The 12th annual Run For All Children, a chip-timed 5K, one-mile and kids' dash race along St. Petersburg's downtown waterfront, drew 1,800 runners and walkers Saturday. Proceeds benefit the areas of greatest need at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. Brian Powers founded the race in 2014 to make a difference in the lives of children and their families after experiencing the positive impact provided by staff and volunteers in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.
The Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas will activate Cold Night Shelters throughout the county Monday, despite the program typically running from Nov. 15 through March 15. The shelters open when the National Weather Service forecasts "feels like" temperatures will reach 40 degrees or colder between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will provide free bus rides to five area shelters, including two in St. Petersburg, starting at 5 p.m. Monday. For a list of shelters, visit the website here.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which monitors 21 miles of Pinellas County coastline from April through October to protect nesting sea turtles, announced Friday that it has "never seen this much activity in a single season." Biologists documented 405 nests and 613 false crawls, an exponential improvement over the 227 and 240 observed in 2024. The aquarium called the record-breaking season a "clear sign that more sea turtles are returning to our beaches," aided by renourishment projects.
Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced Friday that she helped two St. Petersburg nonprofits secure over $2 million in federal funding to hire case managers who serve military veterans. Saint Vincent de Paul CARES received two awards totaling $1.7 million for four case managers, and Boley Centers received $340,433 to hire one. "Every day is Veterans Day in Tampa Bay," Castor said of the Nov. 11 holiday.
Tampa-based Grey Bull Rescue, a humanitarian rescue organization led by a war hero, has brought over 340 American evacuees home from Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. The local team landed on a dirt runway in Jamaica, located registered Americans in the decimated country and flew them to Tampa International Airport, despite a complete lack of infrastructure. To aid Grey Bull Rescue's efforts, visit the website here.
Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) Pinellas has partnered with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital to host a candlelight vigil at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The free, public event is at the hospital's pocket park directly across the street from the parking garage at 651 5th St. S. Attendees will light candles in unison and remember several community members who lost their lives to domestic violence between 2024 and 2025. To register, visit the website here.
Florida students annually miss out on $300 million for college by not completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application, which provides access to grants, work-study programs, scholarships and loans, opened Wednesday and closes May 15. Each high school in Pinellas County is now hosting "FAFSA Night" events to help families complete the process. To view a schedule, visit the website here.
The Lealman Exchange, operated by the St. Petersburg Foundation, will begin providing free swim lessons for local children and teens Oct. 4. The free Lealman Swim Program, made possible through partnerships with Community Foundation Tampa Bay, Step Into Swim and the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA, will host Saturday sessions for eight weeks. An ASL interpreter will support deaf or hard-of-hearing participants. For more information, visit the website here.
Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside's homeowners, donors, sponsors, volunteers and community partners will receive an exclusive advance screening of HGTV's 100 Day Dream Home episode that features one of the affiliate's local families. While the free event is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Ruth Eckerd Hall, the episode will not air nationally until Sept. 30. To RSVP for the event, part of Habitat's 40th anniversary celebrations, visit the website here.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority Leadership Class of 2025 has partnered with E-Smart Recycling and The Digital Education Foundation to host an E-Revolution Drive in St. Petersburg. Residents can bring their unused or unwanted electronics, including laptops, cell phones, tablets and chargers, to the PSTA Administration Building at 3201 Scherer Dr. between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday. The partners will refurbish and distribute the devices to PSTA's Transportation Disadvantaged and Access riders who lack the technology needed to complete applications or utilize Mobility on Demand services.
The American Red Cross recently donated $3 million to Tampa-based Rebuilding Together Greater Florida (RTGFL), which also operates an office in South St. Petersburg. The influx of funding will enable RTGFL to rebuild homes throughout Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Eligible work includes roof, drywall, plumbing, HVAC and electrical replacements or repairs.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies will host their fifth annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Al Lang Stadium in remembrance of those who died during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Participants can walk up the 2,200 stairs during the 8:45 a.m. session Thursday, Sept. 11, or jog and run at the 10:30 a.m. session. Registration is free and open until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10. Colony Grill will provide food for all participants, who will also receive a complimentary ticket to the Rowdies First Responders Night match Sept. 13 against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
