The Florida Aquarium has partnered with Junior Achievement Tampa Bay to teach fifth-grade students how to run a business, manage a simulated economy and allow them to explore professional roles. Aquarium officials will open its JA BizTown storefront with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting Tuesday, Jan. 23. Students will serve as CEO for a day, act as veterinarians, participate in environmental services, manage the gift shop and perform marketing and outreach activities.
The Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Alliance announced area cold night shelters will open Saturday night as “feel like” temperatures will drop below 40 degrees between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. All facilities proved a warm and safe place to sleep, and many offer a meal. The Northwest Presbyterian Church, WestCare Turning Point, the Unitarian Universalist Church and the Salvation Army will open their doors in St. Petersburg. For more information, visit the website here.
Starting Jan. 19, Florida Arbor Day, St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy will give away 900 sweetbay magnolia, bald cypress and crape myrtle trees to customers. Program officials will ship the one-gallon trees directly to homes with planting and care instructions in time for National Arbor Day on April 26. The company depleted its supply within days in 2023 and has distributed nearly 12,000 free trees since 2017. For more information, visit the website here.
Michael Igel, board chairman of the Florida Holocaust Museum, recently received the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Community Hero Award. Igel received recognition during a game and $50,000 on behalf of the museum. The donation will help fund events and new programming designed to engage “learners of all ages" at the St. Petersburg institution.
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg officials recently awarded over $200,000 in community grants for the 2024 cycle. Recipients include EPIC’s Food and Personal Needs Pantry, the Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas County, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, and several other organizations and initiatives. The Bayfront Health Community Grant Program’s priorities are supporting access to care, behavioral health and physical and nutritional wellness.
YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg announced the appointment of Kimberly G. Jackson, Esq., as Chair of its Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term. Jackson has served on the YMCA's Board of Directors since early 2018 and has a background in law, education and advocacy. She currently serves as Executive Director at the Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions (ISPS).
Pinellas County residents can help secure critical funding and inform public policy to help end homelessness by volunteering with the Homeless Leadership Alliance during its Point in Time Count event Thursday, Jan. 25. The initiative is an annual, national event that provides a snapshot of those experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in the county. Collected data is sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Florida Department of Children and Families to help secure millions in resources. For more information, visit the website here.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott has announced that he will donate a portion of his quarterly salary to the Florida Holocaust Museum in memory of Mel Sembler. The accomplished businessman, former U.S. Ambassador and St. Petersburg resident died Oct. 31 at 93. Scott was the first sitting Florida governor to visit the museum in 2013.
Those spending a night on the town New Year’s Eve have a safe and affordable way to return home, thanks to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. In addition to offering free services, the SunRunner, the Suncoast Beach Trolley and routes 4, 52,59 60 will continue carrying passengers until 1:00 a.m. Buses will run on a holiday/Sunday schedule New Year’s Day.
Digital Inclusion St. Pete is hosting an after-Christmas Gadgets for Good event Jan. 6 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. People can bring their old electronic devices (excluding televisions) to the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg at 2333 34th St. S. and give someone the gift of digital inclusion. ESmart Recycling will donate refurbished computers according to the amount collected.
Positive Impact Worldwide, the St. Petersburg Police Department and Team Florida Domino’s Pizza Franchise Group have partnered to giveaway over 600 free pizzas Christmas Eve. Volunteers will hand out the hot foot from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Tangerine Plaza in South St. Pete. Anyone is welcome to join the car line at 1770 22nd St. S. with “no questions asked.”
Family Support Services of Pinellas and Pasco Counties and the Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies Foundation gathered 18 expanding families at Tropicana Field for a special event Friday night. They were there to celebrate 24 local children finding their “forever families.” The adoptions were finalized at Enchant Christmas, the “world’s largest Christmas light maze and village.”
