Dave Heller, owner of the Kansas-based baseball team Quad Cities River Bandits, demonstrated extraordinary community generosity by donating $50,000 to three critical children’s charities in Davenport, Iowa.
Heller presented the donation to the MercyOne Genesis Foundation, which strategically supports three transformative programs for children affected by cancer: the Family Connects Program, MercyOne Genesis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and Camp Hope, these programs provide support, transform lives, and give hope for a brighter future.
“The strength of our great community is in many ways measured by the health of its wonderful people,” Heller stated.”We couldn’t make it without the people of this community supporting the River Bandits, and we want to show them we support them right back.”
This act of community generosity underscores the critical role local businesses play in addressing community needs. Sara Hodgini from the MercyOne Genesis Foundation praised Heller’s commitment, noting that the River Bandits “continue to improve our community with their generosity.”
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The donation’s reach extends across three vital initiatives, Camp Hope, The Family Connects Program, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Support.
Camp Hope is a sanctuary for children navigating cancer’s challenging landscape, offering therapeutic activities like swimming, archery, canoeing, and cancer education. The camp provides a supportive environment facilitated by Cancer Support Community Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club.
The Family Connects Program is an evidence-based initiative that provides free in-home nurse visits to impoverished new mothers and infants within the first three weeks after hospital discharge. This entirely charitable program addresses critical early childhood healthcare needs.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Support funds directly support NICU operations by providing donor breastmilk for vulnerable infants, purchasing specialized medical supplies and equipment, and supporting advanced nursing education and family support services.
The comprehensive nature of these programs highlights how strategic community generosity can create cascading positive impacts across multiple social sectors.
Camp Hope, for instance, offers children affected by cancer a week of normalcy and healing. Campers engage in recreational activities while receiving cancer education, culminating in an educational “road trip” to the MercyOne Genesis Davenport Cancer Center.
The Family Connects Program addresses a critical gap in healthcare access, ensuring that vulnerable new mothers and infants receive essential early intervention support. The program provides free nurse visits to mitigate potential health risks and support families during a crucial developmental period.
NICU support represents another critical avenue of community generosity. Funding donor breastmilk, specialized equipment, and advanced nursing education ensures that the most fragile patients receive top-tier medical care.
“Donations like these are more than financial transactions,” Hodgini emphasized. “They represent hope, healing, and human connection.”