In conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Ascentra Credit Union and its foundation, the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation has pledged to donate a total of $50,000 to the Friends of MLK (FoMLK) organization in Davenport.
The donation will help them reach their fundraising goal for the first formal memorial to Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. in Davenport and will be known as the MLK Park., according to a news release from Ascentra. The gift includes two separate $25,000 donations: one from the credit union itself and the other from Ascentra’s charitable foundation, the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation.
“We are honored to be a partner in this investment and in preserving our black history in downtown Davenport,” said Linda Andry, president and CEO, Ascentra Credit Union. “Thank you to the Friends of MLK for all the hard work they are putting into making the park a reality for our community to experience, learn and enjoy.”
The donation is in response to an $800,000 fundraising campaign to help pay for the remainder of the $1.2 million project.
MLK Park will be constructed on a location rich in black history at 501 Brady St. and will create a community space for gathering, learning, remembrance and celebration. It will be surrounded by standing displays that will serve as living historical exhibits which will be regularly updated to keep the community returning and learning. The space will also include a stage, sitting benches and a community space for farmers markets and vendor fairs.
The location’s history dates to the 1880s when it was once the location of a mixed-race restaurant, entertainment venue and rooming houses. It may also have been the location of a legendary jazz and dance spot called the Blue Bird Tavern.
FoMLK is a non-profit corporation organized exclusively to empower and encourage the Quad Cities area to practice civil and human rights for all races, colors, and creeds as exemplified by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“We are excited that the completion of this park is in our near future,” said Ryan Saddler, chief executive officer, Friends of MLK, Inc. “This dream wouldn’t happen without the many generous donors of our community like Ascentra and the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation. We are blessed to have the support of the Quad Cities community and look forward to honoring the memory and legacy of Dr. King through this park.”
The Ascentra Credit Union Foundation was created in 2015, following the unexpected death of Ascentra’s then president and CEO Paul Lensmeyer to continue his legacy of making a difference in the lives of our members, staff and the communities we serve. Since then, the foundation has made nearly $900,000 in charitable contributions.
This isn’t the first time that Ascentra has contributed to the planning and development of this anticipated park. In 2021, it donated $2,400 to the FoMLK to help pay for the initial architectural plans for the project.
