The Pinellas County Commission, in collaboration with the St. Pete Free Clinic and other community partners, is hosting a free fresh food giveaway on Friday, June 10. The drive-through event takes place at England Brothers Park, located at 5010 81st Ave. N. in Pinellas Park. Distribution is open to all county residents from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., or while supplies last. According to the release, food insecurity is on the rise in the community and the St. Pete Free Clinic is working to ensure everyone has access to quality food.
The University of South Florida recently reported it received gifts from nearly 5,000 donors during Giving Week this month, more than doubling the previous record. Over 10% were first-time donors. From April 4-8, alumni, friends and community partners joined together to support 198 funds at the university - from mitigating student hunger to providing scholarships. On April 6, Jeff and Penny Vinik gave $5 million for an on-campus stadium, matching Carol and Frank Morsani’s donation to the same effort in March. In a release, the university said the outpouring of generosity would positively impact the lives of students from all three campuses. “This groundswell of support underscores just how much our community values our students and understands the impact they have on Tampa Bay and beyond,” said USF President Rhea Law in the release.
The City of St. Pete Beach is hosting two Earth Day celebrations on April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first is at Horan Park, 7701 Boca Ciega Dr. and the other takes place at the Pass-a-Grille Concession area at 900 Gulf Way. Both events are free. The Horan Park celebration features landscaping demonstrations and water conservation tips, and the city is also offering free red maple, beautyberry, sugarberry, magnolia, red mulberry, slash pine, sycamore, cypress and loquat trees to residents. In Pass-a-Grille, local environmental organizations Keep Pinellas Beautiful and Sea Turtle Trackers will speak about their missions and offer informational handouts.
Graduating seniors in Pinellas County Schools now have another resource to help pay for furthering their education. The Pinellas Education Foundation is now offering its new Jump Start Scholarship for county students that meet eligibility requirements. Students with a demonstratable financial need could receive a Florida Prepaid College Foundation Scholarship valued at $3,100 to attend a Florida public college, university or technical school. Students must first complete a Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), submit financial documentation and remain drug and crime-free. Over 100 scholarships are available, and the deadline to apply is April 30. To learn more and apply, visit the link here.
The Arts Conservatory for Teens improves lives by providing arts education to under-served young adults. After 10 successful years making strong progress in the realms of art, equity and education, ACT brings powerful insight and experience to the council which will help us make 2022 the most impactful year yet.
The Florida Holocaust Museum honors the memory of those who died in the Holocaust. Founded by Walter P. Loebenberg, the museum teaches community members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides. The Impact Council looks forward to sharing ideas and furthering the organization's mission.
Studio @ 620 presents R & B featuring Richard Santora and Bob Devin Jones. Watch episode 1 here.
The St Pete Innovation District brings you STEAM Dream TV, where student hosts interview local science, tech, engineering, art and math professionals. Episode 1 offers guaranteed smiles as you get to know the excellent studio hosts, through some fun and creative questions.
U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) announced two major grants from the U.S. Department of Labor aimed at ending veteran homelessness and reintegrating American servicemembers back into the workforce following periods of unemployment and financial hardship. St. Petersburg-based Volunteers of America of Florida will received $391,080 to continue ongoing work to end veteran homelessness, and $339,039 will be awarded to Boley Centers to support veteran services across Pinellas County and Tampa Bay. Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program grants are part of a nationwide $52 million investment by the Department of Labor to help homeless veterans return to meaningful employment and address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.
Citing positivity rates below 5%, the Florida Department of Health will no longer issue a COVID-19 daily report, nor will it update the COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard. Instead it will issue a weekly situation report summary each Friday.
The Patrick Brett Foundation will donate $100,000 to St. Petersburg College to provide students the opportunity for a second chance through the Fresh Start Scholarship. This donation matches a similar $100,000 donation given to SPC in 2020. Terry and Kim Brett created the foundation in 2016 in memory of their son, Patrick, who passed away in a car accident in 2005. Its mission is to offer guidance, nurture ambition, promote leadership and encourage positive change in the community. Over the years, the foundation has donated more than $375,000 to SPC in support of scholarships for individuals seeking to improve their lives through education. Scholarship applicants can contact Caity Carter, SPC Scholarship Manager, at Carter.Caity@spcollege.edu or (727) 614-7220.
Friends of The Florida Orchestra and outgoing TFO board chair Janet Paroo gathered at the Mahaffey Theater Saturday night to celebrate her years of service in the role. Conductor Michael Francis lead a socially distanced group of musicians through a collection of Paroo's favorites. The evening ended with a special request - an orchestral version of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon," with guest vocals by Alex Harris.
