Two QC volunteers inducted in Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg were inducted as 2024 Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame members and presented the Excellence in Mentoring awards in a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol building in Des Moines. 

Among the Tuesday, April 30, hall of fame inductees was Robert (Bob) Allbee, of Muscatine. Yvonne Lyons, of Bettendorf, was among the honorees for the Excellence in Mentoring Awards. 

The other 2024 Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame inductees are: Celeste M. Lawson, Des Moines; Daniel L. Lopez, Des Moines; Refugee and Immigrant Association, Iowa City; SALUD! Multicultural Health Center of Storm Lake.

The Excellence in Mentoring Awards recognize outstanding long-time youth mentors. The other 2024 Excellence in Mentoring Award recipients were: John Ferguson, Hamburg; Nicki Mullins, Ankeny; and Indira Velazquez, West Des Moines.

In a news release, the State of Iowa said this about the two honorees from the Quad Cities region: 

Muscatine’s Allbee

Robert (Bob) Allbee has served as a volunteer since his retirement in 2015, mainly at the local food pantry and the local homeless shelter. In 2023, Mr. Allbee stepped into a much larger role, serving as volunteer interim executive director of the Muscatine Center for Social Action (MCSA) while it conducted a search for a permanent director. The MCSA runs the homeless shelter, a homeless prevention program, a dental clinic, a domestic violence shelter as well as providing mental health and addiction support.

Mr. Allbee is credited with keeping operations afloat and his service was vital to the community. Running a multi-million dollar nonprofit, requiring more than 40 hours per week of volunteer work, did not go unnoticed. He helped with day-to-day operations of the homeless shelter, neighborhood revitalization, food pantry, homeless prevention programs, Project Rise Above, dental and eye clinics, and transitional housing.  MCSA runs one of only 28 domestic violence shelters in the state. 

Bettendorf’s Lyons

Yvonne Lyons was among the honorees for the Excellence in Mentoring Awards, which gives Iowa MENTOR certified programs the opportunity to recognize their outstanding youth mentors.

 Ms. Lyons has been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the Mississippi Valley (BBBS) for 14 years.  She has been in three matches and has been a mentor to her current Little, Carissa, for more than seven years.  She and Carissa began their match in our school-based program where they met during Carissa’s lunch and recess time. After one year, they transitioned to the community-based program to experience new things together out in the community.

Ms. Lyons has served as a member on various committees for BBBS’s match and fundraising events, helping promote the agency and mentoring in the community. She is a frequent supporter of fundraisers and consistently volunteers her time and money to the agency, often involving her Little – giving her a chance to learn the importance of volunteering for and supporting what you’re passionate about.