USTA SERVES AWARDS MORE THAN $1 MILLON IN GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2010

 Year-End Grants Awarded to 33 Organizations Including United Neighbors in Davenport, Iowa

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., January 25, 2011 - USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the United States Tennis Association, announced today that it has awarded 33 year-end grants totaling $420,650.  Among the organizations recognized with a grant in the amount of $15,000 was United Neighbors in Davenport, Iowa.  The number of program grants awarded in 2010 was 59, for a total amount of $855,150.  Combined with scholarship awards, USTA Serves distributed more than $1 million in 2010.

The bi-annual grant process, a national initiative of USTA Serves, was developed to provide disadvantaged, at-risk children in underserved communities, as well as people with disabilities, the opportunity to learn to play tennis and improve their academic skills in a structured format, and also to help combat childhood obesity by promoting healthy lifestyles. To date, USTA Serves has disbursed more than $10 million in grants to a variety of programs that share those aims.

At funded program sites, children between the ages of 5-18 learn about healthy nutrition and lifestyles, responsible citizenship, study skills, and computer literacy. The grant recipients are chosen by a Grant Proposal Review Committee comprised of Foundation Board Members and USTA National staff, with important input from USTA Sections. They are awarded to programs that successfully combine tennis and education and help children pursue their goals and highest dreams by leading healthier lives, succeeding in school and becoming healthier citizens. New for 2010, USTA Serves has begun granting money to programs for children of deployed military personnel who are at particular risk for emotional and behavioral difficulties

Born from neighborhood action to revitalize Davenport's older neighborhoods, United Neighbors serves individuals and families in need through social and cultural interaction and educational experiences. It is neighborhood-controlled and assists primarily low-and moderate-income residents. USTA Serves grant funds will support the organization's afterschool and summer programming which provides a safe and healthy environment where children can play tennis and have access to computers.  Serving 250 children, United Neighbors youth programs empower youth to support and influence their community, sustain meaningful relationships with others, develop a positive self image, and respect their own and other's cultural identities. 

"USTA Serves is excited to continue investing financial and other resources to support organizations that believe in the powerful combination of tennis and education," said Deborah Slaner Larkin, Executive Director, USTA Serves. "We are proud of United Neighbor's expertise, commitment and passion, and commend the organization for making an impact in the lives of the people they serve."

A worship service for The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be held Sunday afternoon, January 23, 2011 at 4:00pm hosted by St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church at 916 E. Rusholme Street, Davenport, IA.

The theme for the 2011 celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is "One in the Apostle' Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread and Prayer". It comes from the Book of Acts chapter 2 verse 42.

It is generally held that the 1910 World Mission Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland marked the beginnings of the modern ecumenical movement.  Now 101 years later we continue to celebrate that the message of unity is still central to the Christian calling.  This worldwide celebration is sponsored and developed each year by the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute based in Garrison, NY.

The Quad City area planning committee is composed of both area Catholic and Protestant churches, including from Moline: First Congregational United Church of Christ and Hope United Church of Christ, from Rock Island: St. Pius X Catholic Church, St. James Lutheran Church ELCA, and 15th Avenue Christian Disciples of Christ; and from Davenport St. Paul the Apostle Catholic and Faith United Church of Christ; along with Churches United of the Quad City Area.

FEATURED SPEAKER

The speaker for this unity service will be the Rev. David Geenen, Pastor of 15th Avenue Christian Church, Rock Island.  Rev. Geenen is one of the younger members of the clergy in the Quad Cities and will bring that perspective as he looks at ecumenical involvement both that which has gone before since the 1910 World Mission Conference and looking ahead to what may be the future involvement of congregations and church bodies working as one to bring the message of justice and love to the world.  David is a 2007 graduate from Fuller Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Peace and Justice.  David is currently the Vice President of Quad Cities Interfaith and he serves on the National Board of Disciples Home Missions in Indianapolis.  He is also the Co-leader and founder of theplace2be - a faith-based as well as community services effort to create a safe haven for our communities' displaced/homeless youth.

Girl Scout Cookie sale time arrives in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois in the coming weeks with a new cookie, new environmentally friendly packaging and a new twist to the delivery process in some areas.

Always the buzz when a new Girl Scout Cookie arrives, this year's new addition is called the Shout Out. This classic little treat is a light and crisp Belgian-style caramelized cookie that is perfect with a cup of coffee or tea in the afternoon or with milk as a bedtime snack.

Shout Outs have no artificial colors, zero trans fat per servicing and no hydrogenated oil. In addition, this cookie has no high fructose corn syrup and no artificial preservatives. Most will agree that this is a delicious, yet sensibly sweet treat and a great addition to the Girl Scout Cookie lineup.

Also new this year, is new packaging for the Thanks-A-Lot cookie. The package doesn't use paperboard, just a wrapper around the plastic container holding the cookies. Through a nationwide project to change this packaging, 150 tons of paperboard and countless trees will be saved through the initiative. Also, about 35,000 gallons of gasoline will be saved from transporting the smaller cookie packages, which will hold the same amount of cookies as last year.

Something else new to this year's Girl Scout Cookie sale in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois is a trial project to see how direct sales work in the council's territory. A total of 25 Girl Scout troops have been chosen to participate in the test to determine whether it works better to conduct door-to-door sales of cookies, as opposed to order-taking and then delivery as done in the past.

