East Moline Community Funds awards $23,000 in grants

The East Moline Community Fund has awarded $23,000 in grants to local organizations and groups that are helping local residents.

The fund provides grants to health, human services, education, workforce development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of East Moline and the surrounding area, including the Quad Cities region, according to a community foundation news release. 

The East Moline Community Fund receives and administers gifts and works with citizens to achieve their dreams and improve the community, according to the organization.

The fund, founded in 2011, is a nonprofit group created to build charitable resources dedicated to strengthening the community now and for future generations. (A list of previous grant winners can be found here.)

This year’s fall season grants went to:

• Alternatives for Older Adults – $1,000. Alternatives Emergency Fund – East Moline/Silvis.
• Augustana College  –  $1,000. Enhance science education at United Township High School through biology teacher support and hands-on learning lessons.
• Ballet Quad Cities – $ 800. Dance-based literacy, music, and SEL programs in East Moline schools.
• Children’s Therapy Center of the Quad Cities, NFP – $2,000. Assistance provides 50 therapy units to children living in East Moline whose families cannot afford the cost.
• Christ United Methodist Church of the Illinois Quad Cities, Inc. – $2,000. Food Pantries – East Moline and Silvis.
• EveryChild – $1,500. Second Step: Child Protection Program.
• Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois – $1,600. Girl Scout Leadership Program in East Moline and surrounding area.
• Humility Homes & Services, Inc. – $500. Critical resources.
• Illowa Council, Inc. Boy Scouts of America – $1,000. Scouting CARES programs of East Moline.
• Junior Achievement of the Heartland – $500. Financial literacy instruction for East Moline students.
• Pregnancy Resources – $1,525. Start Right – Nutrition and Hygiene for vulnerable moms and infants.
• Soles For Children Inc. – $1,300.
• Spring Forward – $ 2,000. Learning opportunities for East Moline students.
• STEAM On Wheels – $1,275. Bringing after-school STEAM enrichment programming to East Moline students.
• Two Rivers YMCA – $1,000. East Moline Summer Enrichment Initiative (SEI).
• Western Illinois University Foundation on behalf of WQPT PBS – $1,000. WQPT’s First Book Club.
• World Relief Quad Cities –$1,000. Car seats for refugee families.
• YouthHope – $ 2,000. YouthHope Outreach Programs for East Moline kids and teens.