Tuesday, May 14, 2013
A safe haven for big cats in Florida, Big Cat Rescue also spreads the word about the many different breeds of wild cats.
There are lots of great organizations across Tampa Bay that do fantastic things to help make our communities better. The Big Cat Rescue provides a safe haven for big cat breeds in Florida that have been abandoned, abused or orphaned and also helps to spread awareness on the different breeds of big cats. To learn more about the Big Cat Rescue and how they help out, check out the video above and go to their website to see opportunities on how you can help.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
The Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center will celebrate its roots today, April 20, with a special morning celebration followed by summer camp registration, Square 1 Burgers, special activities and a public swim.
It's a 50-year milestone for the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center, as both the past and the present will be celebrated at a public ceremony today, April 20, followd by a public swim and summer-camp registration. Sports demonstrations and complementary sliders, provided by Square 1 Burgers & Bar, are on today's agenda as well. (See program below.) Charter members will be recognized, including Beverly Knox, Ted Pitts, Marie Wood and the Noriega family. Also noted as charter members are Harry Vildibill and Janet and Sue Moucha, according to BSAC officials. Reached in an interview yesterday, Knox, 82, talked about her long-time association with BSAC, which started as a club founded by Dr. Robert G. Greenwell a half-century ago. "I really …
Saturday, April 13, 2013
The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life at Brandon High School wraps up today, April 13, after a Friday night lineup of events, booths, survivors and volunteers.
The 2013 Brandon Relay For Life drew a determined crowd to Brandon High School for the overnight April 12-13 fundraiser. Here's a collection of photographs that give testament to the hard work of volunteers, participants and survivors who came together to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer. Do you have a photo to add? Click the "Upload Photos and Videos" link above. Were you at the Brandon Relay For Life? Tell us about your experiences there in the comment box below.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Representatives from the Haley House Fund talk about their cause and give thanks for the annual Nam Knights Westside Chapter charity pig roast fundraiser, held this year at Winthrop in Riverview on April 6.
For seven of the nine years the Haley House Fund has been in existence the Nam Knight Westside Chapter has held an annual pig roast fundraiser at Winthrop to raise funds for the fund's mission. "It's gone quite well," said Vietnam veteran Dave Braun, a former honrary mayor of Brandon, who heralded the Haley House Fund formation years ago at a Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce Event. "We're all proud of doing what we're doing and for who we're doing it for, which are our most injured soldiers, at the James Haley Veterans Hospital. Our focus is on the families and friends of these soldiers, we put them up." Braun spoke his mind at the seventh annual charity pig roast fundraiser, held April 6 at the Winthrop Pole Barn in Riverview. "In my…
Saturday, April 6, 2013
The seventh annual charity pig roast aims to benefit the Haley House Fund and some law enforcement charities. The event is just south and west of Brandon, at the Winthrop Pole Barn off Bloomingdale Avenue in Riverview.
Members of the Nam Knights Westside Chapter were up early this morning, April 6, to prepare for the club's wildly popular annual fundriaser at Winthrop, where pigs are roasted and dollars are raised to benefit the Haley House Fund and some law enforcement charities. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m., with food served until 4 p.m. The event features as well live music, beer and vendors. The fundraiser is at the Winthorp Pole Parn off Bloomingdale Avenue in Riverview, between Watson and Providence roads. The cost to attend is $15. There was a $5 discount for tickets purchased in advance. Mary Ann Keckler, with the aid of Mary Ellen Harlan and Dr. Steven Scott, founded the Haley House Fund, a charity that houses and supports the families …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Discounted overstocked clothes and small household items will be on sale at the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) on Parsons Avenue in Brandon. Proceeds benefit the food bank and clothes closet.
Charity thrift sale volunteers at the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) will be on duty Saturday, March 16 to sell discounted clothes and small household items to the public. These items are received weekly from the residents of Greater Brandon, who support the food bank and clothes closet with donations of gently used items to help neighbors struggling through tough times. Once a month ECHO opens its storefront to the general public, which allows the non-profit to clear overstocked items and raise money for other needs that people have, such as perishable food items. ECHO is available to people who, because of emergency situations, are having trouble paying for food, clothes and other items. A person can used ECHO services up to …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Top Chef runners-up and all-stars are among the master and guest chefs scheduled to demonstrate their signature dishes at the Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium in Brandon, with a proceed of ticket sales benefiting the Greater Brandon Community Foundation.
Eight top chefs over the course of 13 days, from March through May, are scheduled to prepre their signature dishes at the Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium in Brandon, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked to benefit the Greater Brandon Community Foundation and the charities it serves. "All of these great chefs will be preparing their signature dishes for you in a full- meal and beverage-demonstration format," notes a news release on the event. "They will share their experiences in the culinary world and tips for producing amazing food." The Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium at the Brandon Crossroads shopping center celebrates in August its seventh year, a small business for Karen and Dave West that followed their like ventures at malls in …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
"Long overdue" was the sentiment expressed by past recipients of the Alice B. Tompkins Community Service Award, who heralded this year's selection of honoree Betty Jo Tompkins. The award is given annually by the Community Roundtable.
Noticeably missing at the Community Affairs Dinner hosted by the Community Roundtable at the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association on Feb. 20 was longtime community advocate and volunteer Betty Jo Tompkins, who never misses the annual event. This year, because she is recuperating from a medical condition, Tompkins had to sit out. But she wasn't out of mind. Hardly. Tompkins at the dinner was named the newest recipient of the Alice B. Tompkins Community Service Award. "Hallelujah, she's a great gal," said Dick Stowers, who received the award in 1976, the second year it was given. The first recipient, the year before, was Patricia B. Odiorne. "It was well overdue," said Mark Proctor, who received the award in 1989, after the award was…
The Community Roundtable at its 2013 Community Affairs Dinner named this year's Non-Profit Organization of the Year recipient. The honor goes to one of Brandon's oldest groups, founded in 1959.
The Community Roundtable at its 2013 Community Affairs Dinner named the GFWC Brandon Service League as the third recipient of the rountable's Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award. "Until you start looking around, you have no idea how many nonprofits there are in the Brandon area," said Community Roundtable President Sam Creaseman, in announcing this year's award recipient. "Let me tell you that they're all doing a great job. They are. It's difficult to narrow it down." But narrow they did, until the top choice became the GFWC Brandon Service League, which also happens to be one of Brandon's oldest organizations, having been founded in 1959. "This organization, a few of you may have heard of, they've been around for awhile," …
Friday, February 8, 2013
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon, at its breakfast meeting at Ben's Family Restaurant in Brandon, heard from a representative of the Emergency Care Help Organization about the group's services and upcoming events.
The needs of the hungry and the community's response to meet them were discussed Thursday morning, Feb. 7, at the weekly breakfast meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon, held at Ben's Family Restaurant in Brandon. "One in six people in this area face hunger issues, which means they may not know where their next meal is coming from," said the meeting's speaker, Kathy Collins, events director for the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) in Brandon. Her job is to talk about ECHO and program fundraising events, "which we need to be able to buy fresh produce and proteins and socks, underwear and diapers for kids." These items augment the non-perishable food items and clothes and small household furnishings that area residents have…
Ann Louise Budd
12:43 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Wonderful tribute for Betty Jo. She was truly surprised and honored when she received the call from Mark Proctor. Many friends have called with their congrats and those have been really appreciated.A great recognition for a fine lady. more ›