Davenport, Iowa - August 7, 2009 - Accomplishing your goals can be a difficult task but for USA Powerlifter Deborah Ferrell, overcoming obstacles is a skill that has given her world-wide recognition.  On Thursday, August 13, at 1:30pm, Ferrell will share her story with the Quad City community at a free public speaking event.

This 45-year old is a 4-time Master's World's Bench Press Champion and Champ of Champions.  She currently holds the Open and Master's world record in single lift bench press and is a 4-time Open World Bench Press Champion.  She is in the Quad Cities to help Palmer College of Chiropractic celebrate their 2009 homecoming and will participate in a free community presentation on goal setting, overcoming obstacles and achieving your personal best.

Deborah lives in Anchorage, Alaska and is a collections manager for GCI Communications.  She began lifting in 1996 and her best competition bench press is 420 lbs.  One of her motivations for success - being drug free.  She has been recognized by fellow lifters as the first drug-free female to bench over 400 lbs.

"When you think of powerlifting many think of it as a man's sport but Deborah along with her fellow female bench press athletes are changing that mind-set," said Jan Trimble, Executive Director of the North Family YMCA. "We are very excited to be able to share her inspirational story with our YMCA members, area athletes and the community at large.  Anyone looking for a way to discover the power within will not be disappointed."

Deborah will share here unique story and talk about her success in this physically and mentally challenging sport at 1:30pm, on Thursday, August 13, at the Paul Holzworth Auditorium, at Davenport North High School, 626 West 53^rd Street, Davenport.  This free community event is sponsored by Palmer College of Chiropractic, the North Family YMCA and Davenport Community School District.

The YMCA: A Long-Standing Commitment to Health of Spirit, Mind and Body

The Scott County Family Y is one of the area's largest community service organizations.  Serving more than 2-million people in 2008, the Scott County Family Y offers a variety of programs and services focused on the holistic development of children and youth, family strengthening and health and well-being for all.  The YMCA unites men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels - proudly serving the Quad Cities for nearly 150 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all. For more information visit the Scott County Family Y website, www.scottcountyfamilyy.org.

WHO: Hy-Vee Food Stores, Hormel and the Scott County Family Y

WHAT: 2009 Kids Triathlon

WHEN: Saturday, June 6. Opening Ceremonies - 8am. Race Starts - 9am. Post-Race Party and Closing Ceremonies after the last event.

WHERE: North Family YMCA, 624 West 53rd Street, Davenport, IA. (563.391.7771)

WHY: The Scott County Family Y is please to be the host the 2nd Annual Hy-Vee/Hormel Kids Triathlon. This USA Triathlon sanctioned event is geared towards supporting the next generation of Olympic and features swimming, biking and running competitions for children between the ages of 7 and 14. This event is expected to draw more than 200 children from across Iowa and Illinois and is the largest venue in the region. Hy-Vee/Hormel Kids Triathlons have taken place or will be happening in Omaha, Kansas City, Sioux City and Rochester. Proceeds from the Quad Cities event will benefit the Quad Cities YMCAs.

U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team member - Jarrod Shoemaker will be attending this year's event. Jarrod is currently ranked 1st in the United States and 9th in World. He recently finished 12 in the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series Madrid on May 31.

Davenport, IA & Moline, IL - May 15, 2009 – As part of the new Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Outreach Initiative, The Scott County Family Y and the Two Rivers YMCA also known as the Quad Cities YMCAs, are providing military families with access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and well-being programs at community YMCAs nationwide. Membership fees will be underwritten by the DoD and administered through Military OneSource, an information and referral service for military families. YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for America's 2,686 YMCAs, will help launch the initiative at participating YMCAs across the country.

"The Quad Cities YMCAs are happy to help meet the critical needs facing families of deployed military service members," said Tony Calabrese, Chief Operating Officer for the Scott County Family Y. "Families are the most affected when a loved one gets deployed, so we are deeply committed to providing them with the support they need."

The ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative responds to a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to support military family readiness and to ensure that military family readiness programs and activities are available to all military families, including those of the National Guard and Military Reservists.

Eligible military families participating in the initiative are eligible for YMCA memberships based on participation requirements. Those eligible to participate in the new initiative include :

• All interested families of joint deployed National Guard and Reserves of all military branches;

• Families living in newly established Joint Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) bases;

• Active Duty Independent Duty station personnel and their families; and

• Relocated spouses and family members of deployed Active Duty personnel.

"The YMCA has a long history of supporting military service members and their families - since the Civil War - so it was natural for us to join this initiative," said Mike Wennekamp, Associate Executive Director of the Two Rivers YMCA. "During this time of conflict, it is more important than ever that we continue providing services and support to these families in the absence of a deployed spouse."

More information about the ASYMCA-DoD Outreach Initiative can be found by visiting www.asymca.org. For information about participating YMCAs, please visit www.ScottCountyFamilyY.org or www.TwoRiversYMCA.org or www.ymca.net.