Quad Cities River Bandits step up to the plate with a $50,000 donation to children’s charities

Davenport, Iowa, January 22, 2025 – Quad Cities River Bandits owner Dave Heller today presented the MercyOne Genesis Foundation with a $50,000 check on Wednesday, January 22, at 10 a.m. in the lobby of MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center.

The funds benefit three causes for area kids – the Family Connects Program, MercyOne Genesis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Camp Hope (formerly Camp Genesis) for youngsters affected by cancer in their families. Dave Heller and the River Bandits have supported these and other programs for nearly two decades.  

"Dave and the River Bandits continue to improve our community with their generosity. These funds enable us to continue providing charitable programs that impact children and families in our community. We are truly grateful for his support of Genesis and now MercyOne Genesis,” said Sara Hodgini, executive director of the MercyOne Genesis Foundation.

Dave Heller is a passionate advocate for each one of these vital programs.

“The strength of our great community is, in many ways, measured by the health of its wonderful people,” said Heller. “We at the River Bandits continue to do all we can to make the Quad Cities stronger and healthier. That’s why we’re so proud to work with MercyOne Genesis and Gilda’s Club to help give the newborn babies in our community a healthy start – and to help children dealing with cancer in their lives. We love being a part of this great community, and we’re happy to give back to strengthen this great community!”.’’

Activities at Camp Hope include swimming, archery, canoeing, arts and crafts, ball games, rope courses and cancer education and bonding facilitated by the staff of Cancer Support Community Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club (formerly Gilda’s Club Quad Cities). During the week, campers also take a “road trip” to the MercyOne Genesis Davenport Cancer Center to learn more about cancer. Applications for Camp Hope are available at https://www.csciowaillinois.org/ or by calling the club at (563) 326-7504.

Family Connects Program is an evidence-based program that provides free in-home nurse visits to impoverished new moms and babies within the first three weeks after leaving the hospital. It is an entirely charitably funded program. 

Camp Hope (formerly Camp Genesis) is a free overnight camp for children in grades 4 - 9 whose families have been affected by cancer.  The MercyOne Genesis Cancer Center partners with Cancer Support Community Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club (formerly Gilda’s Club Quad Cities) to host this annual camp, which the MercyOne Genesis Foundation funds.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) funds provide donor breast milk for NICU babies, purchase specialty supplies and equipment, help nurses with advanced education and support families.