SPRING FLING 2011 March 2, 2011

Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium Presents

Spring Fling 2011

Reaching New Heights

Saturday, April 9^th, 7pm

Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium requests the honor of your presence at their annual fundraiser, Spring Fling 2011 Reaching New Heights.  The evening will consist of delectable appetizers, an open bar, a $2,500 reverse raffle, and a silent auction.  It will be the perfect evening of good company, amazing prizes, and celebration of Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium moving into the future and Reaching New Heights in environmental and space science education!

During the evening we will hold a reverse raffle.  Entry into the raffle will give you the opportunity to win $2,500!  There will also be loads of other prizes to win including door prizes and fabulous silent auction items! 

Tickets are available NOW!  $100/person with reverse raffle entry and $30/person with door prize entry.  Call (239)275-3435 to purchase tickets.

The Center is located at 3450 Ortiz Avenue at the intersection of Colonial Blvd. and Six Mile Cypress in Fort Myers, one minute from I-75 at Exit 136. Additional information is available at www.CalusaNature.org or by calling 275-3435. Admission to the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is $9 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3-12). This one-price admission includes the Museum, Butterfly Aviary, Trails, and all Planetarium shows scheduled that day. Group rates are available for 15 or more people. Family memberships are available which entitles members to free admission for a year and many other special prices on programs and discounts in the gift store.  We welcome new volunteers; please call 275-3435 to schedule an orientation.

3RD ANNUAL “KIDS CELEBRATE READING” BOOK FAIR AND DRIVE February 7, 2011

An exciting, free event for kids of all ages is coming up fast:
The 3rd annual “Kids Celebrate Reading!” Book Fair & Drive,
on Saturday, February 12, 2011, from noon to 4:00 pm
at Barnes & Noble, Waterside Shops, Naples.

K is for Kids® very own Teen Advisory Team hosts this afternoon full of activities
for children, a press release will go out with all the details today

The teens recently shot 3 PSAs promoting this event, 15- and 30-sec of the Book Fair,
as well as a 30-sec of their goal “bringing books to kids everywhere.”

Attached are the 3 audio files.  Please consider airing this to your viewers –
it is so easy for everyone to help kids in need have books to read!

For more information on our Bring a Book, Bring a Friend® for Children’s Literacy Month,
take a peek at our website:  www.KisforKids.org !

PROTECT YOUR PRECIOUS CARGO February 3, 2011

 

The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida Kohl’s Center for Safety Program will be providing free car seat safety inspections on Saturday,  Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kohl’s located at 9357 Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress, Fort Myers, FL  33948.

 

Research shows that an estimated 30 percent of children still continue to ride unrestrained and 80 percent of all car seats are used incorrectly.  More than 1,700 children have been saved since 1996 just because they were riding in a properly fitted car seat and in the back seat.

 

Education and information to improve these numbers is of critical need in our community.  According to Safe Kids and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a correctly used safety seat reduces fatality risk by 71 percent and serious injury risk by 67 percent. 

 

Car seats will be available at a reduced price if your car seat is part of a recall, out dated or not the appropriate car seat for the child.

 

Bilingual fitting technicians will be available. Appointments are strongly encouraged and may be made by calling 239-343-5224 for a time that’s convenient for you.

 

 

CHILDREN’S INJURY PREVENTION FAIR January 5, 2011

 

The Children’s Injury Prevention Fair will be held this Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 at LeeMemorialHospital,

2776 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers

from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The fair is designed to promote injury prevention by combining fun activities and useful information for the entire family.

 

The Injury Prevention Fair is presented by Lee MemorialHospital’s Emergency and Trauma Services in conjunction with The Children’s Hospital of SouthwestFlorida.

Each year, thousands of children across the country are hospitalized for falls, burns, car accidents and other injuries. “Some of these injuries are avoidable,” said Lisa Sgarlata, RN, Chief Administrative Officer of LeeMemorialHospital. “We hope that parents will bring their children to the fair and learn some of the simple steps they can take to prevent injuries. “

 

Special features include car seat and helmet fitting stations; rollover vehicle; Stay Alive Just Drive information; fatal vision glasses; helicopters, ambulance, Smokey Bear, K-9 unit from LCSO, LCSO public services vehicles; EMS participation; safe baby-sitting information; fingerprinting; gun safety; pediatric nutrition; tobacco prevention;  pediatric swimming instruction information; and a lot more.  Healthy snacks will also be available.

