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Neighborhood pitches in

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By KENNETH KNIGHT

kknight@tampatrib.com

Published: June 24, 2009

TEMPLE CREST - The community has always felt a kinship with Temple Terrace.

The northeast Tampa neighborhood was born of the same temple orange grove as Temple Terrace.

So when the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce launched a campaign this year to raise $20,000 to help pay for the city's annual Fourth of July parade and fireworks display, the Temple Crest Civic Association answered the call.

Association members voted unanimously June 8 to donate $100 to the chamber's fundraising drive.

The small gesture touched the heart of chamber executive director Cheri Donohue.

"For them to take part in the fundraiser was a really nice thing," she said.

In an e-mail to civic association President Terry Neal, Donohue personally invited the Temple Crest residents to attend the July 4 parade, which begins at 10 a.m., and a free evening concert featuring the Florida Wind Band and Tampa Bay Children's Chorus. The 8 p.m. concert will lead up to the fireworks show at 9 p.m.

Donohue encouraged residents to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the first fairway at the Temple Terrace Golf Course for best viewing of the evening light show.

The chamber is working with the city to host the holiday celebration. The city is picking up cost of city personnel - police officers, firefighters and public works employees - to work the events.

The civic association's vote to donate money for the fireworks show sparked a discussion about the organization's need for an annual budget.

Temple Crest resident John Dausman told his neighbors he thought the association had developed an unhealthy habit of dipping into its funds to support impromptu charitable causes. The association needs to establish a budget for charity, he said.

By unanimous vote, the association decided to begin the legwork to develop an annual budget.

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 259-7413.

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