Tampa, FL – (September 18, 2014) – Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, recently gave mini-grants of $250 to $500 to 17 non-profit service organizations in the Florida communities it serves. Mini-grants went to:
- Bowman Heights Neighborhood Watch, Tampa. The Bowman Heights Neighborhood Watch is sponsored by the Tampa Police Department volunteer neighborhood watch program. They do this for their neighborhoods because a safe neighborhood is the best neighborhood. They are having a National Night Out against crime on Tuesday, October 7, 2014. This National Night Out will represent all of the District One Tampa Police Area and all Tampa Police Units will be represented. Children’s fingerprinting will be done and Tampa Fire will present safety tips. For more information, please visit: www.tampagov.net/police/program/neighborhood-watch
- Champions for Children, Tampa. The Kids on the Block (KOTB) is a troupe of educational puppets that has served Hillsborough County public and private elementary school students for 20 years, performing personal safety education shows about Child Abuse Prevention and Bullies and School Safety. KOTB touches the lives of third and fourth grade students throughout Brandon and Hillsborough County by teaching them about social concerns and differences and giving them skills to stay safe and healthy. Third graders learn what child abuse is and isn’t, that abuse is never the child’s fault and that it’s OK to say “NO” and go tell responsible adults to get help. Fourth graders learn to recognize and take a stand against any form of bullying and report it to responsible adults. For more information, please visit: www.championsforchildrentampabay.org
- Children’s Safety Village, Orlando. The Mission of the Children's Safety Village is to prevent injuries and fatalities of children through lifesaving education, advocacy and leadership. Trunk or Treat is an annual signature event that focuses on providing a safe environment for children and families to experience Halloween. It is hosted at the Children's Safety Village & community partners, local businesses and child advocates are invited. Important information is passed out to the parents/caregivers & children attending the event get treats. It's a fun twist on the traditional health & safety fair. Children go to the event in costume and have the opportunity to play games, do crafts, and utilize the playground. Halloween is the #1 night of the year for child pedestrian related deaths, so they are sure to put the spotlight on their "real" intersection with working traffic lights, pedestrian signals and crosswalks so that families can get that extra practice on proper pedestrian behaviors without worrying about unsafe traffic conditions. For more information, please visit: www.childrenssafetyvillagefl.org
- City of Daytona Beach Leisure Services Health Fair, Daytona Beach. A Health Fair is held at the Dickerson Community Center Gym with a built in crowd from the Wednesday Senior Oasis Group and 4 other Senior Centers in Volusia County. The purpose of this health fair is to help seniors become more aware of the "Free and New Benefits" that are available, as well as some more in depth benefits that will enhance the existing benefits that they already receive. For more information, please visit: www.codb.us
- City of Daytona Beach Annual Mayor's Backpack Give-away, Daytona Beach. 3,500 backpacks are filled with school aged appropriate supplies and distributed at 3 separate locations for Daytona Beach Residents. All for FREE! They also provide local community vendors to help keep the community aware of the benefits that are out there. Hotdogs, chips and drinks are provided to keep the patrons hydrated in the heat as well. For more information, please visit: www.codb.us
- Computer Mentors Group Inc., Tampa. The STEM Corps High School Program Expansion partners students with Technology Mentors that allow students to simultaneously get real world experience with technology fundamentals and give back to their community by working on technology projects for local nonprofits. STEM Corps is currently offered to Hillsborough County students, between the ages of 14 and 18. Students attend CMG one night per week for two hours and engage in technology training and projects for anywhere from six-months to several years. For more information, please visit: www.computermentors.org
- Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., St. Petersburg. The Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF) is a non-profit organization, established in 1995, committed to encouraging drug-free homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. They advocate abstinence-based drug education in schools and healthy alternatives to drug use, educate employers on workplace dangers of illicit drug use, improving global communication between scientists, researchers and physicians to advance knowledge of drug abuse issues, and shares their knowledge with others in the treatment and prevention communities. Their youth-led movement, Don’t Roll up - Roll Out, a coalition partner of Don’t Let Florida Go to Pot, has created a poster contest. The theme is “Florida youth keeping it real about marijuana.” For more information, please visit: www.dfaf.org
- Emma’s Little Helpers Inc., Palmetto. Emma's Little Helpers provides assistance to families in the Tampa Bay area that have children undergoing medical treatment. The Drive to Thrive program provides gas cards and tolls via Sunpass for families that have to travel to see their sick kids. By providing these resources, families can regularly visit their children. For more information, please visit: www.emmaslittlehelpers.org
- Florida Police Athletic/Activities League, Jacksonville. PAL provides youths from ages 6 to 18 years old with athletic and academic programs. Run by volunteer officers on off-duty hours, programs include youth directors council, mentoring, stop violence, community service, advisory council, basketball, boxing, track and field, cheerleading, after school recreation, field trips, and field day programs. For more information, please visit: www.sfapal.com
