50+ Lifestyles

Volunteers, sponsors, and runners made a big impact!

By Laura L. Kopp, MS
CASI President/CEO

Each year we call on CASI members and community friends to help us organize and implement our largest fundraisers to support our mission. They come together to share their time, talent and treasure for the benefit of others they may never meet or know, and they always step forward with a ready hand and cheerful smile. We particularly celebrate our volunteers who invest tens of thousands of hours supporting CASI programs and activities. We are overwhelmed with their willing spirit to do what is needed to advance our mission.

On a bitterly cold Saturday morning a few weekends ago, we held our 41st annual CASI St. Patrick’s Day race. The help of over 100 volunteers, investing well over 500 hours and joining our very small staff team, raised critical support during this largest fundraiser for CASI. The spirit and enthusiasm of our volunteers was a tremendous bright spot on a cloudy day, and they gave us hope to continue forward and make next year’s race bigger and better than ever! Save the date – Saturday, March 16, 2024!

We want to take this opportunity to share our version of “It Takes a Village” to support CASI’s mission.  The St. Patrick’s Day Race is a perfect example.  100+ volunteers, fifteen faithful staff and loving family members, close to 900 runners and walkers, and of course our generous sponsors, came together to make the race a success.

Tremendous thanks go to our presenting sponsor, Vibrant Credit Union. They stuck with CASI through a yearlong COVID shut down and remained loyal to CASI and their race investment.  Plus, many Vibrant employees and friends volunteered and braved the cold to Run with Purpose in support of CASI.

Ongoing thanks goes out to Eaton, Sears Seating and Eye Surgeons Associates for their many years of sponsoring the Tot Trot, One Mile Family Fun Run, and Costume Contest respectively.

Sincere thanks to DECCO-Davenport Electric Contract Co. as they do a lot for CASI, and they are a giant source of volunteers for the St. Patrick’s Day Race. They also help us every year to put up our outdoor holiday lights which the community enjoys.

Our gratitude goes to HyVee and Rhythm City Casino along with an anonymous supporter, who again provided refreshments for a fun and festive post-race party.

Our friends and sponsors from Iowa American Water, Genesis Health, The City of Davenport, Home Helpers, and Necker’s Jewelers have supported CASI for many years and we are thankful. Their annual investment in the race makes it successful.

Finally, our media partners at KWQC and iHeart are critically important and appreciated. Kevin Phelps and Mark Manuel braved the bitter cold with me, and I could not be more grateful.  It takes a village!

On behalf of thousands of Quad Cities seniors, the entire CASI staff, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You make a difference, and we appreciate you!

Laura L. Kopp, MS is President/CEO of CASI, located at 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA  52806. For information call (563) 386.7477 or email info@CASIseniors.org.