The Kiwanis Club of Rock Island presented its annual grants and scholarships at an event today, April 24, at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island.
The club, part of Kiwanis International, awarded five community organizations and three high school students as this year’s recipients.
Organizations receiving grant funding are all aligned with the Kiwanis Club of Rock Island’s mission to improve the lives of children and families in the Quad Cities and abroad. The grantees, which each will receive between $500-1,000 for upcoming projects, are:
- EveryChild.
- Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois.
- Soles for Children.
- The Children’s Therapy Center of the Quad Cities.
- The Penguin Project of the Quad Cities.
Scholarship winners, who all achieved a 4.0 or better and are service leaders in their schools and communities, are: Olivia Gusse, Alleman Catholic High School, Rock Island; Alexis Carroll, Rock Island High School; and Kayla Rice, Rock Island High School.
The Kiwanis scholarship and grant funds are raised in a variety of fundraisers throughout the year including: selling roses for administrative professionals’ day, peanuts during the fall and cheese during the holidays; as well as John Deere Classic’s Birdies for Charity. Notable service projects include: the First Day Fund (Illinois), Midwest Food Pantry distribution, Terrific Kids and Coats for Kids.
Founded in 1919, the Kiwanis Club of Rock Island began with 50 charter members and has grown to a membership of nearly 100. The club’s rich history has been the cumulative effort of its members coming from fields such as accounting, civil service, education, management, retail stores, retirees and many more.
