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.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center plans a $3.6 million expansion and renovation to the center this year. $3.3 million has been raised and $300,000 is still needed. Find out the details of the project at our news conference on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 10 am at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, community room, 630 Martin Luther King Drive, Rock Island.

The King Center is been a resource for youth and families in the Quad Cities to nurture dreams, build community, and change lives. In 35 years, the King Center programs have evolved to meet the needs of the community but the building has not changed.

This project will allow the enhancement of afterschool activities, job training, mentoring, community services, and others. The design will allow for 200 youth to be served daily onsite along with over 250 adults. The facility will be flexible to meet a variety of needs and offer a revitalized resource to the community.

As part of Pepsi's "Refresh the World" campaign, a $10,000 check will be presented to Churches United of the Quad City Area. This PRESS CONFERENCE/ presentation will be held on Friday, June 11th at 10 am in the A. D. Huesing Corporate Offices, 527 - 37th Avenue, Rock Island IL.

Pepsi's "Refresh the World" campaign allowed distributers throughout the country to nominate a local organization to support, in their efforts of making a positive change in their own communities.  When A.D. Huesing saw Food & Shelter was one of the categories, they immediately thought of Churches United of the Quad City Area (Churches United).  Over 150,000 meals were provided last year alone through Churches United's 26 food pantries and 3 hot meal sites.  A.D Huesing also saw the big difference Winnie's Place woman's shelter made in the area providing help for women with, or without, children who are homeless or domestic violence victims.  Because of Churches United's commitment, A.D. Huesing submitted the paperwork and the Pepsi Corporation agreed to match their $5,000 donation.

The $10,000 check will be presented to Churches United at the press conference on Friday.    A.D. Huesing's Chief Executive Officer, Denise Ormsby, said "Churches United is so broad based and does so much in the community, we thought it would be a good fit."

According to Office Manager Jo Cohrs "This couldn't come at a better time, the needs for our emergency funds, food and services have doubled in the last year.  We can't thank A.D. Huesing and Pepsi enough for this wonderful gift".

The check presentation will begin at 10 am with Bud Helpenstell, Chairman of the Board of A.D. Huesing and Mike Evers, COO of   A. D. Huesing. Representing Churches United will be Executive Director Ronald Quay as well as Rev. Brian Fischer, President of Churches United's Board of Directors.  Mrs. Cohrs is inviting the community to check out their new You Tube video on their website (www.cuqca.org) to see the tremendous need and extensive services that are provided by this nearly 50 year old organization known now as Churches United.

DAVENPORT, IA (06/02/2010)(readMedia)-- Local youth leader Chantell Lamont, Davenport, received an award recently for making a difference in the Quad Cities. The QC (Quality and Commitment) Award, given by the Council on Community Services of the Quad Cities (CCSQC), recognized Lamont's work with foster youth through Children & Families of Iowa's Elevate program.

The CCSQC is a coalition of nonprofit organizations operating throughout the Quad Cities Area. Elevate is a support group for foster youth, ages 13 and up, that meets regularly to improve the lives of youth in state care.

CCSQC selection committee chair Kathryn Griffith, R.N, M.S., explains why Lamont's nomination drew the committee's attention and ultimately won her the award, "The nomination was very well done. It was obvious that she [Lamont] goes above and beyond. She is committed to making better citizens out of these youth who've had some really tough brakes and that's great for our community."

Lamont was nominated in the Outstanding Individual category by Amy Hartog and Libbet Brooke, health educators at the Edgerton Women's Health Center, located in Davenport. Hartog, a frequent guest speaker at Elevate meetings, educates youth on a variety of health-related topics. "We nominated Chantell for providing quality and commitment to the children in the Elevate program in the Quad Cities area, and she won. We are ecstatic! She is very deserving. We saw firsthand how well she interacts and communicates with these kids. She is a great mentor and role model and helps them make better choices for their futures. Chantell is someone who has been through the system [state foster care], has thrived and has been successful at making a great life for herself," says Hartog.

The majority of youth who reach adulthood while in foster care do not get the chance to develop critical life skills - skills that enable others their age to succeed. Without consistent role models to demonstrate financial management, job preparedness or the basics of personal health, these teens have had to focus on surviving, rather than thriving. According to the Iowa Department of Human Services, a little more than half of those who "age out" will graduate from high school within four years of release from care. By this same four-year mark, fewer than 20 percent will be able to support themselves financially.

In light of these alarming odds, Children & Families of Iowa and the Department of Human Services began Elevate in 2005. The program's mission is to transition foster youth into independent adults and self-advocates who can successfully educate others about the child welfare system.

"We think Elevate is an awesome and much-needed program, and we hope to see more chapters open up across the state," adds Hartog.

Lamont echoes that sentiment. "I'm truly honored and grateful for this award. I view this as a great opportunity to gain exposure and connections in the community for Elevate. I hope that Elevate keeps growing and gains the support needed to open chapters in more communities, reach more youth and continue to make a difference the way we have been.'"

There are currently 10 chapters of Elevate located in the following communities: Ames, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Storm Lake and Waterloo. The Davenport Elevate group meets from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of month at the Annie Wittenmyer Complex, 2800 Eastern Ave., Cottage 13. For more information or to volunteer, you can contact Chantell Lamont at 563-381-3741 or chantell.elevate@hotmail.com.

Children & Families of Iowa is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring hope, building futures and changing lives throughout Iowa. With offices in Ankeny, Centerville, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown and Osceola, Children & Families of Iowa is restoring hope for victims of domestic violence, helping teens find their futures, creating safe homes for children, preparing children to succeed and helping people reshape their lives. Last year, Children & Families of Iowa served more than 21,000 individuals in all of Iowa's 99 counties.

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