Money Smart Week is a public awareness campaign to promote financial literacy across all age groups. Launched in 2002 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the program is now active in more than forty-five states through national partnerships with the American Library and Financial Planning Associations.

The City of Peoria has partnered with a number of local organizations, financial institutions, and community groups to host Money Smart Week in Central Illinois from Saturday, April 20th through Saturday, April 27th in 2013.

Money Smart Week financial classes, intended to improve money management skills
throughout our community, are being offered to area residents at no cost. Approximately 50 FREE CLASSES are being offered during Money Smart Week, including a course facilitated by the City of Peoria in DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

For more information about Money Smart Week classes, locations, and times, log on to
www.moneysmartweek.org or visit any branch of the Peoria Public Library for a Money Smart Week Calendar of Events.

The Peoria Park District’s Kellogg Golf Course will open Saturday, April 6. Opening times dependent on conditions; call (309) 683-4150 for a tee time. Online tee times not available for tomorrow.

Donovan, Newman and Madison Golf Courses are all open. Only Detweiller remains closed.
The Golf Learning Center & Academy is open daily from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

More information on Peoria Park District Golf is available at www.ppdgolf.org.

A local production company, Magnum Digital Cinema, along with Skill Sprout and Easter Seals, has put together a documentary highlighting autism in Ukraine. The goal is to raise awareness in the Peoria area through premiering the film.

Where: The Apollo Theater – 311 Main St, Peoria, IL 61604
When: April 12th, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. showings
What: “Not Forgotten” the documentary notforgottenthemovie.com
Cost: FREE, but tickets must be reserved at http://notforgotten-efbevent.eventbrite.com/
FB invite link: https://www.facebook.com/events/355874984518632/

Peoria, IL (April 4, 2013) The Turner Center for Entrepreneurship at Bradley University will offer free small business training for business owners and managers on April 23 and 24 during Money Smart Week.

Workshops on accounting basics, technology strategy, commercial loan applications, customerology, social media marketing, Facebook for business, an introduction to exporting, and starting a business in Illinois will be offered at the Peoria Next Innovation Center, located at 801 W. Main Street.

Register for any of the workshops online at http://www.bradley.edu/academic/colleges/fcba/centers/turner/events/small-business-training—money-smart-week-2013.dot.

CWTC’s Twin Oaks residential facility announces a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser at Second Reformed Church, 600 State Street in Pekin. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 26, 2013 from 4:30-7:30 PM.

Tickets are just $7.00 for adults, children (10 & under) $4.00 and include a spaghetti dinner, complete with garlic bread, salad and your choice of iced tea, lemonade or coffee. Baked goods will also be available for purchase. Tickets are available in advance by calling 309-353-5791. Get more information at www.cwtc.org

CWTC Twin Oaks Manager Theresa Appleyard says, “Diners can expect great food served with a smile!” Appleyard added, “We look forward to seeing the community coming together to enjoy a nice dinner and support our residents.” All money raised goes to programs and services for CWTC consumers at Twin Oaks Residential Facilities.

For more information contact Theresa Appleyard at 309-353-5791.

CWTC, Community Workshop and Training Center, Inc., provides programs and services to adults with disabilities; enriching their quality of life, promoting social change, and optimizing their potential for independence.

Who: CWTC, Community Workshop and Training Center, Inc.
What: Twin Oaks Spaghetti Dinner
Where: Second Reformed Church, 600 State Street, Pekin. IL
When: Friday, April 26, 2013; 4:30-7:30PM.

Peoria, IL- The Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI) is pleased to announce the Board of Directors approval of the Distribution Committee’s recommendation to fund the 2013 Community Arts Grants and Jean M. Ligon Animal Welfare Grants for a total of $53,500.

“In a time where funding has been significantly reduced for the arts, CFCI is pleased to support the arts in central Illinois , thereby enhancing the quality of life for our community. Additionally, CFCI is pleased to carry out the wishes of Jean M. Ligon by making grants from the fund established from her estate to benefit the care and adoption of homeless cats and dogs.“ – Mark Roberts, CEO , Community Foundation of Central Illinois.

The following non-profit organizations were approved for funding:

2013 Community Arts Grants

Central Illinois Youth Symphony was awarded $3,200 for: Sectional Coaching and Master Class Project from the Thomas & Lynn Landes Fund for Performing Arts and the Russell F. & Eleanor Sikes Peters Performing Arts Fund.