 

Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animals or a doll to the fair so they can participate in the Teddy Bear Clinic. Child life specialists will guide the children as they pretend to give

medical treatment to their toy so they understand better what happens at hospitals and what doctors and nurses do to help them when they do not feel well or are hurt. This helps calm their fears should they ever need medical attention.

 

At the car seat fitting station, parents will learn about car seat safety, proper installation and recalls. Anyone wishing to have his or her car seat checked by the Child Advocacy team from The Children’s Hospital should call 343-6199 to make an appointment for the day of the fair, Saturday Jan. 22, 2011.

 

The activities and booths will take place in the Auditorium and parking lot in front of the hospital.

PROTECT YOUR PRECIOUS CARGO January 5, 2011

 

 

 

The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida Kohl’s Center for Safety Program will be providing free car seat safety inspections on Saturday, Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kohl’s located at

19600 Cochran Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL  33948

 

 

Research shows that an estimated 30 percent of children still continue to ride unrestrained and 80 percent of all car seats are used incorrectly.  More than 1,700 children have been saved since 1996 just because they were riding in a properly fitted car seat and in the back seat.

 

Education and information to improve these numbers is of critical need in our community.  According to Safe Kids and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a correctly used safety seat reduces fatality risk by 71 percent and serious injury risk by 67 percent. 

 

Car seats will be available at a reduced price if your car seat is part of a recall, out dated or not the appropriate car seat for the child.

 

Bilingual fitting technicians will be available. Appointments are strongly encouraged and may be made by calling 239-343-5224 for a time that’s convenient for you.

 

 

SNOW PILE December 1, 2010

 

The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida is hoping to make things a little brighter this year for the families of children who will be spending their holiday in a hospital bed, and your help is needed.

One of the core values of The Children’s Hospital is family-centered care. So, to help relieve some of their holiday stress, parents will be given the opportunity to “shop” in a Snow Pile made up of donated presents, selecting gifts for their hospitalized child, and for any other children in the family.

Volunteers will also be standing by to gift wrap as well as serve hot chocolate and goodies as the gifts are selected. 

You may drop off, through Monday, Dec. 20, an unwrapped gift or gifts for any age group, newborn to 18, in the atrium at HealthPark Medical Center where The Children’s Hospital is located. There is a bin waiting to receive gifts for all pediatric patients and their siblings.

It is easy to understand that these young patients may have missed holiday celebrations in their classroom, decorating a Christmas tree at home, baking cookies, or other family traditions and community activities.

A successful Snow Pile will reduce the need to shop for families of hospitalized children so they can spend more time together.  Toys may also distract young patients, if only for a brief time, from their illness or injury; and even increase the amount of time patients spend with one another as they share their gifts in play.

To prevent any issues surrounding infection control all donated toys must be new.  Books and DVD’s suitable for a children’s hospital are encouraged as well as crayons and coloring books, and general toys and games. 

 

HOLIDAY BOOK DRIVE November 23, 2010

Kids in need, need books to read and K is for Kids® will be counting on the generosity of holiday shoppers to help fill that need during Barnes & Noble’s third annual Holiday Book Drive benefiting the Foundation that continues until the end of the year.

Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive

The book drive, which started at the beginning of November, will shift into high gear the day after Thanksgiving – Black Friday – when customer care associates begin offering patrons of the Waterside Shops bookseller the opportunity to purchase grade-appropriate books for K is for Kids to donate to those school and community libraries throughout Collier County that serve the most economically needy children.

Clawson, who started the not-for-profit K is for Kids Foundation in 2008, is passionate about ensuring more children have access to books. “Think about it. One lone book will pass through the hands of dozens, if not hundreds of kids,” she says. “We want people to realize that a book can benefit many, many kids.” She notes that the Collier County Public School Web site shows more than 58 percent of the local student population is categorized as economically needy because they qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch. “That’s 25,451 students out of the 43,142 who attend our schools,” she explains. “Most of those children will never own a book, nor have one to read at home without the community’s help. Children want to read and they want to find good books that open their imagination,” she explains, “but they need more books to read. Our goal is to place as many books as possible in the hands of children who need them.”

