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Foundation Funds Flow At Event

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 23, 2008

BRANDON - Twelve Brandon area charities may find the current economic slump a little easier to weather thanks to the Greater Brandon Community Foundation.

At its recent annual charity check presentation at Bonefish Grill in Brandon, the foundation distributed $76,000 in grants to representatives of the nonprofit agencies.

Recipients were the Brandon Outreach Clinic, which offers free health care to uninsured and low-income patients; the Brandon Emergency Care Help Organization, which provides food, clothing and support to families in crisis; the Haley House Fund, which supports military veterans; First Tee of Brandon, which uses golf as a tool to build character and confidence in children; and Kid's Charity of Tampa Bay, which is building an emergency shelter for children in Brandon.

Other recipients were Girl Scouts of West Central Florida; the Women's Resource Center of Tampa Bay; the Everyday Blessings adoption program; Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center; the Brandon area YMCAs; the Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office drug treatment program in Brandon; and Kids in Balance, a rehabilitation center for children with disabilities.

Most of the money distributed at the annual check presentation was raised during the foundation's flagship event, the Greater Brandon Community Foundation Golf Classic in February. The classic is a handful of events that include a pairing party and celebrity pro/am champions, poker and invitational tournaments.

The classic has raised more than $600,000 for charity since its inception five years ago. Bright House Networks has been the title sponsor every year. At the check presentation, foundation chairman Mike Fencel announced that the Autoway dealership family has signed on to be a sponsor and will again donate a car for a chance drawing - this year a new Lexus.

Mary Lynn Ulrey, chief executive officer of DACCO, said the money couldn't have come at a better time. The office provides drug treatment, prevention and intervention programs to more than 25,000 residents a year throughout Hillsborough County.

"We just lost our state funding," Ulrey said. But the need is greater than ever, she said. The facility treated 161 teens in the first six months it was open.

"Ninety-eight percent of our children finish treatment successfully," she said.

Hoping to raise more money and increase awareness, the foundation is preparing for a first-time event this year, The Rock, Rib & Ride Festival set for Oct. 17 to 19 at the Florida State Fairgrounds. The foundation's annual Sporting Clays Classic will take place Sept. 13, and the annual Evening of Hope is set for Nov. 8.

For information, go to www.BrandonFoundation.org or call Diana Niles at (813) 661-8683.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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