Celebrating Hispanic Culture in the Quad Cities and the Sauk Valley Area

from Hola America August 18, 2022 Edition

have big upcoming bouts

Summer is about to end in a couple of weeks. But there is no reason to feel sad. Instead, this is the time to greet the fall by celebrating the upcoming Hispanic Heritage month. And there is no better way to celebrate Hispanic culture than going to some fun and colorful Latino Festivals. Here is the list of some Latino celebrations in Illinois and the Quad Cities happening soon.

Fiesta Before the Fiesta Thursday, September 1st from 5pm to 7pm at YWCA of Sauk Valley Hispanic Heritage Festival Saturday, September 17 from 5pm to 10pm.

This celebration will have food vendors, beer, and drinks. Expect to enjoy some great music and see amazing dancers perform. There will be Mariachi Campiranos and Ballet Floklorico. In the evening the participants can dance to music by DJ Pelle Mix. This event is free to the community. Public Square, Monmouth, IL

This event in particular is for adults only. Expect Mexican food and adult beverages. Also, there will be giveaways and gift baskets. YWCA of Sauk Valley, 412 First Ave, Sterling, IL.

Taste of Fiesta Saturday, September 10th at 12pm

Join us for the 10th Annual Taste of Fiesta! This is a family-friendly event. Food for sale and live entertainment. Kids activities and a live petting zoo. Featured artists as well as live art on the day of the festival. There will be various outreach agencies. Also, the annual presentation of the Fiesta Day’s Court of King and Queen. And this year’s presentation of the Fiesta Don and Doña. RB&W District Park at 201 E 2nd Street, Rock Falls, IL.

Fiesta Parade Saturday, September 17th at 1pm.

The Hispanic Business Leaders Committee of the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce invites you and your business, organization, etc. to participate in the 69th annual Fiesta Day Parade on Saturday, September 17, 2022! The Fiesta Day Parade is one of the oldest parades in the Midwest that celebrate Mexican Independence. The 69th Annual Parade will begin in Rock Falls, IL entering 1st Ave in Sterling, IL.

Mexican Independence Day Parade and Fiesta Sunday, September 18th from 12pm to 9:30pm

This celebration presented by LULAC Council #5285 is celebrating its 13th year. After the customary parade stay for a fun celebration with food and entertainment at Runner’s Park in downtown East Moline. The Parade will start on 3rd Street move on to 10th Street and continue on 13th Ave. Runner’s Park is located on 13th Ave. Downtown, East Moline, IL

LULAC Fiesta Night September, 10 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Celebration of Mexican Independence with Monarchs and Mariachi at the Putnam Museum. Displays and fun activities for whole families. Celebration of the Monarch butterflies and their yearly migration to Mexico. There will be catrinas and the crowning of the Fiesta Queen. Entertainment by Glenview Mariachi Band, Quad Cities Ballet Folklorico and Grupo Innstinto. The Putnam Museum is located at 1717 W 12th St. Davenport, IA.

Mexican Independence Day Parade and Fiesta in East Moline. Photo by Antonio Varela / Hola America

AROUND THE QUAD CITIES

Some of the former and current boxers, young men and women, of Peña’s Davenport Boxing Club paying their last respects to coach Joe Munoz. R.I.P. Coach Munoz

Algunos de los jóvenes boxeadores, anteriores y actuales, hombres y mujeres, del Peña’s Davenport Boxing Club presentando sus últimos respetos al entrenador Joe Munoz.

Photos by Jose Murillo

Ascentra Credit Union Foundation Grants $45,000 to Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois

The Ascentra Credit Union Foundation (ACUF) has partnered with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois since 2020 to help fund the Girl Scouts Community Outreach Series. This series directly supports more than 1,100 at-risk girls in the underserved areas of Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, and Muscatine by building courage, confidence, and character through a Girl Scout Leadership Experience. To help combat the barriers that keep girls from participating, the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation has contributed another three-year, $45,000 grant for the continuation of the series. The distribution of this new grant gives $10,000, plus a $5,000 match incentive each year for 2022, 2023 and 2024. The incentive match encourages the Girl Scouts to raise an additional $5,000 each year from outside sources to match these incentives. This guarantees $30,000 with a potential $15,000 in incentives, totaling $45,000. The ACUF’s initial grant from 2019 – 2021 was for $50,000. On July 18, Ascentra President and CEO, Linda Andry, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Jennifer Naeve and Chief Financial Officer, Beth Grabin presented a check during a summer program at Madison Elementary School in Davenport. During this visit, they got to participate in reciting the Girl Scout Law with a group of six Girl Scouts who were preparing to make homemade playdough. “It was a pleasure to hear the girls recite the Girl Scout Law,” said Linda. “I loved hearing the girls say the encouraging words it includes, such as ‘friendly and helpful’, ‘considerate and caring’, ‘courageous and strong’, which are all things young girls need to aspire to be. They finished it off by saying, ‘make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout’. What a shining example of people helping people! We are honored to support such an outstanding program that is historically known for building strong female role models and leaders.” The Outreach Series provides a quality program delivered by positive adult role models and allows the girls to learn new concepts and try new things. They practice social skills and learn about healthy relationships. They grow in their confidence and learn about making good decisions. And they are introduced to new concepts like STEM or opportunities such as camp. “The generous financial support from the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation has, and will continue to, help Girl Scouts provide our leadership program to girls in our staff-led program,” says Diane Nelson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. “These are girls who are typically in neighborhoods and schools where they face barriers to becoming a Girl Scout. This partnership will continue to have a huge impact and create more equity for girls in our area.” This grant will help the Girl Scouts bring this program directly to more girls and give them opportunities to build skills and expand how they view the world.

