Chris Ciasto, Quad Cities Women’s Outdoor Club (QCWOC) board member, is the recipient of a 2024 Nation of Neighbors℠ empowerment award and a $10,000 grant.
Chris joined QCWOC 17 years ago and has served as a dedicated board member for 13 of those years. She has been instrumental in creating a supportive, empowering community for women in the Quad Cities area.
QCWOC offers year-round events to encourage women of every age and fitness level to live active, healthy lives. Club members have access to 140 events annually like kayaking, hiking, fly fishing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and trips.
“Our organization is one of a kind, even looking at other women’s outdoor clubs across the country,” shared Chris. “The membership cost has always been just $25.”
QCWOC will use its Nation of Neighbors grant to help grow the club’s programming and strengthen its membership by offering more women opportunities to learn new skills, create social connections, and empower them to try something new. “This validates that what we have been trying to do for the past 17 years is working, one member at a time,” said Chris. “Our goal is to empower 100 more women in 2025 with this grant!”