While most Girl Scouts will be going door to door to take orders for cookies from Friday, Jan. 14 to Sunday, Jan. 30, girls in the 25 troops participating in the direct sales pilot will be able to sell cookies on the spot to those homes they visit.

Like last year, your local Girl Scouts will offer you an opportunity to support the annual sale without having to purchase cookies for yourself, if that is your preference. You can donate delicious Girl Scout Cookies to our military soldiers through the Troop 2 Troop program. Last year, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois gave 15,000 boxes of cookies to Iowa's Bravest and River Bend Troop Support for distribution to soldiers from Iowa and Illinois. That number was up from the 4,400 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies shipped from the region in 2009.

Iowa's Bravest, of Waterloo, Iowa, supports Iowa soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They helped ship cookies to 550 different troops last year. River Bend Troop Support, of Baldwin, Iowa, sends care packages to Iowa and Illinois soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, too. Cookies for soldiers is possible thanks to the generosity of those who elect to assist Girl Scouts in the initiative.

Girl Scouts taking orders for cookies also can donate boxes to local organizations selected by girls such as food pantries. Persons who don't wish to purchase cookies for themselves or as gifts have the option for them to be donated by their local Girl Scout troop to organizations in their own community.

Cookies also offer Girl Scouts the ability to raise funds to send girls to life-changing experiences at summer resident camp when they can't afford to attend or help fly older girls to Washington, D.C., for a tour of our nation's capital and perhaps have one of them return one day as a senator or congresswoman.

Nevertheless, Girl Scout Cookies offer that great familiar taste year after year - from the top-selling Girl Scout Thin Mint to the popular Caramel deLite - but they also allow you to help contribute funds for the premier leadership program for girls. No other program offers girls so much in developing courage, confidence and character - and it all starts with a box of cookies. Every cookie has a mission - to help girls do great things.

Girl Scout Cookies are the ultimate comfort food and are a family tradition, with many purchasing multiple boxes every year to enjoy not only their favorites and new cookies year after year, but also to support girls in our communities.

As simple as the cookie is, the snack offers Girl Scouts the funds needed to provide highly touted programming that offers a life-changing experience during their girlhood. Proceeds from cookie sales fund activities of individual troops as well as Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, including financial assistance for girls to participate in events, program fees, volunteer recruitment and training and maintenance of four camp properties.

Girl Scout Cookies have been an American tradition for more than 90 years - and for good reason.

"When you purchase Girl Scout Cookies, you get a great tasting product and you support the premier leadership program for girls," Diane T. Nelson, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Iowa said. "Because all Girl Scout programs such as cookie sale activities are girl-driven, girls make their own decisions and run the sale with the help of adult volunteers. Cookies are one of the reasons why Girl Scouting is successful at building leadership."

Girl Scout Cookies are sold door to door in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois from Friday, Jan. 14 through Sunday, Jan. 30. Through the spring, Girl Scout troops will be selling cookies at booths set up in areas such as department stores and shopping centers. If you wish to purchase cookies and have not been called on by Jan. 30, look for cookie booths in your community (posted on the council's Web site at GirlScoutsToday.com) or call Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois toll-free at 800-798-0833 to be connected with a local troop.

Girl Scout Cookies have long been a major fund-raiser for girls and their troops, and is an integral part of Girl Scouting's business and economic literacy initiative for girls ages 5-17. The program provides finance, marketing and public speaking skills as well as valuable experiences that develop girls' personal leadership style.

Through the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program, girls manage inventory, set goals, learn money management and develop marketing skills. For more information on Girl Scout Cookies, check the Web at GirlScoutsToday.com or call Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois at 800-798-0833.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serves 20,000 girls ages 5-17 with 4,500 adult volunteers in 31 counties in Eastern Iowa and seven counties in Western Illinois.

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December 27, 2011 - If completing an endurance sporting event is on your life-list then The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training® (TNT) is for you. TNT is recruiting participants now for a summer season of marathons, half marathons, triathlons, 100-mile (century) bicycle rides or hike adventures.

TNT, the leading endurance sports charity training program, provides four to five months of personalized fitness training by certified coaches and the opportunity to be part of a supportive team. Participants come from all walks of life–from novice to seasoned athlete.

The Iowa Chapter is recruiting teams now to participate in summer events, such as the Capital of Texas Triathlon in Austin, Texas, Ojai Valley Century Ride in California, Dam to Dam in Des Moines, Iowa, Rock N' Roll San Diego Marathon and Half Marathon in San Diego, California, and Mayor's Marathon and Half Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska. Learn more at an information meeting being held on: January 18th at the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center in Davenport at 6:00 PM.

In addition to weekly training sessions under the guidance of a certified coach, TNT offers clinics on nutrition, equipment, injury prevention and safety. Participants are also given tools to help them fundraise. LLS arranges airfare and lodging to send participants to the event of their choice.

And if you're looking for a program to fit your busy schedule, now there's TNT Flex, a flexible, customized, online training option developed by TNT's renowned coaches.

"TNT provides a supportive environment to help you accomplish your goals," said executive director, Melanie Brown. "Helping fund lifesaving research will become your motivation, and knowing that your efforts are paying off by helping others will make you feel great."

For additional TNT information, call the Iowa Chapter at 319.693.9948; or visit: www.teamintraining.org/ia.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.