Augustana Possible!

Full financial aid for qualifying students

Augustana Possible is a bold new financial aid program that meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for qualifying newly enrolled students. High-achieving students from families with lower incomes can achieve an Augustana education with Augustana Possible. Many students who benefit from Augustana Possible will be the first in their families to attend college. This was the vision of Augustana College graduate Murry Gerber, who made the $40 million commitment to provide financial aid and scholarships to Augustana students with backgrounds similar to his own. His vision has inspired many other donors to bring Augustana Possible to life for future students and alumni.

Eligibility

Augustana Possible meets the demonstrated financial need of every eligible student using available funds from federal, state and college sources. To determine financial eligibility, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, available for some students living in Illinois. Academic eligibility is defined by recalculated* GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and class rank (when available) of top 20%. More than 60% of admitted students will be academically eligible for Augustana Possible, and approximately 25% will be first-generation college students. Transfer students may be eligible with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in a minimum of 12 credit hours and high financial need. → Interested in seeing if you might qualify academically for Augustana Possible? Complete Augustana College’s Merit Scholarship Estimator, which includes an option to upload an unofficial transcript, at https://admissions.augustana. edu/register/mse

How Augustana Possible works

Here are examples of how Augustana Possible makes Augustana an affordable reality for three different qualifying students/ families, with the direct cost of $59,698 for one year at Augustana College:

*A recalculated GPA is the best predictor of student success at Augustana College. The Office of Admissions automatically recalculates a student’s high school GPA to standardize it across the entire applicant pool. Coursework in the following areas is included in the recalculation: English, lab science, mathematics, social studies and foreign language. Grades in such courses are recalculated and standardized on a 4.0 grading scale. The high school profile is a useful tool in helping ensure proper grade translation. Rigor of coursework, including honors level, AP, dual enrollment and IB, is considered, but not within the recalculation of the GPA. **Your award total will include Augustana merit scholarships and other institutional awards, plus any federal and state grants and loans. An Augustana Possible Grant, along with all additional financial aid for which you are eligible, will meet the direct cost of Augustana.

AROUND THE QC

Gabe’s Gift Memorial 5K Race

The 8th annual Gabe’s Gift Memorial 5K Race will take place on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 7:30 AM in Moline, IL at Jane Addams Elementary School. Gabe Perkins died on 12 August 2010 from rhabdomyosarcoma after a 15-month battle with that cancer. He was only seven years old. For the first 4 years, we walked to his gravesite and released green balloons. We are now running for Gabe and raising funds. We’re raising funds for Tudi’s Tribe, a local nonprofit dedicated to bringing comfort to families dealing with a diagnosis of cancer. Gabe’s Gift is focused on supporting families who have lost a loved one to pediatric cancer. The loss of a child is devastating, and our aim is to bring comfort to bereaved families.

For more information or to sign up visit https://www. gabesgift.com/

Carrera de 5 km en memoria de Gabe Perkins

La octava carrera anual Gabe’s Gift Memorial 5K se llevará a cabo el sábado 10 de septiembre de 2022 a las 7:30 a. m. en Moline, IL, en la escuela primaria Jane Addams. Gabe Perkins murió el 12 de agosto de 2010 de rabdomiosarcoma después de una batalla de 15 meses contra ese cáncer. Tenía sólo siete años. Durante los primeros 4 años, caminábamos hasta su tumba y soltábamos globos verdes. Ahora corremos por Gabe y recaudamos fondos. Estamos recaudando fondos para Tudi’s Tribe, una organización local sin fines de lucro dedicada a brindar consuelo a las familias que enfrentan un diagnóstico de cáncer. Gabe’s Gift se enfoca en apoyar a las familias que han perdido a un ser querido por cáncer pediátrico. La pérdida de un hijo es devastadora, y nuestro objetivo es brindar consuelo a las familias en duelo.

Quad Cities Ballet Folklorico Recital Mexican Fiesta XII

Congratulations to the Quad Cities Ballet Folklorico on an amazing recital Mexican Fiesta XII. Great job Maestro Terronez and all the staff and dancers. And a special congratulations to the retiring dancers Izabella Mlekush and Yanel Alaniz-Macias.

Photos by Tar Macias / Hola America