The Quad Cities Guardian Angels Chapter, Davenport, Iowa, received a $1,000 grant from the Leading Ladies Giving Circle to support their Street Patrol program. The grant will assist the Guardian Angels in purchasing equipment needed to strengthen and expand their patrol reach.

“The Guardian Angels came to our community in 2006 and have provided many benefits to our area,” said Jill Bjerke, Giving Circle member. “Their work is all volunteer-driven and our grant supports their efforts to help protect and keep our community safe.”

Currently, 15 members are enrolled in the Quad Cities Guardian Angels Chapter. The group conducts street patrols on Friday and Saturday evenings and other times deemed appropriate.

 “We patrol areas of Davenport where there have been a lot of distress, like Downtown, and from Tremont to Division, Locust to the River. We have helped patrol, through requests, The Blues Fest and several car shows,” said Nitro, QC Guardian Angels Chapter Leader.

“Nitro, I and all the volunteer Guardian Angels, not only in Davenport, but Guardian Angels from around our globe, convey our deepest ‘Thanks for this very generous donation!’ We can and will definitely use this needed money to buy radios to communicate better, purchase shirts and jackets and berets to replace the ones that are wearing out, and for more volunteers. We will also use this money for video cameras (2), batteries and video cards, to replace the ones that are being used for evidence. We may even be able to continue updating our Bike Squadron”, said Doc, a Guardian Angels volunteer. 

The Leading Ladies Giving Circle, a program of the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, attend regular meeting and discuss the needs of the community. The Leading Ladies works by consensus and their goal is to make investments in worthy programs and achieve confidence in their giving capabilities. The Leading Ladies donate $300 annually, or $25 a month, and approximately every four months they make grants to a charitable organization or program of choice.

The Leading Ladies have awarded grants to the Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley, Douglas Park Project, Vera French Community Support Program, Family Resources ‘Annie’s Angels’, Humility of Mary Housing, Inc., Handicapped Development Center and YogaG.

Giving Circle members include: Jill Bjerke, Judy Hilgenberg, Linda Hollins, Tracee Keefer, Sarah Slavick-Kurtz, Linda Rubey, Susan Skora, Laura Swift, Maggie Tinsman, Susan Quail, Ginny Wilson Peters and Shawn Zambrano.