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New Tampa Rotary Makes Donations

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By LENORA LAKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 21, 2008

TAMPA PALMS - Almost $60,000 was presented to 32 nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and Rotary projects locally and internationally last week by the Rotary Club of New Tampa.

The money was raised through events, which included a pig roast, golf tournament and casino night, and the Happy Dollars fund, to which members donate money to share news at their weekly meetings.

Organizations and projects receiving the money focus on assistance for low-income families for educational or recreational opportunities and medical needs; athletics at high schools; leadership development of youth; and care of abandoned children. Groups receiving funds included the New Tampa Family YMCA, Wharton High School's newspaper and PTSA; Freedom High School's band, Jr. ROTC program and athletics program; God's Pedal Power; the New Tampa Sharks football and Raiders lacrosse teams; and the Gulf Ridge Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Several local Rotary Club-sponsored projects, including the Mort (Elementary School) Manatee Market and the University of South Florida Rotaract Club, received funding, as did projects on the island of St. Thomas and in China.

"This is a great day for New Tampa Rotary," club President Lynn Grinnell said in opening the meeting, at which she was assisted by incoming club President Mike Wallace in distributing checks.

Each program representative thanked the group and told a little about how the money will be used.

Beny Peretz, principal of Mort Elementary, said the financial support was important, "but it is the volunteerism of this club that really shows."

Incoming Freedom High School Principal Chris Farkas used the meeting as a chance to meet parents and supporters while receiving donations for the school

"This is just one sign of the support Freedom has," Farkas told the standing-room-only crowd at the Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club.

Several representatives said the Rotary funds would be matched by grants from other organizations or businesses.

Michael Maseum, assistant director for annual giving for the USF College of Health, said a $5,000 donation would be used for The Bridge, a free clinic in the University Area founded and operated by USF medical students. A match from Blue Cross was expected.

In other business:

•Jose Martinez, sergeant-at-arms, announced almost $17,000 dollars had been collected through the Happy Dollars program during the Rotary year that began July 1. He said the fundraiser does more than bring in money.

"Everyone in this club knows your life: the good events and the bad events," Martinez told the members and guests.

•The creation of Bill Leonard Fellow Award, named for the Rotary district governor who assisted in forming the club in December 1995, was announced. The award was proposed by founding club President Thomas Wade, and Ben Geradts donated $1,000 to become its first gold member.

•Rex Damron was presented a year-long honorary membership in the club. A member of the Ybor City Rotary, Damron, who attended with his wife, Geneva, has assisted the New Tampa group with its golf tournament and other projects.

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

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