A bequest from a Rock Island resident will benefit eight local organizations. Today, the Rosemary Woodward Trust and Rock Island Community Foundation announced the gift of $2.1 million, and how it will help the organizations for years to come.
Gary Rowe, Executive Director of the foundation, says Rosemary Woodward was born in Appleton, Wisconsin in 1925. She became a nurse, and worked in Davenport before getting married in 1965. An avid gardener and long-time volunteer for several organizations such as the Red Cross, she died last spring.
The eight beneficiaries will have to apply for grants each year. And Rowe says the Rock Island Community Foundation will be able to accept requests for multi-year grants.
The eight beneficiaries are the Quad City Botanical Center, Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department, the city's library foundation, Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation, YWCA of the Quad Cities, Christian Care, Trinity Visiting Nurse and Homemaker Association, and Niabi Zoo.