Project Renewal leader earns RNA’s Nation of Neighbors award

Ann Schwickerath was enveloped in a group hug by the scores of children Project Renewal serves after Royal Neighbors of America honored her Thursday, Aug. 3, for 30 years of work with the nonprofit.  Ms. Schwickerath, executive director of the central Davenport youth organization since 1994, became the latest winner of RNA’s Nation of Neighbors […]

Ann Schwickerath was enveloped in a group hug by the scores of children Project Renewal serves after Royal Neighbors of America honored her Thursday, Aug. 3, for 30 years of work with the nonprofit.  Ms. Schwickerath, executive director of the central Davenport youth organization since 1994, became the latest winner of RNA’s Nation of Neighbors empowerment award and grant.  On what was the last day of Project Renewal’s summer program, leaders with the Rock Island-based RNA presented the longtime director with the award and an oversized $10,000 check. The event, which included an ice cream truck and treats for the children, was held across the street from the Project Renewal’s office in Sr. Concetta Park. 

“We really believe in empowering women and those that they care about,” RNA Director of Philanthropy Amy Jones told the crowd of nearly 60 people, including Project Renewal and RNA representatives, neighborhood parents and dozens of Project Renewal’s young participants.  Ms. Jones said the Nation of Neighbors program “awards women in honor to recognize them for the work they are doing. We are here because Ann is doing a wonderful job.”   After receiving the award, her kids’ admiration and hugs, Ms. Schwickerath said “it’s very rewarding to have the support of the community, especially our kids and families.” The grant will go toward the construction of a new $1 million building for Project Renewal. The building is part of a larger $1.8 million capital campaign that also will bring other building improvements to Project Renewal.    “Our neighborhood deserves the best. We’re often overlooked and underserved,” she told the QCBJ.  The new project — which will be built on a vacant lot where a troublesome rental property once stood — will give the after-school and summer youth program much needed additional space. It will add to Project Renewal’s offices located in a house that once was condemned.  The new building site, which the nonprofit’s board purchased, had been “a revolving door of trauma and violence for many years.”  Ms. Schwickerath said Project Renewal and its board purchased it in 2021, a year after the building was the scene of a shooting. Originally, she said the organization hoped to remodel the building, but it proved to be “too far gone” and it was demolished.  The new building will be a two-story activity space that will include space for health and wellness activities, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) center and two second-floor apartments. Those, she said, will be made available to a Project Renewal volunteer or staffer “who makes a long-term commitment to our neighborhood.”  

For the past 49 years, Project Renewal has served youth — kindergarten to 12th grade — from the central city neighborhood and beyond with academic readiness, after school activities, classes and more. All its services are provided for free, she said.  The group will break ground on the building in September, Ms. Schwickerath said.  Ms. Schwickerath was nominated for the Nation of Neighbors Award by Barb Montgomery, a RNA member (customer) from Cambridge, Illinois. Ms. Montgomery, a retired teacher, came to know Project Renewal and Ms. Schwickerath through working with another nonprofit, Humility Homes & Services. Over the past few years, she has written and won several smaller grants for Project Renewal.  “Humility (staff) said to me, ‘That woman is doing great things. You should see what she needs,’” she recalled of first meeting Ms. Schwickerath.  “Ann is resilient, dedicated. She’s a gift from heaven,” Ms. Montgomery said before helping present the award. “She’s always wanted to improve and make things better. She’s a true lady and you don’t find that often anymore. That’s what inspired me.” Marie Young, RNA’s manager of marketing and communications, said in all, Royal Neighbors will present 10 Nation of Neighbors’ awards nationwide this year. She added that Ms. Schwickerath was the first 2023 recipient and one of three Quad Cities winners. (The others will be announced next week.)   Nation of Neighbors recipients are influential leaders who exemplify Royal Neighbors’ “neighbor-helping-neighbor” mission of community services. Nominations can be submitted by all active RNA members. Nominations for the next round will open March 1, 2024, and be accepted through April 30, 2024.