The Pasco Tribune - A Section of The Tampa Tribune - July 22, 2005
By: Bob Loring

On July 14, honored delegates of The American Dream Congress were welcomed to the East Campus of Pasco-Hernando Community College by campus Provost Randall Stovall and Student Activities Director Jessica White.

Stovall read a letter of support from the new president of PHCC, Katherine Johnson, and White read a letter by new Rotary District Gov. David West. Stovall announced we would be able to use the campus for December's Dade City Toys for Tots toy distribution.

How wonderful it will be for families of children we serve to visit and have a positive experience at this picturesque campus.

If you haven't had the chance to see the newly redesigned campus, you are missing something special. It combines a warm and friendly atmosphere with perfect setting for higher learning.

Our delegates have a unique makeup. Sitting together were representatives from many walks of life and professions. This included state and local governments, the school system, the medical profession, social service clubs, clergy, the Marine Corps League, community college, media, Boys & Girls Club and the private sector, among others.

Attending our fourth TAD Congress were some of the finest people in Pasco County. As always, I was honored to be a part of it.

Here is a recap:

Step 1: Back-to-School physicals for children without health insurance were completed July 9.

Madali Rodriguez reported on work recently completed by our friends from Premier Community HealthCare. They braved a passing hurricane to provide free back-to-school physicals for a number of children.

Also, we were thrilled that volunteers Carole Bernhardt and Kay Parker, representing Child Protection Education of America Inc., were on hand to fingerprint and photograph children to create an identification card and fingerprint packet for parents.

This packet will be an essential tool should these children become missing. We applaud these fine folks and hope to work closely with them again.

Debbie Nix informed delegates of a coalition formed by area health maintenance organizations.

This first-rate group has eagerly banded together to assist our ongoing STEPS (School Tools that Empower and Promote Success) and Toys for Tots efforts.

Last year at Toys for Tots time, the coalition provided us with enormous assistance and manpower throughout east Pasco.

We welcome them and admire their selfless approach to assisting our children in need.

Step 2: On Aug. 6, STEPS is planning to provide back-to-school supplies for needy children in Zephyrhills, Land O' Lakes, Dade City and Tri-Community areas.
(We still need assistance for this effort. Please plan to donate school supplies in your area. Go to our Web site www.eastpascosteps.org for information and our official sign-up sheet.)

Each captain form our four distribution sites spoke: Anna Fulk, (813)598-2938, for Zephyrhills; Harry Schultz spoke for Laura Qunitana, (813)949-3527. for Land O' Lakes; Jess White, (352)518-1224, for Dade City; and Denny Mihalinec, (352)518-0980, for Tri-Community.

Zephyrhills Police Chief Russell Barnes announced his department's annual school supply drive had joined forces with STEPS. This welcome merger was established to avoid duplicating efforts and services. This is the essence of TAD's goal of networking and combining efforts. It will ensure that our limited resources reach as many needy children as heavenly possible.

This being STEPS' first attempt at providing school supplies, we are not certain how thins will work out. We will attempt to provide assistance to children at our four locations throughout east Pasco.

And we continue to have faith in the power generated by many fine organizations and valued friends.

They come through for us big during the holiday season, and we hope and pray they will again support the expansion of our work. No matter what happens this year- our learning year - I promise we will become more effective each year.

State Rep. Ken Littlefield of Wesley chapel offered a marvelous speech of support that matched his enthusiasm for our goals. Delegates were truly inspired by his forceful speech and the unique opportunity to speak with attending elected officials.

Step 3: Toys for Tots of East Pasco will provide full-service toy distributions at each of the areas discussed above.

Note: We are partnering with several local Rotary clubs, and we are hoping to expand our toy and school supply distributions to Wesley Chapel and San Antonio.

Pat Mulieri, our compassionate county commissioner, also addressed delegates. Her inspiring words encouraged us to continue with our plans and methods.

Then she presented us with a resolution of support form the county signed by all commissioners and affixed with the county seal.

We spent the last part of the afternoon in frank discussions about the current plight of needy children. We conversed about new ways of cooperating and how we might enhance efforts and services.

It was a most exhilarating day.

We managed to establish the necessary atmosphere of trust that fosters partnership and cooperation among our varied groups.

God bless you all!

The writer, who lives near San Antonio, is the chief organizer of East Pasco Toys for Tots and co-host of The American Dream Congress at PHCC.

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