$20,000 grant from Royal Neighbors will expand arts outreach and opportunities for women and girls throughout the Quad Cities
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (September 16, 2026) – What began 30 years ago with $25,000, one paid dancer, a dedicated board of directors and a dream has grown into a professional ballet company attracting hundreds of dancers from across the country and bringing the arts to thousands throughout the Quad Cities.
Now, a $20,000 Nation of Neighbors℠ Empowerment Grant from Royal Neighbors of America will help Ballet Quad Cities expand its community reach and create new opportunities for women and girls through the arts.
Led by Joedy Cook, Ballet Quad Cities is powered by an all-female staff and provides professional dancers with opportunities to grow as artists, mentors and educators. More than 300 professional dancers applied to join the company last year alone.
For Cook, developing professional dancers goes far beyond technique. “They have to feel confident. They have to know the power within them,” Cook said. “They have to be able to go out on that stage and show everybody who they are.”
That same commitment to helping women and girls recognize their potential extends beyond the stage through Ballet Quad Cities’ community outreach programs.
The Nation of Neighbors from Royal Neighbors grant will allow Ballet Quad Cities to expand partnerships with organizations serving women, girls and families. New programs are already taking shape, including a collaboration with a Rock Island library presenting Giraffes Can’t Dance where families can enjoy this 30 minute performance for free. The company is also developing new programming with the YWCA and a local childcare organization. Funding will also support instructors, program development, space and transportation, helping remove barriers that can prevent community organizations and families from accessing professional arts experiences.
Ballet Quad Cities already reaches thousands of young people through educational and community programs. Its annual production of The Nutcracker gives young dancers ages 8 to 17 the opportunity to perform alongside professional dancers and a live orchestra before nearly 8,000 audience members over two weekends.
“Ballet Quad Cities shows how the arts can open doors and strengthen communities,” said Amy Jones, Senior Director of Social Impact for Royal Neighbors of America. “Joedy has built an organization where women lead, artists mentor the next generation, and the impact extends far beyond the stage.”
“For more than 130 years, Royal Neighbors has believed that when women have the opportunity to discover their strengths, pursue their dreams, and lift others along the way, entire communities become stronger,” said Zarifa Brown Reynolds, CEO and President of Royal Neighbors of America. “That is the power of our Nation of Neighbors program, and it is why we are proud to support Ballet Quad Cities as they expand access to the arts and create more opportunities for women and girls to find their voice, build confidence and see what is possible.”
Cook plans to share the Nation of Neighbors recognition in much the same way she has built Ballet Quad Cities—with the women beside her. When the award is formally recognized at the company’s first performance of the season, Ballet on the Lawn, she plans to invite every woman involved with Ballet Quad Cities forward to share the moment.
About Royal Neighbors of America
In 1895, nine founding women created a membership community. They were one of the first to make life insurance accessible to women. Now, 131 years later, Royal Neighbors remains committed to its mission of Insuring Lives, Supporting Women, and Serving Communities℠. The organization’s members, chapters, employees, and its independent agents across the country drive this mission through localized volunteerism and philanthropic programs, making social impact the cornerstone of their work.
Royal Neighbors members experience Insurance with a Difference℠ through tailored life insurance and annuity products, opportunities to give back in their communities, and access to member benefits that support financial and personal well-being.
Royal Neighbors holds an “A” (Excellent) rating from AM Best1 for financial strength and its ability to meet ongoing obligations to certificate holders. In 2025, Royal Neighbors received its ninth Great Place to Work certification. In 2026 Royal Neighbors was recognized by Forbes and Statista as a World’s Best Insurance Company. For more information, visit royalneighbors.org.
- As of December 12, 2025, Royal Neighbors is rated A Excellent (3rd highest out of 13) by the AM Best Company for overall financial strength and ability to meet ongoing obligations to certificate holders. For the latest Best’s Credit Rating, access ambest.com.
Media Contact
Marie Young
Director, Marketing & Communications
Royal Neighbors of America
Marie.Young@royalneighbors.org