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…
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Eat today, Feb. 6, at the Genghis Grill in Brandon, mention the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce's "Leadership Brandon" effort to help Rotary's Camp Florida, and a portion of your check will be sent as a donation.
The Genghis Grill in Brandon is set to serve for a cause today, Feb. 6, as a fundraiser for the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Brandon program, which this year aims to help beautify Rotary's Camp Florida. "The purpose of the fundraiser is to help our class complete a beautification and improvement project at Rotary's Camp Florida," reads a Facebook notice posted about the event. "The mission of Rotary's Camp Florida is to continually foster children with special needs and challenges to realize their full potential at the camp despite any obstacle they may face." Here's how the Feb. 6 fundraiser works: Dine Feb. 6, any time from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., at Genghis Grill - The Mongolian Stir Fry restaurant in Brandon, at 910 …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Proceeds from the fifth annual "Saddles N' Spurs casino night fundraiser will help support programming and scholarship opportunities at the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center. The 2013 event is March 2 at Winthrop.
A very serious mission underlies the very serious — and fun — programming that for decades has engaged the Greater Brandon community in sports and fitness activities at the Brandon Sports & Aquatics Center on Beverly Boulevard. As Chuck Burgess, the executive director of the facility, described that mission: “We don’t want any kids to be left out.” With that in mind comes the fifth annual Saddles & Spurs Casino Night for the not-for-profit BSAC, scheduled for March 2, from 7 to 11 p.m., at the Barn Theatre at Winthrop. The fundraising event is billed as "an evening of great fun and casino games," with "a fantastic silent auction, fabulous food and great friends." Cost to attend the Casino Night Fundraiser is $35 per person and $60 per …
Saturday, February 2, 2013
The newly named Key Citizen of the Year was announced by the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce at its 2013 annual membership dinner Feb. 1 at The Regent.
It gave last year's Key Citizen of the Year great pleasure to announce this year's honoree, as the person deemed most deserving to stand out as a testament to Brandon's spirit of giving. That was the word from Tammy Holmberg, moments before she announced Susan Saunders as the newly named recipient of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce's Key Citizen of the Year award. Saunders was recognized for her many years of volunteer work with the chamber, the Brandon Outreach Clinic and the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association, for which she served as a past president. Her husband, Steve, received the Key Citizen of the Year Award in 2005. "I take great pride in being Susan Saunders' husband," he said at the Feb. 1 annual membership …
Monday, December 24, 2012
The "Festival of Trees" at the Westfield Brandon shopping mall features Christmas trees decorated on behalf of charities. Cast your last-minute votes today, Dec. 24.
The Westfield Brandon shopping mall officially kicked off its "Festival of Trees" on Sunday, Nov. 18, and since then it's been up to you — the shopper — to help determine the mall's favorite decorated tree. In return, the Greater Brandon area charity associated with the winning tree will receive the proceeds from an associated raffle. Trees decorated by the charities are located throughout the mall and Dec. 24 is the deadline to vote, at the mall or on Westfield Brandon's Facebook page. According to mall officials, the participating charities include: To benefit the winning charity, Westfield Brandon sold raffle tickets for a chance to win a professionally decorated tree. The tickets were available thorugh Dec. 16. According to the …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
For children who otherwise might not have a Christmas filled with gifts and Santa memories, the GFWC Brandon Junior Woman's Club hosts an annual party for students selected by their respective Greater Brandon area elementary schools.
For decades, the GFWC Brandon Junior Woman's Club has been hosting an annual children’s holiday party for children who otherwise might not get any gifts for Christmas. Elementary school guidance counselors in the Greater Brandon area select and bring the students from their respective schools for holiday treats and a visit with Santa Claus. At this year's event, students from Stephanie Pierce's marketing class at East Bay High School earned the right to assist with the event. Pierce is a teacher at East Bay and a woman's club member. _____________
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The 19th Annual Cookson Hills Toy Run offers the unique opportunity for the donors of toys and gifts to personally hand-deliver those tidings to the people in need who receive them.
The Cookson Hills Toy Run's 19th year once again brought out hundreds of motorcycle riders and hundreds of gift recipients at Evans Park in the Greater Brandon area of Seffner. Count among them numerous riders dressed as Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves. And in that group was Bill Longenbarger, of the Riverview Moose Riders, sporting a black leather vest atop his red-and-white Santa outfit. "To see the smiles on the kids faces, that's the main thing," he said, about his desire to join the run. "Wherever we can go, to meet the needs of the kids in our community, that's what we do." Also dressed as Santa was Hoke Minton, with the Hardcore Confederates motorcycle club, who brought with him his daughter, Emily, dressed as an elf. "It's my first …
The Saunders Foundation, Colwill Engineering and Technologies, Florida Business Interiors and the Rotary Club of Brandon are behind the establishment of the Academic Enrichment Center at the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center (BSAC).
A ribbon-cutting in January is planned for the newly opening Academic Enrichment Center at the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center, which will feature 10 iPad learning stations and an electronic smart board, made possible with funding from the Saunders Foundation and Colwill Engineering and Technologies. The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting, at the popular not-for-profit, community based organization, featuring fitness, character, and athletic programs for persons of all ages and abilities, is scheduled for Jan. 18 at noon. With the technology, a "highly innovative educational curriculum" will be offered to children in the center's early childhood learning, After-School All Stars and summer camp programs. Also, through …
Monday, December 3, 2012
Motorcycle riders and bikers made their way to Evans Park in Seffner on Dec. 2 for the 19th Annual Cookson Hills Toy Run. Here's a look at why this event continues to grow and has become a signature event in the Greater Brandon area of Seffner.
It's one thing to give, it's another thing to give and receive the joy of seeing that gift in the hands of the beholder, and especially so when those hands belong to children and adults with special needs. Motorcycle riders made their way to Seffner on Dec. 2 for the 19th Annual Cookson Hills Toy Run, a 20-mile trek that begins at the Veterans Memorial Park and Museum in Tampa and ends at Evans Park, adjacent to Burnett Middle School. There, they acted like kids themselves as they watched gift recipients unwrap their toys and gifts. Some bikers came dressed in seasonal attire, which meant a whole bunch of Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves. A dove release for kids was a highlighted feature as well. For 19 years Sheri and Bill Brown have been…
Sunday, December 2, 2012
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has released a video showing what became of 40 bicycles donated by Walmart and refurbished by God's Pedal Power Ministry.
The Community Outreach Division of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office traveled to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Youth Villa in Bartow on Nov. 13 to donate a trailer-load of bicycles. According to a news report from the sheriff's office, the 40 bicycles were donated by Wal-mart and refurbished by God's Pedal Power Ministry and "were warmly received by the Youth Villa staff and the girls, who were quick to eye their favorite ride." Since its opening in 1970, the Youth Villa campus reportedly has grown to include additional cottages, pastures for horseback riding, a barn, activity building, administration building, chapel and boat dock. Youth Villa has the capacity to serve 46 troubled youngsters, who are guided to become …
G.Schaffer
8:57 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Thanks for helping families in need , ECHO & Kiwanis members! Thanks for this article on how and when we can help . more ›