- Improvement League of Plant City, Plant City. The Striving for Excellence Academy Youth Forensic Science Program is an after-school class is free to students and offers highly advanced technical training for students 8th through 11th grade. The program gives students access to potential careers in forensic science as well as promoting benefits of positive choices and negative impacts of criminal behavior such as background checks effecting employment potential. For more information, please visit: www.improvementleague.com
- On the Cutting Edge Outreach, Orlando. On the Cutting Edge has been in existence for over 15 years. Their purpose is to assist the youth in their community achieve educational, personal and business success. This is done by networking with area businesses, individuals and churches. They believe in investing in our youth to ensure that they have the proper tools and equipment needed to survive in this world and to become law abiding citizens. For more information, please visit: www.otceafterschool.com
- Oxford Outreaches Inc., Oxford. Oxford Outreaches is making a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of individuals in the rural community of Oxford in central Florida’s Lake and Sumter Counties. Character Connex is a character building initiative facilitated by staff through monthly assemblies at local elementary schools, engaging hundreds of children in an interactive, positive self esteem boosting program. WOC (Winning our Community) is an after school project hosted by the organization to promote strong academics and teamwork (tutoring, mentoring, recreational/sport activities). The organization supports adults and seniors in recovery, widows/widowers in grief counseling, and parents actively engaged in classes to bolster family relationships. Funds from Amscot will be utilized to help purchase a bus to transport children to and from tutoring and mentoring sessions as well as to assist residents with individual health, wellness, and spiritual needs. For more information, please visit: www.oxfordag.org
- Pace Center for Girls, Jacksonville. PACE Center for Girls, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation that provides a non-residential delinquency prevention program in locations statewide, targeting the unique needs of females 11 to 17 who are identified as dependent, truant, runaway, delinquent, or in need of academic skills. PACE (Practical Academic Cultural Education) accepts referrals from the juvenile justice system, the Department of Children and Families, school personnel, community services agencies, parents, family members, friends and self-referrals. Its purpose is to intervene and prevent school withdrawal, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and welfare dependency in a safe and nurturing environment. PACE programs provide the following services: academic education, individualized attention, a gender-specific life management curriculum. For more information, please visit: www.pacecenter.org
- PACE Center for Girls, Hillsborough, Tampa. PACE Center for Girls, Hillsborough is one of 18 PACE Centers throughout the State of Florida. We serve girls, ages 11-17, who have been displaced from the traditional school setting because of a myriad of behaviors, which include truancy, anxiety disorders, behavioral issues and/or being academically behind in grade level. In a small classroom setting, 14:1 student to teacher ratio, girls take the same academic courses they would in any Hillsborough County school, but at an accelerated pace, to recover the credits they may have lost due to their behaviors. Girls attend PACE Hillsborough for an average of 12-15 months, including the summer, to gain enough credits to be on her intended grade level. Accompanying the academic program, PACE has a supportive counseling program that helps the girl identify the social service or mental health issues that brought her to PACE. Additionally, while at PACE girls receive a variety of services including but not limited to vocational education, financial literacy education, college and career exposure, substance abuse education, gender identity and respect education. For more information, please visit: www.pacecenter.org/centers/hillsborough
- P & P Helping Hand Foundation, Inc., Frostproof. P&P Helping Hand Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization with the purpose of providing resources and empowering under-served communities with Educational, Literacy and Community programs. Their literacy program exists to help both children and adults. The Summer Reading program allows youth to stay on point by encouraging them to read over the summer months. They also offer Career Counseling to high school and college students to help them make better choices and understand the ever changing workforce. An Elderly program supports the elderly by supplying them with necessary toiletries and other items that help defray their out of pocket cost. Community Christmas exists to help under-served families enjoy their Christmas by providing much needed item to make their Christmas a success. For more information, please visit: www.pphelpinghand.com
- R.A.M.A.L. Educational & Social Services Inc., Ocala. R.A.M.A.L. Educational & Social Services strives to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most by "Reaching, Aiming, Motivating and Leading." Their mission is to provide information, training, and life coaching to empower, inspire and motivate individuals to improve their lives and the community in which they live. For more information, please visit: www.ramalservices.org
- The Center for Independent Living, Lakeland. Serving Central Florida since 1976, the Center for Independent Living is the only local nonprofit dedicated solely to helping individuals with disabilities achieve independence. Their work is based on the philosophy of people with disabilities empowering one another in an environment of support and acceptance. CIL, in partnership with the community, promotes inclusion of people with disabilities by eliminating architectural, communication and attitudinal barriers. CIL provides education, resources and training to enhance self-determination through informed choice. For more information, please visit: www.cilorlando.org