about solutions to problems affecting quality of life in the community.



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Stepping forth to kick off a new initiative in support of Niabi Zoo is a group of local businesses called the "Business Friends of Niabi Zoo." Over the next 12-18 months, participating businesses in the Iowa and Illinois Quad Cities will be coordinating individual promotions and efforts to raise funding towards the new elephant house.

As part of a recent accreditation inspection by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Niabi Zoo was asked to start having a stronger focus on renovating the home for the elephants. The proposed new structure is estimated to cost over $4 million, and Niabi Zoo has been relying on community members and organizations to help raise the needed funding.

Local company GCO Flooring is kicking off the "Business Friends" initiative. "We believe very strongly that giving back to our community is one of the most important things you can do as a business owner," said Shawn and Janelle Langan, co-owners of GCO Flooring. "That's what we teach our associates, children, and it truly is the foundation of how we run our business."

Throughout this initiative, GCO Flooring announced that they will spearhead this group's efforts by announcing a 5 percent donation of qualifying sales towards the elephant house initiative. Throughout the year GCO also plans to hold special sale weekends aimed specifically towards the elephant house.

Other members of the business community in the Quad Cities were also called on to consider joining this effort. President of Rock Island County Forest Preserve, Tom Rockwell, said, "We hope that this business group inspires other businesses on both sides of the river to support our local zoo."

Collectively, the participating businesses will work with the Niabi Zoological Society throughout the fundraising effort.

During a press conference on Thursday, October 6th, representatives from Rock Island County, Niabi Zoo, the Niabi Zoological Society, and the Convention & Visitors Bureau all spoke about the impact this effort can make.

"Initiatives like this are so important to keeping facilities like Niabi Zoo operating at the highest caliber possible," said Zoo Director Mark Ryan. "Community efforts like this do so much to gain support and awareness for our programming in the Quad Cities." 

The proposed new space for the zoo will be large enough to house up to four elephants, including special facilities to house a male. The new structure will enable Niabi Zoo to work towards getting a third elephant, and also have the capability to temporarily house an elephant should another zoo need assistance.

Throughout the coming months the progress of the Business Friends for Niabi Zoo will be shared and communicated with the Quad Cities community through releases, online and social media. Individual business events to support the fundraising effort will also be shared.

 

Businesses wishing to get more information about joining the "Business Friends of Niabi Zoo" are asked to contact TAG Communications, Inc.

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