Noon Rotary Club’s Bike Ride Exceeds Expectations By Raising $5,000!

The Noon Rotary Club of New Tampa raised $5,000.

As a proud member of the Noon Rotary Club of New Tampa — which meets Wednesdays at noon in Mulligan’s Irish Pub, inside the Pebble Creek Golf Club — I am happy to announce that the club’s fourth annual bike rally to benefit U.S. military veterans and first responders on March 25 raised “about $5,000,” according to event chair and local orthodontist Dr. Steven Dau. “Even though we reduced our sponsorship cost (to $100 per sponsor), we had way more riders this year (almost 60) than last (closer to 30), so we actually came out ahead.”

The rally — which is not a race — offered riders a 4-, 18- or 39-mile course, starting from the Chili’s Grill & Bar on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (directly adjacent to the BBD entrance to Flatwoods Wilderness Park), while raising funds to benefit four nonprofit charities that help local veterans, law enforcement and firefighters.

Noon Rotary president Valerie Casey says that during the four years of the event to date, nearly 300 riders have helped this small (only 21 members) Rotary Club raise more than $23,000 to help the club’s selected charities. “We’re small, but we’re mighty,” Valerie says. “If you’re looking for a club where every member truly believes in the Rotary International motto of ‘Service Above Self,’ we should be your club, too. Our members are more like family because we really love and support each other.”

The club also is partnering on an upcoming project with City Council member Luis Viera and the original Rotary Club of New Tampa (which meets Fridays at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club) to beautify Tampa Fire Rescue Fire Station No. 20 in Tampa Palms.

Proceeds from this year’s bike rally will benefit four nonprofits — Support the Troops, the Stay in Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue & The Homefront Foundation.

This year’s sponsors included Chili’s, The Little Greek Restaurant, Gentle Care Dentistry (the office of Dr. Tom Frankfurth), Stifel Financial/Mike Wallace, Children’s Dentistry (the office of Dr. Greg Stepanski), State Farm Insurance/Joyce Coleman and the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News.

For more info about the New Tampa Noon Rotary and its international and local service projects, visit one of our meetings as my guest or search “NewTampaNoonRotary” on Facebook.

Red Carpet Affair, bigger and better

From conga lines to DJ dancing, the annual Red Carpet Affair at St. James Church is #1 with local special needs families.

St. James United Methodist Church, located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Tampa Palms, hosted its 8th annual Red Carpet Affair on April 1.

It’s a prom-like experience for people ages 16 and older with special needs, regardless of their religious affiliation. The Red Carpet Affair is a culmination of months of hard work by many dedicated volunteers, with planning starting in November, and donations from St. James’ congregation and the local community.

Organizers says that more than 140 volunteers are the glue of this event because they shared their time and talents to make this prom another major success for guests.

Ladies who attend the “Affair” sign up for appointments in the “Diva Room,” where they are pampered with facials, manicures and given professionally styled hairdos and makeup.

Parents and caregivers are able to enjoy a reception all their own, giving them a place to sit back, relax and enjoy each other’s company.

The St. James sanctuary was transformed into a dance hall with walls of light, balloon arrangements, and — of course — limitless smiles. Each guest gets to experience a prom-like atmosphere with a walk down a red carpet, professional photography and DJ dancing.

Live Fusion Entertainment played all of the current hits from the radio and even led a conga line, which is a favorite among guests and volunteers alike.

This amazing community event was attended by more than 280 guests, parents and caregivers, making it the largest Red Carpet Affair to date. Several of those in attendance said that the Affair is the event of the year for Tampa Bay-area special needs families.

Carlene Barbeau, a veteran volunteer for the event, described the prom as “more of a joy for me than for our special needs friends. It is incredible to see people from all ages, backgrounds and abilities come together to dance, laugh and appreciate our uniqueness.”

If you would like to be part of next year’s Red Carpet Affair, or other ongoing events for those with special needs, contact Zach Grant, director of Special Connections, at specialconnections@stjamestampa.org.