23 Aug 2010

YOUNKERS KICKS OFF FUNDRAISER

By Christine Hojnacki

COMMUNITY DAY REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

www.communitydayevent.com

MILWAUKEE, WI. (August 19, 2010) - Younkers announced that its semi-annual Community Day event will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2010.  Non-profit groups may sign up now at www.communitydayevent.com to request event booklets and begin selling  to raise funds for their organization.   The savings booklets are to be used on Community Day.

Successful organizations have raised thousands of dollars by participating in this event.  View testimonials on www.communitydayevent.com and find out first-hand what groups are saying about their success and learn more about how non-profits can benefit from this event. In 2009, over $10 million was raised by participating nonprofit organizations through the Community Day events.

Eligible Community Day organizations include local 501C-3 nonprofit organizations and schools.  Non-profit groups sell savings booklets for $5 and, in return, the purchaser receives a $10 off coupon with virtually no exclusions. Plus seven additional coupons as well as exclusive online savings and Bonus Buy offers on Saturday, November 13.  The organization keeps 100% of the $5 donation.

"Providing this fundraising opportunity is extremely important to our company," said Bud Bergren, president and chief executive officer of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. "The event provides non-profits groups with the resources to raise funds which support the community and fulfill their mission."

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 278 stores, including 11 furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates and, under the Parisian nameplate, stores in the Detroit, Michigan area. The stores offer a broad assortment of brand-name fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings.

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16 Aug 2010

Student Hunger Drive's Corporate Challenge August 16th thru August 28th

By Rick Martin

This will be the third year that Ryan Companies has been the presenting sponsor for the Student Hunger Drive's Corporate Challenge. "The Corporate Challenge is a great opportunity for the business community to be a role model in community awareness that the students can look to as they prepare to kick off the Student Hunger Drive in their schools," said Greg Lundgren, President of Ryan Companies, USA, Inc. The Quad City Area high school students will kick off their hunger drives at the end of September.

The John Deere Foundation will help the Student Hunger Drive celebrate its 25 year anniversary. The Corporate Challenge Hunger Drive addresses a pressing problem in the Quad Cities region," says John Bustle, Vice President, John Deere Foundation. "It is a great way for all companies and businesses in our region to support our citizens.

A John Deere Foundation grant of up to $25,000 has been approved for this initiative, extending our support for the River Bend Food Bank, which includes the development and funding of BackPack programs in elementary schools, and individual capacity-building grants to help it meet the increasing demand for its services."

Companies participating are: Alternatives for the Older Adult, American Rental Association, Alcoa, Bettendorf Family YMCA, City of Davenport, Deloitte, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Eye Surgeons Associates PC, Gere Dismer Architects, Isabel Bloom LLC, Java Java, Junior Achievement of the Heartland Inc, Lujack's Northpark Auto Plaza, McLaughlin Body Co., McLaughlin Motors, Mel Foster Company, Midland Corporation, Quad City Times, Ruhl &Ruhl Commercial, Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors, Ryan Companies US Inc, Sam's Club, Snyder Park & Nelson PC, The National Bank, Trissel Graham & Toole, United Way of the Quad Cities Area, Weiss Family Chiropractic, Wells Fargo Bank and Walgreens.

"Demand for our services is at an unprecedented high", said Tom Laughlin, Executive Director of River Bend Food Bank. "The Corporate Challenge is a great way for the business community to join us in our daily battle against hunger". River Bend Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organization in the Quad City area with an annual distribution of over 6 million pounds of food through a distribution network of 300 feeding programs in 22 counties.

"The Corporate Challenge has been a natural progression from the students that were initially involved in the Student Hunger Drive to becoming vital leaders in our community and carrying on the passion of volunteerism and giving back to their neighbors in need," said Sarah Johnson, Student Hunger Drive Advisory Board Member.

"I am confident that this group of enthusiastic businesses will be successful in reaching our 50,000 pound goal to receive the generous $25,000 award from The John Deere Foundation," says Amy Pearson, Corporate Challenge Director for the Student Hunger Drive.

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09 Aug 2010

No-limit Texas Hold'em Tournament Fund-raiser

By Russ Scott

The Veterans Outreach Program in Moline is hosting a no-limit Texas Hold'em Tournament to raise money for its job-placement services and other assistance provided to local U.S. military veterans and their families.

