DON’T MISS THE COMMUNITY TENNIS EVENT OF THE YEAR!

To celebrate the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) designation of May as National Tennis Month and USPTA’s (United States Professional Tennis Association) “Tennis Across America Day”, a Tennis Block Party is planned for Saturday, May 8th from 10 am to 2 pm at the Henry L. McMullen Tennis Complex in Clearwater.  

The Suncoast Tennis Foundation has partnered with the City of Clearwater, local USPTA District 7 teaching professionals and Advantage Yours Tennis to provide a day full of tennis racquet and skill games for all ages and levels.  With approximately 600 participants, last year’s event gained local and national attention as one of the most successful events of its kind in the country.  Fact:  Tennis is the fastest growing traditional sport since 2000.  Tennis participation grew by 43.0% while soccer grew by only 0.1% and golf was minus 5.2% between 2000 and 2009.  

The event is FREE and open to the public.  NO registration is required.  Kids and adults will find a variety of activities.  The Block Party will showcase the unparalleled health and social benefits of tennis in a fun and dynamic way.  Some of the highlights for the kids include the new QuickStart Tennis format that helps kids 10 and under learn and play the game by utilizing specialized equipment.  Now any child between ages five and ten can start playing tennis almost immediately, even if they have never picked up a racquet before.  A special feature this year is “Parents Play” where parents will be on court playing QuickStart tennis with their children.  For the four and under group, there will be a Tot Tennis Carnival.

Adults and experienced youth players will have an opportunity to play in an informal round robin for all skill levels and receive a NTRP level assessment.  Information will be available on joining the USTA and local leagues and programs for adults and youths.  All participants will receive prizes.

A highlight will be vendor courts with representatives from all the major equipment manufacturers providing demo racquets for trial use.  All the vendors will have great giveaways and Advantage Yours will give a percentage discount to all who make a purchase at the store as a result of their attending the Block Party.

The Henry L. McMullen Tennis Complex is located at 1000 Edenville Ave., Clearwater, FL 33764; 727-669-1919.

For further information contact Judy Foster, Executive Director, Suncoast Tennis Foundation, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

February 19, 2010 - Largo, FL - The Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast offers a safe and structured environment for 5,500 children annually, but there are 100,000 more teens in Pinellas County who need help. Originally founded in 1959, the BGCS has provided a positive place where every child can participate, regardless of race, religion or financial situation and no child is ever turned away for the inability to pay. With total giving down 5.7% across the country the BGCS is calling upon some of its staunchest supporters to dig deep at their upcoming 50th Anniversary Celebration on January 30, 2010 at the Sirata Beach Resort. The event will raise much needed money to fund scholarships at each of their eleven clubs.

An original piece of artwork donated by the renowned Slovak American glass sculptor and entrepreneur, Dale Chihuly, is to be auctioned off during the event. Chihuly created and signed the unique piece to celebrate the BGCS 50th Anniversary. Chihuly's work is included in over 200 museum collections worldwide.

PINELLAS PARK — County environmental officials may reprimand the Boys and Girls Club after children, teens and other volunteer workers were possibly exposed to asbestos during renovation of the group's Pinellas Park building.

The exposure took place when the volunteers scraped up old floor tiles. The adhesive used to glue the tiles to the floor contained small amounts of the toxic substance, said Peter Hessling, air quality division manager for Pinellas County Environmental Control. He called the exposure "very minimal, at most."

Hessling said a county investigation showed the Boys and Girls Club did not intend to violate the rules. The group had ordered an asbestos survey before beginning the renovations. The survey indicated there was no problem with asbestos but the Boys and Girls Club did not limit the work to the study parameters. However, the club responded correctly by ordering another study and warning the volunteers who had taken part once the county questioned the situation.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast was part of the unveiling of Clearwater Beach’s newest masterpiece….The Gallery at Sandpearl.

A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 10:00AM in which the new gallery showcasing the work on many Florida artists was opened.  Mr. Stuart Arp, General Manager for the Sandpearl Resort welcomed guests, political officials and invited Carl Lavender, President/CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast to speak about the importance of partnerships in our community.

As part of The Gallery at Sandpearl’s Grand Opening, several artists volunteered their talent and time to paint a mural (along with all of our North Greenwood Club Members, of course) at the North Greenwood Boys & Girls Club in Clearwater on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.  Our kids, staff and the artists had a blast and the wall mural is truly a work of art!

“The experience was so amazing!  I am so truly impressed with your organization and the wonderful children and teens we were so blessed to work with that day.  The boys and girls were so appreciative, but we continue to feel that we owe the thanks to them for the making such an impact on our lives” said Lisa Marie Potts, of HG Art Consultants in Orlando. 

Thank you Sandpearl for including Boys & Girls Clubs in the Gallery Grand Opening and thank you Lisa, Chris and Star sharing your talents with our kids & Club!

ST. PETERSBURG, FL. --- Supporters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast journeyed back to the 1960s to celebrate the organization's half-century mark. Tie-dye costumes seemed to be de rigueur for the fundraiser, which drew about 400 guests to the Sirata Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach to be entertained by music of the period, go-go dancers and an Elvis Presley impersonator.

BGCS has its roots in the Boys Club of Pinellas Park, founded in November 1959 by Maurice L. MacTarsney, then the police chief, and Margaret "Peg" Nunn. In its current incarnation, led by executive director Carl Lavender Jr., the nonprofit has 11 clubs in Pinellas County.

Honored during the evening were founders, longtime supporters and sustainers of BGCS: Bob and Claudia Sokolowski and the Nicklaus family, including Harry and Beverly Nicklaus, Lenné Nicklaus-Ball, Deborah Nicklaus, Gregg Nicklaus and Valerie Nicklaus.

Amy Maguire and Lenné Nicklaus-Ball were co-chairs of the gala, a fundraiser for club scholarships.

The event committee included Alex Glenn, Andy Winkler, Angie Piazza, Barbara Royston, Bernie Craig, Bill Bennett, Brandi Winans, Carla Mattern, Cat Coats, Catherine McGarry, Derek Berset, Edie Spies, Georgetta Doyle, Jay Coats, Jim Coats, Kara Behar, Katja Weinstock, Leroy Sullivan, Rick Carrick and Tiffany Oferloch.

By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009

PINELLAS PARK – Earlier this month Pinellas Park Police Sgt. Tracey Schofield walked 181 miles across Florida to help Pinellas County’s homeless and the local Boys and Girls Club.

Now he is establishing a new charity called the Police and Kids Foundation that will provide scholarships for Pinellas Park High School students seeking careers in criminal justice and other fields.

His Walk for Hope event was successful in gathering contributions for Pinellas Hope, the homeless shelter, and the Boys and Girls Club, in the amount of approximately $25,000. But it wasn’t an easy project and Schofield still suffers pain from the 181 mile trek across the state.