City Dance, NFP was awarded $10,000 for: Arts Outreach and Intervention from the Russell F. & Eleanor Sikes Peters Performing Arts Fund.

Eureka College was awarded $1,000 for: Illinois High School Ten Minute Play Festival from the Russell F. & Eleanor Sikes Peters Performing Arts Fund.

PARC was awarded $5,500 for: Studio PARC from the Taylor & Corrine French Fund/Fine Arts Education, the Pete and Mildred Donis Charitable Fund, the John H. “Ted” and Betty Flora Charitable Fund, and the Sandra and Richard Ullman Unrestricted Charitable Fund.

The Penguin Project Foundation Inc. was awarded $5,000 for: The Penguin Project from the Alvin & Donna Haerr Family Performing Arts fund and the Russell F. & Eleanor Sikes Peters Performing Arts Fund.

Peoria Area Civic Chorale was awarded $1,800 for: Choral Youth Initiatives from the Russell F. & Eleanor Sikes Peters Performing Arts Fund.

Peoria Public Library was awarded $2,000 for: Painting Restoration from the Eugene & Harriett Swager Fund for Public Art.

Princeton Theatre Group DBA Festival 56 was awarded $5,000 for: William Shakespeare’s Macbeth from the Mildred L. Arends Musical & Cultural Activities Fund and the Russell F. & Eleanor Sikes Peters Performing Arts Fund.

The Sun Foundation was awarded $5,000 for: Art & Science in the Woods Summer Youth Program from the George A. Fulton Charitable Fund, the Dr. Paul Dirkse Endowment Fund, John H. “Ted” and Betty Flora Charitable Fund, and the Norma M. and Keith G. Johnson Charitable Fund.

2013 Jean M. Ligon Animal Welfare Grants

TAPS No-Kill Animal Shelter was awarded $7,500 for: Spay/Neuter Awareness from the Jean M. Ligon Fund.

The Daniel J. Elias Memorial Foundation (Purrsonalities) was awarded $7,500 for: 15 in ‘13 from the Jean M. Ligon Fund.

Mission: The Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI) is a philanthropic resource committed to Connecting People Who Care with Causes That Matter.

Expanded Seventh Annual Event Celebrates Our ‘Cultures Combined’

PEORIA – Preparations are underway for the multi-dimensional cultural destination event that is the 2013 Passage to India for Easter Seals.

From the April 16 Maestros in Concert, to a business forum and gala dinner and fashion show on April 26, this year’s Passage to India strives to “add real value to the community,” said Seshadri Guha, president of CGN & Associates, Easter Seals board chairman and event co-chair.

The fundraiser supports the general operations and endowment of Easter Seals Central Illinois, which offers programs for children and their families.

“This group is so visionary and forward thinking, they are taking steps to ensure programs are sustained,” said Steve Thompson, Easter Seals President and CEO.

In six years, Passage to India sponsors and attendees have raised $661,000. Proceeds jumped 900 percent since 2007, with $250,000 raised in 2012.

Attendance grows between about 40 percent each year. In general, only 30 percent of guests are from the Indian community, with the majority from Central Illinois’ broader business, civic, health care and general population, said Prasad Parupalli, event co-chair and commercial manager for Caterpillar Inc.

“This event has helped us bring the Indian community into the mainstream,” Parupalli said. “You can see the results of this in other charities and nonprofits in the community where people are now volunteering because they made a connection through this event.”

The highlight of it all is of course the children. Easter Seals children play a prominent role in the April 26 evening through their participation in a fashion show.

“The best part is to see the smiles on their faces and how much fun they have,” Parupalli said.

Passage to India Highlights:

• The Music. The 2013 Passage to India kicks off April 16 with Maestros in Concert. This evening of Indian music at the Peoria Civic Center features Pandit Shivkumar Sharma on the santoo and Grammy winner Zakir Hussain on the tabla. Tickets are $100, $75 and $50 at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office: 309-673-3200.

• The Health Care Collaboration. Easter Seals will host a delegation from the Anoopam Mission’s Mitra Rehabilitation Center the week of April 22. That group’s director will meet with Easter Seals staff and doctors, and other area physicians to collaborate on technology and exchange ideas and best practices.