The tournament is set for Saturday, Aug. 21, at American Legion Post 246, 1623 15th St., Moline. Action begins at 1 p.m., but players will be called to their seats at 12:50 p.m. The champion will receive a $400 gift card and all final-table competitors will win a prize.

Buy-in is $40, with one optional $20 rebuy. Registration opens at noon for walk-ins; all players 18 and older are welcome. Seating is limited to the first 140 players. Tournament director is Russ Scott, "LuckyDog Poker" syndicated columnist.

To pre-register or to volunteer as a non-playing dealer, contact Paul Herrera at 309-797-7950, at vopmoline@yahoo.com, or at the VOP office, 163 4th Ave., Moline.

The Veterans Outreach Program in Moline invites you to a

TEXAS HOLD'EM TOURNAMENT!

Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010

American Legion Post 246

1623 15th Street, Moline, IL
1 p.m. start; Players called to their seats at 12:50 p.m.

To pre-register or to volunteer as a non-playing dealer, call Paul Herrera at 309.797.7950 or contact the VOP at vopmoline@yahoo.com, 163 4th Ave., Moline

Registration opens at Noon for walk-ins, seating limited to first 140 players; Don't get shut out!

All players 18 and older are welcome!

Buy-in: $40, with one optional $20 rebuy anytime before the first break
Format: No-Limit Texas Hold'em

Tournament Director: Russ Scott, "LuckyDog Poker" syndicated columnist

A $400 gift card will be awarded to the Champion!

All final table competitors win prizes!

Join the fun, compete for prizes and help raise money for the Veterans Outreach Program, Moline, which assists U.S. military veterans

03 Aug 2010

Living Lands & Waters Celebrates Thirteen Years with Barge Party

By Natalie Linville-Mass

Living Lands & Waters (LL&W) will host its annual Barge Party at the Lake Davenport Sailing Club on River Drive and Oneida Avenue in Davenport on Thursday, August 12 from 5:30p.m.to 9:00 p.m.  Chad Pregracke and his Living Lands & Waters' staff and crew will be on hand to celebrate thirteen years of river cleanups, environmental education workshops, river forest restoration projects, engaging communities in river stewardship.  During these thirteen years, Pregracke has been the recipient of many awards including the Jefferson Award, American Institute for Public Service; Heroes of Conservation Nomination, Field & Stream Magazine and The Alumni Award and Dedication of The Pregracke Center at Heartland Community College in Normal Illinois.

Those in attendance will enjoy a true river feast with a fish fry & shrimp boil next to the beautiful Mississippi River. The LL&W crew will give tours of the house and garbage barges and host a meet and greet where attendees can meet members of the LL&W crew.  There will also be a silent art auction, live music and a few words from Chad Pregracke and his crew to update you on the progress that has been made this year. "This event allows us to thank the Quad Cities and its residents for all that they do to help us in continuing to make the rivers a cleaner place.  It all makes a difference and everyone should be thanked and rewarded," says Chad Pregracke, Founder & President of Living Lands & Waters. Tickets for the event are $35 per person. Reservations can be made by calling the office at (309) 496-9848 or going to their website at www.livinglandsandwaters.org.

Chad Pregracke started Living Lands & Waters in 1998 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the beautification and restoration of America's major rivers and to the education of people about environmental issues. From his single boat beginning, LL&W has grown to an internationally known organization with a fleet of barges and workboats, engaging thousands of volunteers each year in river cleanups, hands-on environmental education workshops, the Great Mississippi River Cleanup, Adopt-a- River-Mile programs and the Million Trees Project. "This thank you and fundraiser is a perfect example of how much momentum and teamwork has helped this project progress.  We have supporters flying in from all over the country to celebrate what we have accomplished so far", says Pregracke.  
29 Jul 2010

Pregracke Receives Nomination from Dirtiest Jobs host, Mike Rowe

By Natalie

River Cleanup Crusader in Final 10 for "Hardest Working _____ in America" Contest

Pregracke Receives Nomination from Dirtiest Jobs host, Mike Rowe

East Moline, IL - July 22, 2010 - Chad Pregracke, President & Founder of Living Lands & Waters, a Quad City-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to cleaning up the Mississippi River, has been nominated as the  "Hardest Working Do-Gooder in America" by Discovery Channel star, Mike Rowe.

