BBBS sends volunteers Over The Edge for kid’s sake

Dozens of brave volunteers will take to the rooftop of Hotel Blackhawk and rappel down this weekend for the Over The Edge fundraiser to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley (BBBSMV). 

Quad Cities supporters have been busy raising money to earn their spot to rappel down 11 stories from the downtown Davenport hotel. Over The Edge, the BBBSMV’s largest annual fundraiser, will begin with sponsors and VIPs from 4-7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 26, and wrap up on Saturday, Aug. 27, when volunteers will go over the edge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In all, 98 volunteers will rappel the 140-foot-tall hotel. 

The event is held in the north parking lot of Hotel Blackhawk, located at 200 E. 3rd St. 

This 2022 event marks the fifth year for the unique fundraiser and it is presented by Active Endeavors and Bank of America.

“The community is encouraged to come watch and cheer on the Courageous Edgers”, says Kayla Kiesey, Events Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters. All proceeds raised by the Edgers, as the rapellers are called, will support the organization’s youth mentoring program. To date, fundraising has surpassed the $151,000 mark. The Davenport-based organization serves more than 600 children a year, matching each child who is facing some kind of adversity with an

adult mentor to ignite the children’s potential within.

This year’s top top fundraisers, to date, include: 

  • Individual Fundraiser: Todd Bennett, who has raised more than $6,200 to date. 
  • Top Daring Duo, Gunnare Duo – Aaron and Ron Gunnare, who raised more than $6,700. 
  • The Top Fearless Leader is Constellation, an Exelon Company that operates the nuclear plant in Cordova, Illinois, with a surprising $19,380.

Event Day, sponsored by Estes Construction, Davenport, begins on Friday with 11 people rappelling including media, sponsors, and other VIP representatives from contributing companies. The rest of the volunteers will go over on Saturday. Other festivities that day include music, food and beverages. Seating will be available for spectators, and donations can also be made on event day. Admission is free. 

For a detailed schedule with rappel times, look under FAQs here.

The event will include a number of returning Edgers along with many new participants. Edgers range in age from 18 (a BBBS Little in the program) to a 75-year-old recently retired Quad Citian who decided to rappel with his son. 

Other teams will include parents and siblings, co-workers, friends, firefighters, and others who have been creative with their fundraising efforts to get to the top.

“Amazing dedication with contributions coming from over 25 states in the U.S. and all the way from Germany,” said Ms. Kiesey. “Edgers should be proud and stand tall on the edge for all they accomplished together to help local kids who need mentors and that same courage to realize their full potential”.

OVER THE EDGE Global is an international company that provides the expertise and equipment to run these events for non-profits in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

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