Hey, Quad Cities Girl Power! Club!
You Are Awesome!

Girl Power! is delighted to recognize the Quad Cities Girl Power! Club in Davenport, IA, for their dedication to Girl Power! and all of their remarkable accomplishments. The Quad Cities Girl Power! Club started in 1999, and became a Girl Power! endorser at the same time. This awesome Girl Power! club is an educational group that uses the arts and humanities to help build self-esteem and diminish risky behavior in girls ages 9-13.

Glorie Iaccarino

The Quad Cities Girl Power! Club was started by Glorie Iaccarino. Ms. Iaccarino was alarmed by statistics that suggested girls might be at a higher risk than boys for attempting suicide and equally high risk for trying marijuana, tobacco, or alcohol as they enter their teen years. Having three daughters herself, Ms. Iaccarino decided she had to do something for her girls and the girls in Davenport. She started this program because she believes that "intervention now in the lives of young girls is an opportunity to help them use their innate strengths and abilities to reach their fullest potential, today and in the future."

The Quad Cities Club started as an after-school program at the Neil Armstrong School in Bettendorf, IA. The first meeting was a great success, with 19 girls participating in fine arts and performing arts sessions. Since this meeting in fall of 1999, the Quad Cities Girl Power! Club has reached over 50,000 people and has expanded into faith communities and other schools. (In fact, the program was designed so that it can be used by faith communities, schools, and other nonprofit or community organizations.)

The Quad Cities Girl Power! Club received recognition from U.S. Senator Charles E. Grassey, who offered his words of advice to the girls of Quad Cities Girl Power!: "My first piece of advice is to stay in school. A good education will be the strong foundation on which dreams are realized." He went on to advise girls to make smart choices about their health, stay away from drugs and alcohol, and take good care of themselves by eating a healthy diet, being physically active, and getting plenty of sleep. Senator Grassey also expressed his support of Ms. Iaccarino and the Quad Cities Girl Power! Club.

Thanks to the efforts of the Quad Cities Girl Power! Club, July 15 is now recognized as Iowa's Girl Power! Day. Quad Cities Girl Power! Club can proudly display certificates signed by Thomas J. Vilsack, Governor of Iowa; George T. Nickolas, Mayor of Davenport; and Ann Hutchinson, Mayor of Bettendorf; acknowledging their efforts and proclaiming July 15 as Iowa Girl Power! Day.

In May, the Quad Cities Girl Power! Club will host a series of workshops called "Kid's Courage and Social Action." These workshops center on training girls to be community activists and to help in local efforts. The goal of this program is to offer girls education and activities that will foster a clear understanding of responsibility, service opportunities and resources, and a commitment to their community. The program will offer many different topics with the hope of appealing to the various interests of the girls involved. Some of the topics include animals, community development, crime fighting, the environment, friendship, hunger, literacy, government and politics, safety, and helping senior citizens.

Putting their social action and community skills to work, girls from the Quad Cities Girl Power! Club will be lending a hand in the flood relief efforts in Davenport, IA, where the Mississippi River flooded houses and businesses. On May 2, President Bush authorized that Federal assistance be provided to 13 counties in the Quad Cities area.

Ms. Iaccarino knows how girls hunger for guidance and inspiration, and she is happy to give it to them. She also encourages individual volunteers to take part in Girl Power! by ministering positive messages to girls. She wants organizations to take part in Girl Power! as well, by donating time and goods or offering internships or career days to give girls ideas on what to do in the future. Girl Power! congratulates the Quad Cities Club for all of their accomplishments. Great job, Quad Cities Girl Power!