• The Food. Cooking begins on April 25, when a team of 70 volunteers begins chopping vegetables, preparing spices and sauces and marinating meats, said Jyothi Parupalli, who coordinates the home-cooked appetizers, meal and desserts. Preparations continue through the evening and into the next day – right up until food is served. The menu is a sampling of Indian cuisine, including the sweet-sour street food panipuri, chicken kabobs and “sloppy roger” – an Indian sloppy joe. It also features special dishes like biryani, served for honored guests; and gulab jamum, a cheese dumpling dessert.

• The Business Connection. An April 26 executive roundtable lunch and business forum about international business will engage local and international business leaders, and begin to grow younger leaders. Panelists include representatives from Caterpillar and RLI, as well as Sanjay Khosla, executive vice president and president, developing markets of Mondelez International Inc.; and Madan Birla, author of “FedEx Delivers: How the World’s Leading Shipping company Keeps Innovating and Outperforming the Competition.”

• The Gala. The April 26 Passage to India evening begins with an Indian bazaar and VIP cocktail reception. The bazaar will replicate a Bombay street market, complete with appetizer stations. This year’s theme is the Mughal period – a 200-year span when new art, architecture, and cultures with Turkish, Persian and Mongolian influences were woven into the India diaspora. The famous Taj Mahal, was built during this time. A fashion show featuring Easter Seals children, dinner and entertainment will follow.

Passage to India is an annual charitable event that benefits the Easter Seals organization, a 501(c)3 non-profit group. Visit www.es-passagetoindia.com

April 4, 2013 – Easter Seals is recognizing National Autism Awareness Month by offering Autism-related educational workshops that are geared towards parents, caregivers, health care providers, therapists, teachers, and community members.

Participants can choose from a variety of topics

* April 9 – Peoria; April 10 – Bloomington: Autism 101 – learn about the fundamentals of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and interventions available in the community. Approved for 1.5 contact hours through the Illinois State Board of Education. Illinois Early Intervention credit pending.

* April 11 – Peoria; April 15 – Bloomington: Changing – Challenging Behaviors – functions of behavior, replacement behaviors, and reinforcement of new behaviors will be discussed. Approved for 1.5 contact hours through the Illinois State Board of Education. Illinois Early Intervention credit pending.

* April 16-17 – Peoria: ADOS-2 Training – learn how to administer the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2, a tool widely known as “the gold standard” for observational, diagnostic assessment of autism spectrum disorders. Approved for 6 contact hours through the Illinois State Board of Education. Illinois Early Intervention credit pending.

* April 16 – Peoria; April 18 – Bloomington – P.L.A.Y. Project(r) Let Them Lead – learn P.L.A.Y. strategies and observe videotaped P.L.A.Y. Project(r) sessions. Approved for 1.5 contact hours through the Illinois State Board of Education. Illinois Early Intervention credit pending.

* April 23 – Peoria: Autism and Medication – focuses on a comprehensive understanding of Autism as well as behavioral and pharmacological interventions that may help a child with autism. Approved for 1.5 contact hours through the Illinois State Board of Education. Illinois Early Intervention credit pending.

Presenters include Jamie Hollis, MA, LPC; Wendy Trotter, MA, SLP; Dona Weibler, SLP, BCBA; Debra Detrich, MS, NCSP, School Psychologist; Malinda Cumbow-Radloff, M.Ed., Certified P.L.A.Y. Project Consultant; and Ronald Lindsay, MD, FAAP.

A complete schedule and online registration is available at
www.ci.easterseals.com , or by calling 309-686-1177.

Peoria, IL (April 4, 2013) The treatment of enslaved girls in Nepal is the subject of a free presentation at Bradley University on Thursday, April 18, at 6:00 p.m. in the Westlake Hall auditorium.

Chhori Laxmi Maharian, senior counselor and manager of Ankur Counseling Center in Kathmandu, Nepal, will discuss her experiences counseling traumatized children in Nepal.

The practice of Kamlari or enslavement of girls arose from feudal practices but has persisted in Nepal. Often due to severe poverty, families sell their young girls for a small income to help them to survive. The Ankur Counseling Center was established to help address the trauma experienced by such children.

The presentation is sponsored by Bradley’s College of Education & Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, departments of Leadership in Education, Human Services and Counseling, History, and International Studies, the Institute for Principled Leadership, the International Affairs Organization, Anti-Slavery Coalition, and the Intellectual and Cultural Activities Committee.

David Alwan, owner of Echo Valley Meats in Bartonville, will be featured on the ABC Television Network’s Shark Tank! show beginning at 8 pm. Catch a sneak peek now at www.abc.com/shows/shark-tank/video