MOLINE, Illinois-- “Everyone is his neighbor," said Jayne O'Brien.
For the last few years O'Brien and the Moline Community Development Corporation have been working to keep Moline neighborhoods beautiful with the help and guidance of Bill Abel. Between potting plants and raising money for parks, Bill does it all rain or shine.
“He exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism and how important that is,” O'Brien said. “After watching Bill work tirelessly one day in June in torrential downpours, it was just another example of how dedicated and community minded he is."
That dedication deserved to be rewarded. O'Brien nominated Abel for the WQAD and Ascentra Credit Union Pay it Forward contest because, she said, he sees everyone as his neighbor.
"He's a guy who exemplifies the core values at Ascentra Credit Union of listening, caring and doing what's right and for that reason I'd like to present you with three hundred dollars so that you may Pay It Forward. Congratulations," Alvaro Macias, with Ascentra Credit Union said.
Abel was only expecting to sit down for some coffee and talk about future clean up plans but he walked in to see a camera and a lot of his fellow volunteers staring and waiting.
“I feel wonderful I am just totally overwhelmed I would not expect this kind of honor in a million years, frankly,” Abel said.
His work focuses on building a better community to live in.
“Having neighbors come together and get to know each other better and strengthen the fabrication of the community as well as getting to know our leaderships in the city of Moline... it really helps to make for a stronger community and a more cohesive neighborhood,” Abel said.
So everyone can feel welcome.
If you know of someone doing good things in your community or someone who shows the core values of Ascentra Credit Union, which are Listening, Caring and Doing What's Right, nominate them for the Pay it Forward Contest here.