The contest is sponsored by Mitchum Deodorant and designed to find, highlight and reward the hardest working man or woman in the country. Contestants submitted videos to the campaign's site and the winner of the contest will be selected by the American public through on-line voting.   To view the contestants and vote for Pregracke, visit the Mitchum website at mitchumhardestworking.com, select "Meet the Finalists", and click on "Chad Pregracke" and then "I Vote for Chad".  On-line voting will continue through August 15, with one vote per day, per computer allowed.

"This guy has given his life to cleaning up our rivers, getting dirty and loving every minute of it.  Let's do everything we can to help keep him happy and get him some much needed money," says Mike Rowe.

Since starting Living Lands & Waters in 1998 at the age of 23, Pregracke has worked tirelessly to clean up the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and over a dozen other major rivers.  He, his crew, and over 60,000 volunteers have removed over 6 million pounds of debris including over 60,000 tires, 5,000 barrels, 1,200 refrigerators, cars, trucks, and more.  His organization has helped plant over 200,000 native trees and has taught over 10,000 students and teachers about the value and importance of our rivers.

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26 Jul 2010

Iowa Farm Bureau Members Now Eligible for First-Ever, Exclusive Morton Building Discount

By Laurie Johns

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA -July 23, 2010--The nation's leader in post-frame storage construction is offering its first-ever discount, exclusively to Farm Bureau members in Iowa.

This partnership means Farm Bureau members now qualify for a $500 discount on all Morton buildings, including the company's new Country Craft series, or a $1,000 discount on buildings that include Morton's Energy Performer package. It's not just farmers who have counted on Morton buildings for generations; the company's building offerings also include hobby shops, garages, horse barns, homes and commercial buildings. The Illinois-based company operates more than 100 construction centers and has sales offices in 36 states. Morton Buildings has custom-constructed thousands of buildings a year since it entered the machine storage building industry in 1949. "We have nearly 500,000 satisfied customers and share many common values with Farm Bureau members and the state's proud agricultural history," says Morton Buildings, Inc. President Jeffrey Neihouser. "We employ hardworking Iowans to represent our company and carry out our mission of providing value to our customers. We look forward to partnering with Farm Bureau and contributing to its mission of helping the residents of Iowa," says Neihouser.

To receive the Morton Building discount, Farm Bureau members must present their Farm Bureau membership card. For more information on the exclusive membership benefit discount, go to the Iowa Farm Bureau website at www.iowafarmbureau.com or call the Iowa Farm Bureau member hotline toll-free at (866) 598-3693. For more information on Morton Buildings, Inc. visit the company's website at www.mortonbuildings.com or call Morton toll-free at (800) 447-7436.

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19 Jul 2010

A German Tradition Comes to the Quad Cities at the German American Heritage Center on Sunday July 25th.

By Kathryn Seyfarth

DAVENPORT, IOWA (July 16, 2010) - Julie Wall of Trinity Lutheran School is bringing a German Tradition to the Quad Cities with German School Cones. The event will be held at the German American Heritage Center on July 25th at 2:00 PM. Cost is free with museum admission and free for museum members.

Since the early 19th century, the rite of passage for children in German speaking areas as they entered formal schooling was celebrated with the gifting of School Cones (Schultuten). Julie Wall is the artist in residence at Trinity Lutheran School and is working with her students to bring this tradition to the Quad Cities. School Cones are also referred to as Zuckeruete meaning sweet cone. In Germany, children attend the first day with their parents and grandparents, often dressed in their best outfit. The older students put on a performance followed by an short introduction, class photographs, and individual photographs with the children's school cones. School Cones are made with paper and ribbon and often times end up being as tall as the child. They can be filled with small gifts, school supplies, and plenty of candy and chocolate. Join us on Sunday, July 25th and make your child a traditional German School Cone to make their first day of school bitter sweet.

For more information on the museum's exhibits, programs, events, classes, and workshops, visit www.gahc.org or call 563-322-8844. General Admission is: Adults: $5; Seniors: $4; Children (5-17 years old): $3; Free for children under 5. Museums members are free. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturday open 10 am- 4 pm; Sunday open 12 pm- 4 pm.

-END-

13 Jul 2010

Churches United at the Freight House Farmers' Market

By Jeff Ignatius

This Saturday, July 17th, representatives from Churches United of the Quad City Area will have an informational booth at the Freight House Farmers' Market, downtown Davenport.  The booth will be open from 8am until 1pm, the usual Saturday hours for the Farmers' Market.  The booth will be located inside the market building, near the patio side entrance.

