2018 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Nominee Fulfills Special Promise With “The Pickard...
Josh Evans and Heath Pickard were friends by chance, family by choice... and so were their wives. "We all considered each other brothers and sisters," explained Monica Evans, Josh's wife. "We...
View Article2018 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Nominee is on a Mother’s Mission to “Walk for Baby Feet”
Jamie Dunker has eight children - five of them are Angel Babies. "To go through it once, then to lose five - it's just like... wow," she recalled. In seven years, Jamie and her husband were blessed...
View Article2018 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Nominee Trains Lifelong Fighters Through “Muscatine...
MUSCATINE, Iowa -- They are not just fighters in the ring. They're fighters in life. Since 1971, the Muscatine Boxing Club has trained and transformed dozens of men and women of all ages and of all...
View Article2018 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Nominee Uses Her “Heart for the Homeless”
There are a lot of words that describe Barb Montgomery: Wife, Mother, Grandma, Great Grandma. Those who don't use one of those words to describe her though use another word - Caring. Barb is the...
View Article2018 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Nominee Makes Sure “All God’s Children Shall Have Socks”
It's a simple mission that's all about socks. She brings us socks, underwear, mittens, hats, gloves, those types of things for children who we see on a daily basis who do not have those types of...
View Article2018 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Nominee Combines Ministry & Recovery Through “Abiding...
We hear it in places destroyed by disaster. The sound of chainsaws symbolize recovery, rebuilding, and relief. So does Jason Schneider. "He likes the sound of chainsaws and when you're doing tornado...
View Article2018 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Nominee Inspires Others With Double Identity
For one month every year, Jan Tappa goes by another name - Mrs. Claus. It's a Christmas tradition that started more than two decades ago, when now Davenport Fire Chief Mike Carlsten discovered Mrs....
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And Our 2018 Jefferson Awards Finalist Is…
MOLINE, ILLINOIS - A woman who is spreading joy in memory of her son is about to head to Washington, D.C. to share her story on a national level. On Friday, April 13th, WQAD News 8 announced our 2018...
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WQAD News 8 Celebrates Our 2018 Jefferson Award Nominees With 30-Minute Special
One person can make a difference… and we are proving it. On Friday, June 29th, WQAD News 8 held its 2018 Jefferson Awards Special – sponsored by Genesis Health System and Weber Auto Group. The...
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2019 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Moline Teenager Makes Difference Through American Flag
He's working to make Old Glory new again. Liam Willcox, 14, is known as "The Flag Boy." He founded the Flag Restoration Project in 2017, when a special guest visited his 6th grade class. "A veteran...
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2019 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Aledo Woman Makes Difference Through Purses, Story Books
She gives purses purpose for those who need them the most. Deb Bowen started her "Purses With Purpose" project in 2016, when she decided to host a purse party. "I just put a post on Facebook and said...
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2019 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Davenport Yo-Yo Runner Makes Difference By Giving Food...
No item describes his life better than a yoyo. "For a good 10 or 15 years I was out on the streets just being a plague to society," said Scott Searle, who is known as the "Yo-Yo Man" because he runs...
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2019 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Rock Island Mother Makes Difference With Old School Bus
There's an old red school bus that drivers around the area, but there are no students inside. Instead, there's a closet - Maddie's Closet. In the Summer of 2017, Kelly Cook's daughter Maddie brought...
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2019 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Davenport Survivor Makes Difference By Opening Healing...
There is a house in Davenport where healing happens. "I pray that people leave here inspired to be encouraged to move forward in their healing journey and also to know there’s a place connected to...
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2019 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Clinton Father Makes Difference By Creating Community...
There is an old school in Clinton, Iowa that is being transformed - and transforming the children inside of it. The Gateway Area Community Center, or GACC, was created in 2018 by Jorge Rodriguez with...
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2019 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Bettendorf Speech Pathologist Makes Difference By...
They call them "builds" - when volunteers from all over the area come together to put together tykes for tots and teens with special needs. "We're hitting our 100th bike today," said Katie Leamy,...
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2019 JEFFERSON AWARDS: Princeton Volunteer Makes Difference With “The Closet”
It might just be the biggest "closet" you've ever seen, but Julie McCutchan will tell you that "The Closet" in Princeton, Illinois is very special. "Women just get together and do these kinds of...
View ArticleAnd Our 2019 Jefferson Awards Finalist Is…
MOLINE, Illinois - A survivor of an extremely violent sexual assault who is now helping other survivors in the Quad Cities is heading to Washington, D.C. to share her inspiring story. On Wednesday,...
View ArticleFrom the QC to DC: Founder of Argrow’s House in Davenport Receives National...
Only five people in the country are honored in this way and Dr. Kit Ford is one of those people. On Tuesday, June 18th, the founder and director of Argrow's House in Davenport was surprised with the...
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WQAD News 8 Celebrates Our 2019 Jefferson Award Nominees With 30-Minute Special
One person can make a difference and “multiply good” in their community… and we are proving it. On Friday, June 28th, WQAD News 8 hosted its 2019 Jefferson Awards Special – sponsored by Genesis Health...
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