The K is for Kids display at Barnes & Noble features several recommended titles for pre-school through high school ages, but shoppers are welcome to browse the extensive children’s and young adult sections for book selections, too. The book drive will continue through Dec. 31 and will benefit hundreds of area children by providing new reading material to fill the gaps in existing school and community collections.

BEHIND THE CUPBOARD DOOR WRITING CONTEST November 19, 2010

~ N.D. Wilson Invites Young Readers to Explore a Tale of their Own ~

Bonita Springs, FL – Volunteer USA Foundation and N.D. Wilson, a favorite author among children, are pleased to announce an adventurous writing contest to students in southwest Florida. Wilson, the author of the favorite 100 Cupboard book series, has teamed up with Volunteer USA for the Behind the Cupboard Door Writing Contest for young readers.

 “We know children love reading books filled with adventure, delightful characters – all sprinkled with a bit of charm and smirk. All they need to do now create their own unique world behind a cupboard door,” said Liza McFadden, president of Volunteer USA.  “I know we have so many imaginative writers out there who would love the chance to meet the incomparable N.D. Wilson in person and this is their chance!” 

Students in Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties (grades 4-7) are invited to participate in the writing contest, aimed at promoting the joy of reading and imagination among youngsters. Students are asked to write their very own short story or poem set around the theme of Behind the Cupboard Door. 

“For me, the cupboard doors are about discovering the magic of this world, the magic hidden in things that we’ve always seen but never noticed. And, of course, once we see that magic, it can take us anywhere,” said Wilson.

Contest winners, accompanied by their parents, will be recognized at a special VIP breakfast, sponsored by Brown & Brown Public Risk Insurance Agency, to kickoff Volunteer USA’s 11^th Celebration of Reading event on February 11^th, 2011. Celebration is an annual event hosted by former Governor Jeb Bush  and his family to support successful family literacy programs in the southeast.  The students will be Wilson’s guests of honor at the Celebration breakfast and have the opportunity to visit with the entertaining author and read their winning submissions to the crowd.

Fifteen winners will be selected in total. They will be announced to schools and on Volunteer USA’s website at www.volunteerusafoundation.org on January 27, 2011 as part of Florida’s Celebrate Literacy Week.  Complete contest details are below.

BEHIND THE CUPBOARD DOOR CONTEST GUIDELINES

HOW TO ENTER THE BEHIND THE CUPBOARD DOOR CONTEST?

Students in grades 4-7 from the Florida counties/school districts of Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee, may participate by entering either a Poem or Essay:

Write a poem or essay based on one of the cupboards left unexplored in the book 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson. It must be able to be read aloud in 3 minutes or less. It must be your own original, creative work. Your entry must be typed and must include a title page reflecting your name, your age, the name of your county/school district, the name of your school, and your teacher’s name on it.  Entries not having ALL of this information will automatically be disqualified.

All entries must be electronically sent to Contest@VolunteerUSAFund.org OR postmarked no later than the deadline of Sunday, January 16, 2011 to:

Volunteer USA Foundation

Attn: COR2011 Writing Contest

516 North Adams Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

WHO WINS?

A panel of educators and staff at Volunteer USA Foundation (VUSA) will read and review all entries and select a total of 15 winners.  All winners will be notified by their teacher by January 24, 2011. Names of winners will also be posted on www.volunteerusafoundation.org website.

PRIZES

Winners will have the opportunity to be honored at the Celebration of Reading Children’s Breakfast with 100 Cupboards author, N.D. Wilson on Friday, February 11, 2011.  Winning students can be joined by their immediate family members; their teacher, media center specialist or librarian; principal; school district board members; and superintendent, and will be asked to read their essay or poem.

NOW FOR THE FINE PRINT…

Students from the Florida counties/school districts of Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee, in grades 4-7 may participate by entering in only one of the two options.  Entries must be original work created by students.  Adults may be consultants only. The selection of subject matter and writing must all be done by the student(s).

-          Only one entry per individual is permitted.

-          Deadline for all submissions is Sunday, January 16, 2011.

-          Winners will be notified by their teachers by Monday, January 24, 2011.

