Moline, IL — The Moline-Coal Valley School District has announced that Lincoln-Irving Elementary School will be officially renamed Robert Ontiveros Elementary School, honoring the life, leadership, and legacy of one of Moline’s most influential community champions. The new name pays tribute to Robert “Bob” Ontiveros, founder of Group O, nationally recognized business leader, and lifelong advocate for education, opportunity, and the Floreciente neighborhood where he grew up.

For Group O and the entire Ontiveros family, the recognition is deeply meaningful. “This is more than a school renaming, it’s a celebration of the values Bob lived every day: hard work, generosity, and belief in the potential of every child,” the family shared. “We are profoundly grateful and honored that his name will continue to inspire future generations in the community that shaped him.”

A Legacy Rooted in the Floreciente Neighborhood of Moline, IL

Bob Ontiveros began his journey in Moline’s Floreciente neighborhood, a vibrant immigrant community that shaped his passion for helping others succeed. In 1974, he and his wife, Blenda, launched Bi-State Packaging, selling packaging materials out of the back of their family station wagon. That small venture grew into Group O, now one of the largest Hispanic-owned companies in the United States with more than 1,000 employees across 40 locations.

Despite national success, Bob remained devoted to improving opportunities in the very neighborhood that first supported him. His philanthropic leadership, often joined by Blenda, touched education, economic development, and community vitality. Their support included Black Hawk College Foundation, Augustana College, Western Illinois University, Niabi Zoological Association, and the Community Health Care Clinic — the latter built with funding from Bob and Blenda to ensure low-cost, accessible healthcare for those without a primary provider.

In the Floreciente neighborhood, the Ontiveros family helped ignite a cultural and economic renaissance through Mercado on Fifth, an open-air night market that celebrates local entrepreneurs, live entertainment, and multicultural experiences. Bob also supported initiatives such as West Gateway Partners and numerous youth- and community-focused organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley and Junior Achievement of the Heartland.

Recognized for a Lifetime of Leadership and Service

Over his decades of service and business leadership, Bob Ontiveros earned some of the nation’s most respected honors. Among these was the Order of Lincoln, the State of Illinois’ highest award, a particularly meaningful connection as Lincoln-Irving now becomes Robert Ontiveros Elementary School. He was also recognized with multiple lifetime achievement awards, hall of fame inductions, and commendations for community leadership, minority business advocacy, and economic impact.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

As the school moves forward under its new name, both Group O and the Ontiveros family remain committed to supporting the students, educators, and programs that strengthen the Floreciente community. The renaming stands as a lasting reminder that roots matter and that one person’s determination to uplift others can transform a neighborhood, a city, and countless lives.