David Dennis, President and CEO of Eckerd Connects, announced today he will retire June 30, 2025, after 18 years with the nonprofit. The Eckerd Connects Board of Directors has hired consulting firm Korn Ferry to conduct a national executive search for Dennis' replacement.
WalletHub compared the nation’s 100 largest cities across 38 metrics, including volunteer hours completed per capita and percentage of income donated to charities, to determine its annual “Most Caring Cities in America” report released Monday. St. Petersburg placed 55th, four spots below Tampa. However, St. Petersburg’s “caring for the vulnerable” ranking (No. 35) far surpassed its sister city (No. 58). Virginia Beach placed first.
St. Petersburg Police officers will give away 150 bicycles, helmets, locks and lights to needy kids at a holiday event today thanks to the generosity of the St. Pete Fools Charities. The nonprofit will also provide food for the families – and the opportunity for positive interactions with officers. The holiday tradition began in Dec. 2019 when St. Pete Fools Club member Alex DeJesus spotted an officer buying a bicycle for a teen at Walmart.
The Florida Department of Children and Families will open a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) application site at Tropicana Field from Dec. 7 through Dec. 9. Residents who do not receive food assistance through the traditional program can receive D-SNAP benefits. The facility will welcome applicants from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. For program information, visit the website here.
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor has invited the community to help recognize neighbors, friends and family who went above and beyond to help others amid recent hurricanes. The congresswoman will highlight selected honorees for their contributions and the “vital role they played in bringing the community together during recovery efforts.” Constituents can submit nominations through the form here.
The Pinellas Education Foundation announced Tuesday that it provided $1.6 million in support and resources to Pinellas County Schools (PCS) as part of ongoing hurricane relief efforts. The foundation raised over $1 million in donations and its board added another $600,000 from reserve funding. Over 500 PCS employees have received awards ranging from $500 to $5,000.
The St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Foundation announced Saturday that it donated an additional $350,000 to several Florida nonprofits as part of an ongoing response to Hurricane Milton. Local recipients include the We Are St. Pete Fund, the St. Petersburg College Foundation and Ready for Life Pinellas. Duke’s foundation donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross before the storm made landfall.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) has reunited with three injured sea turtles forced to relocate in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath. The storm inundated the facility with nearly four feet of water and damaged life support systems in the sea turtle rehabilitation pools. CMA recently repaired the systems with emergency funding from the Sea Turtle Grants Program. However, the marine hospital still lacks vital storm-damaged equipment.
Nearly half of Community Actions Stops Abuse (CASA) Pinellas’ shelter residents have children, and the nonprofit has launched its Hope for The Holidays Drive. Supporters can drop off gifts at 1019 Arlington Ave. N. in St. Petersburg between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Dec. 13. CASA said gift cards to Walmart or Target are ideal. Local organizations can also display a donation box. For more information, contact Rachel Johnston at rachelj@casapinellas.org.
Mayor Ken Welch announced Wednesday that a St. Petersburg-focused hurricane relief fund is approaching $1 million. City stakeholders have raised nearly $829,000 for the We Are St. Pete Fund since it launched in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath. The Pinellas Community Foundation will disburse the money to support residents, small businesses and city employees impacted by Helene and Hurricane Milton.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened mobile registration units Saturday morning in St. Petersburg and Madeira Beach to help Pinellas County residents receive a free temporary tarp through Operation Blue Roof. St. Petersburg’s center is at 2500 34th St. N., and the Madeira Beach location is at 15200 Municipal Drive. The facilities are open from 8:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. through Tuesday. The local program sunsets Nov. 5.
Pinellas County residents and business owners recovering from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton are running out of time to apply for resources. Nonprofits and governments have until Oct. 28 to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance for Helene, and until Nov. 11 for Milton. The local Operation Blue Roof Program will conclude Nov. 5. Residents can apply by phone for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance benefits from Nov. 4 through Nov. 8. Individual FEMA and unemployment assistance applications for Debby close Nov. 12 and Nov. 18, respectively.