Churches United would like this opportunity to "Raise Awareness" - to educate and inform the general public about the programs, resources and services provided to the community by our organization.

Hunger Ministries

  • 26 area food pantries

  • 3 meal sites

  • Souper Bowl of Caring

  • C.R.O.P. Walk

Shelter Ministries

  • Winnie's Place for women

Jail Ministries

CareLINK

Week of Christian Unity

Festival of Thanksgiving

Yom HaShoah

Pacem in Terris Award

For more information on Churches United, please contact us (309)786-6494 or visit www.cuqca.org.

12 Jul 2010

Family Treks 3,333 Miles in Fundraising Effort for Shriners Hospitals for Children®

By KAABA Shriners

Willard White and family friend Sklyar Zesch are in the midst of a 3,333 mile trek. They are pedaling from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean to raise money and awareness for Shriners Hospitals for Children®. Willard says he hopes the three-month trip will raise at least $10,000. White's wife Laura and their daughters are following the pair in a van filled with supplies.

Willard and family will be in Davenport on Friday, July 16th.  They will be on Paula Sands Live at 4:30pm on KWQC-TV 6.

Each the White's three adopted daughters has a complicated medical history which required either life-saving or life-altering care. Now, White is charting his own expedition to thank the hospital that made that care possible.

"I am pedaling several million times to raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children® to give back for all they have done for my family and many others," he said.

The Whites credit Shriners Hospitals for Children® ? Salt Lake City Chief of Staff Jacques D'Astous, M.D., with saving the life of their oldest daughter Marcela. When she arrived in the U.S. from a Bolivian orphanage, the 12-year-old had severe scoliosis. Laura White says her daughter's spinal deformity had progressed to the point it was compressing down on her lungs, "If they hadn't put the rod in her back, she would have died in her twenties. Shriners Hospitals for Children® gave her a chance to live."

Marcela experienced complications during her 22-hour spine surgery due to another rare and undetected condition. As a result, she underwent another twelve surgeries within two weeks. The Whites say Dr. D'Astous stuck with them throughout.

"I've never been around such compassionate care," Willard said. "I just remember him crying and hugging me. It was a miracle he got her to pull through."

Marcela was never expected to walk, but after months of intense physical therapy and years of hard work, she can now walk with a crutch. At age 22 she is a happy newlywed and animation major at Brigham Young University.

The Whites also adopted two other girls. Baya has cerebral palsy and has received surgery and therapy at Shriners Hospitals for Children®. A third daughter, Faith, sustained a brain injury before birth that causes her to walk on her toes. The hospital system has helped her by providing physical therapy and orthotics.

Willard logs 50 - 60 miles a day on his bike. Along the way he shares his story about the expert pediatric orthopaedic care his daughters received at Shriners Hospitals for Children®.

Willard and Skylar are expected to reach Coney Island in August. You can follow their progress at http://inspirationroad.blogspot.com/ and donate through the White's personal fundraising page, which is on the Shriners Hospitals for Children®  website at http://support.shrinershospitals.org/site/TR/Events/General?pxfid=1090&fr_id=1030&pg=fund .

To create your own personal fundraising page to support the life-changing care provided by Shriners Hospitals for Children®, visit www.donate2shc.org/personalfundraising.

01 Jul 2010

German Fest - Milwaukee's Original HAUS party!

By Rick Martin

Join the German American Heritage Center for a day trip to the German Fest in Milwaukee on July 24

DEADLINE  TO SIGN UP IS JULY 13!

Date: July 24, 2010 (Day trip)

Time: 7:55 a.m. - 8:50 p.m.
(Bus departs/returns at the German American Heritage Center)

Cost:

Nonmembers: Adults: $68; Seniors and Students: $65

Members: Adults: $58; Seniors and Students: $55

Direct from Germany, the German Showcase features an amazing group of entertainers who will be performing every day throughout the grounds! Relax with a beer and sausage in the Beer Garden on the ground's North end - sing along or listen to favorite German drinking songs! Visit the South end of the grounds for carnival games, rides and other activities! Don't leave the festival grounds without trying a "Currywurst," a bratwurst with a decadent curry sauce, or a "Saucisschen," an 18" pork sausage curled and served on a stick! Also, for the first time Saz's will be offering a traditional Friday Night Fish Fry on the grounds.

TO SIGN UP:
To reserve your spot for the trip, call 563-322-8844. We encourage you to register soon, as space is limited.

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