For Alex Johnson, the annual fireworks display over Lake Matherville this past July felt more celebratory than ever. The village of Matherville, in northeast Mercer County, had wrapped up a variety of improvements to the lake area just in time for thousands of spectators to gather for the holiday—a project Johnson had spearheaded as one of the town’s five trustees. “We asked ourselves, ‘What can we do to promote our town and benefit people?’” said Johnson, who is also assistant principal of Sherrard High School. “The lake is one of our unique features, something a lot of communities... Read More

As every member of the Illowa Council knows, a Boy Scout always leaves his campsite in better shape than he found it. According to Mark Schwiebert, a former Eagle Scout and the founder of the Mark W. Schwiebert Fund for Environmental Studies at the Quad Cities Community Foundation, that principle extends across the planet we call home. “Ask yourself: what do you want to leave behind for those who come after you?” Schwiebert’s own answer to that question helped lead him to establish the Schwiebert Fund, which since 2016 has made annual grants to Quad Cities nonprofits that educate the community... Read More