Contestants agree that VUSA may photograph and film them, publish their written entries, name(s) which may be used in future advertisement campaigns and/or marketing materials that may be on the web, in an article, in a press release or announcing the winning entries or describing the contest. Parents will be asked to sign a release form granting permission for their student winner to be named on press releases, photographed and filmed.   Volunteer USA Foundation is not responsible for any lost, delayed, damaged, misdirected, or illegal submissions. Entries cannot be returned. VUSA may disqualify any entry based on content and/or production.

BE CREATIVE!  

Submit a poem or essay about an unexplored cupboard in the book that would be of interest to other readers your age. Does it present a message in a creative or entertaining way? What makes it compelling and unique? What about it would make students want to read the book or book series?  While it is acceptable to have adult guidance and supervision on the project, the project should be BY students FOR students. Adults must be consultants only. Do not use any copyrighted material or images.

Questions? Contact: Carolyn Vega-Melendez at 850.559.2208 or via email at Contest@VolunteerUSAFund.org. For more information about our nonprofit efforts  please visit www.volunteerusafoundation.org and www.celebrationofreading.org.

SANDBLAST 2010 November 8, 2010

A200 will headline SandBlast 2010 Children’s Music Fest, a day of family fun, great music, food & drink and local business vendors. 
Local donations have sponsored the event and proceeds will benefit the Lewis P. Tabarrini Children’s Music Foundation, a new local non-profit organization whose mission is to provide instruments and lessons to those children who can’t afford it. Lewis believed that a boy or girl with a musical instrument in their hands is less likely to be getting into trouble, and he personally provided more than one child with their very first musical instrument.  The organization was founded by Lew’s children, including Bob Tabarrini of A200, the headlining band.

“When my father Lew passed away in July, my heart broke and my world felt so empty,” said Tabarrini.  “As I sat and reflected upon my Dad, I realized that even though he was not a musician, he truly loved music.  As a tribute to my Dad, the Tabarrini children established the foundation to continue the heart and spirit of a wonderful father who simply loved children and loved music.”

This family event will be held from 12pm – 5pm at the Sandbill Homes/Sandbill Realty Properties just west of US41 on Colonial Boulevard.  Sandbill is the main sponsor for the event.

“ We heard The Tabarrini Foundation was looking for a centrally located facility to host this event  and offered our 5.5 acre sales center,” says Courtney Newhaufel of Sandbill Homes and Sandbilll Realty. “We are delighted to be partnering with the foundation to give the gift of music to Southwest Florida youths.”

The goal for the SandBlast Children’s Music Fest and Family Fun Day is to raise enough money to buy 100 acoustic guitars to give to local children for Christmas.  We are also are looking for funding to be able to give more free lessons and instruments to students at the Ft. Myers Music Academy.

Activities at the family fun day will include: face painting, dunk tank, raffles, silent auction and of course, music!

A200 will play at 4 p.m. Also scheduled to play: DVS, Geek Sqwad and Soapy Tuna, all local favorites. 

Admission to the event is FREE and all are welcome to attend!

BEACH DAY BENEFIT FOR DELNOR WIGGINS PASS STATE PARK November 1, 2010

 

 

 

 

  

SAT.-NOV. 20, 2010

 

• NOON-8:30 p.m. •

Beach activites, sunset social, food & fun!

 

 

– A FUN day at the beach could help our very own Delnor-WigginsPass State Park. On Saturday, November 20th from noon to 8:30 p.m., the Friends of Delnor-Wiggins

Pass State Park will host “Green Flash,” a Sunset Celebration fundraiser event.

Throughout the afternoon, guests will enjoy guided kayaking, boat tours, scavenger hunt, auction, and a

gorgeous Southwest Florida sunset. To top off the day, guests will enjoy a Green Flash sunset toast, a

delicious array of gourmet hors d’oeuvres and hot food stations created by The Turtle Club and served

at Moraya Bay, both, event partners and neighbors of the park. Ending the night will be just as exciting

with a beach bonfire, storytelling and live entertainment. Make your day at the beach count at the Green

Flash benefit on Saturday, November 20th.

The half-day benefit will fund new park interpretive signs to improve educational opportunities for all our

area residents and guests. Tickets are $125 per person and include the entire half-day of activities, Green

Flash toast, food, complimentary beer and wine, plus great entertainment. For tickets and information, call

(239) 398-7687 or visit DelnorWiggins.org to register and pay online.