Western Illinois University sophomore Kanika Palecanda, of Laramie, WY, and sophomore Madalynn Boyd, of Plymouth, IL, have been awarded this year’s Elkin-Larkin Award, given to outstanding students in the University Advising program. Palecanda and Boyd were chosen for the awards based on their outstanding academic background and their University involvement. They were each awarded $250 for the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters and their names will be added to a permanent plaque in the First Year Advising Center. The award is given in honor of the late Robert Elkin and the late Jeanne Larkin,... Read More

The Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) has announced 2021 Core Grant awards to United Way of the Quad Cities and Lead(h)er, for programs that help young girls and women. The grants are among $100,000 to 13 organizations across the state – raising the total granted to over $1.1 million since the program began in 1997. IWF works to improve the lives of Iowa’s women and girls. Grants are awarded to projects that focus primarily on serving the needs and aspirations of women and girls. Six specific areas have been identified as the most critical barriers for Iowa women and girls: employment, child... Read More

Twenty-seven nonprofits were awarded just over $470,000 in grants from the Quad Cities Community Foundation’s Coordinated Field of Interest Grant Program. The grant program includes awards from 10 funds made possible by donors at the Quad Cities Community Foundation. Nine of the organizations received grants that will be awarded for two consecutive years. “It is always a great day at the Quad Cities Community Foundation, especially when we get to see the tremendous impact donor contributions have on nonprofits in our region who are engaging in work—from the arts to basic human needs,” said... Read More

Local cornbread aficionado Aiden Landman has been gifted with a golden honor. According to an excited and tasty post on Landman’s Facebook just moments ago, he was nominated by the NCCBA (National Council for Cornbread Awareness) for the 10 day favorite cornbread image challenge. Landman is the first Quad-Citian (that we’re aware of) to be nominated for the prestigious national award. In terms of food-related awards and image challenges, he follows in the footsteps of Tristan Tapscott, who was nominated for the 10 day favorite mojito challenge, Khalil Hacker, who was nominated for the... Read More

A strong sense of altruism and a desire to help his community has driven Sean Counihan throughout his life, and it’s led to him receiving the 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award from Local Union 25 Plumbers and Pipefitters. Counihan will be honored for his community efforts in putting on multiple career fairs and outreach programs to help recruit students into the skilled trades during the Local 25 Awards Banquet in February. A third-year apprentice with Local Union 25, Counihan moved to Rock Island three years ago from Boston, where he was a transportation coordinator for special needs children.... Read More

Nahant Marsh will host the 2nd Annual Oberholtzer Awards on Saturday, February 29 from 9:00am-12:00pm at the Bend Event Center, 910 Bend Blvd., East Moline, IL.  The event will include brunch, an awards ceremony, live auction, raffles, and more.  This year’s keynote speaker is Doug Peacock, a Vietnam veteran and author of Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness.  The Oberholtzer Awards were started to recognize local people who have dedicated their lives (or will dedicate their lives) to protecting our natural world.  Often times, these people go unnoticed or have been largely... Read More