Pasco Kids First

Child Advocacy and Protection

Pasco Kids First

Children's Advocacy Center

Keeping Kids Safe, Strengthening Families

FMC Foundation of Caring Supports PKF Trauma Therapy Program

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The Florida Medical Clinic Foundation of Caring selected Pasco Kids First as a grant recipient in the amount of $10,000.  The Foundation CEO Angela Pottinger along with Development Coordinator Ami Haberle and Board Member Ashley Jennings toured the Pasco Kids First Dade City Office and presented the check to Pasco Kids First team members. The funds from the grant are being used to provide therapy and case management services for children who have experienced a traumatic event.  The Foundation encourages philanthropy in all its forms; gifts of time, talent and treasure to leverage support from the Clinic, employees, providers, vendors, community groups and individuals. The FMC Foundation of Caring was founded in 2005 and has granted more than $2.5 million to 135 local non-profits who met important community needs. To learn more visit: http://fmcfoundationofcaring.org.

Pictured left to right: Layton Jennings, Ashley Jennings, Dana Selfridge, Angela Pottinger, Angelita Rodriguez, Becky Bennett

Fraternal Order of Eagles Support Children at Pasco Kids First

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Spring Hill – The Fraternal Order or Eagles Spring Hill Aerie #4208 presented Pasco Kids First with a check for $5,653.61 on June 5th to support their mission to keep kids safe and strengthen families. Long term member of the Eagles group, Marvin Riley, has been an inspiration to the group with his dedication to children’s charities for many years after experiencing cancer. Riley was proud to present the check to Becky Bennett, Pasco Kids First Director of Development and Board Member Roz Fenton sharing the importance of caring for our children as they are our future. The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope. The root of the group is giving back to the community and as an extension of those beliefs, they honor those who contribute to making life safer for all of us. To learn more visit, http://www.foe4208.org/.

Pictured left to right: Tom Rusiecki, Roz Fenton, Becky Bennett, Marvin Riley, Todd Lowman

Pasco Kids First’s Dade City Office Ribbon Cutting

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Pasco Kids First held an Open House and Ribbon-Cutting Celebration of their new East Pasco Office located at the Dade City Business Center – 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103.  The Dade City Chamber of Commerce coordinated the ribbon-cutting presentation. The new office houses the Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando East Pasco Team and Trauma Treatment Team.  Approximately 50 guests will enjoyed light refreshments while meeting team members and learning more about the services provided for children and families in East Pasco.

Pasco Kids First is a private, not-for-profit organization serving children and families in Pasco County for 30 years with the mission to keep kids safe and strengthen families by providing services addressing child abuse and neglect. The programs include prevention, assessment and treatment services.

In 2018, Pasco Kids First served 1,473 children at the Children’s Advocacy Center through child abuse assessments or therapy services. The Healthy Families program provided 3,984 educational home visits to 252 families with 461 children.  For more information about Pasco Kids First, visit www.pascokidsfirst.org.

Healthy Families West Pasco Graduation

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The Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando West Pasco Team held their 2019 Graduation honoring seven Graduate families at Marchman Technical College. The graduating parents included: Essence Rivers, Xhuljeta Macchio, Brienna Tremayne, Stephanie Madewill, John Eddington, Jasmine Velazquez and Jessica Davidson. The parents received a diploma and their children were excited to wear their new Graduation cap and loved the Graduation cake. Following dinner, the Healthy Families Program shared the successes these parents had with the provided parenting education, goal setting and problem solving skills to overcome any challenge. Special guests included King Pithla Paul Friedlander and Queen Chasco Lisa Shippy-Gonzalez. For more information about Healthy Families, visit pascokidsfirst.org.

 

Fraternity Donates to Pasco Kids First

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The Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity President, Chris Lawrence, along with several members presented Pasco Kids First with a check donation of $1,500.00 at their Children’s Advocacy Center. In 2018, Pasco County had 6,600 child abuse reports. Pasco Kids First served 1,473 children through child abuse assessments or therapy services at their Children’s Advocacy Center.

The Florida Alpha Lambda Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa is the only named Fraternity in the United States not associated with a College or University.  The fraternity’s local chapter of 50 brothers from a variety of different occupations including teachers, law enforcement, business owners, doctors and contractors meet weekly at their PDK Banquet Hall on SR. 54 in Odessa.  The rentals from their banquet hall help support not only the day to day operations but also local charities in the community.

 

Pictured Steve Ward, Becky Bennett, Billy Sage, Tommy Dunn, Chris Lawrence, David Sheppard, Kelly Plouffe, Joe Grande, Jon Wisenbaker, Paul Friedlander

Pasco Kids First Earned a 2019 Gold Seal of Transparency

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Pasco Kids First earned the 2019 Gold Seal by adding information to our Nonprofit Profile on GuideStar. Now our community members as well as 10+ million GuideStar users can find in-depth information about our goals, strategies, capabilities and progress. We’re a shining spotlight a on the difference we help make in the world.

Plus, we’ve provided fresh information to 200+ charitable websites and applications that use GuideStar data such as AmazonSmile, Facebook and Network for Good.

What do you think? Check out our profile at https://www.guidestar.org/Profile/7941447

GuideStar is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. Foundation Center and GuideStar have joined forces to become a new nonprofit called Candid. Learn more at candid.org.

 

 

Healthy Families Program Receives Tummy Time Quilts

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Several members of the Casa del Sol Quilter’s Group in Zephyrhills delivered a donation of 150 tummy time quilts to the Pasco Kids First Healthy Families Program in Hudson.  This talented and generous group of ladies presented the beautiful quilts with a variety of children’s designs and holiday patterns. The Healthy Families workers give the donated quilts to families during home visits to teach the importance of tummy time to help their baby to build strong neck muscles. Weekly home visits include an activity with mommy, daddy, baby and worker on the floor to promote parent child interaction, bonding and brain development. For more information about Healthy Families, visit pascokidsfirst.org.

Quilters pictured include: Dody Schendler, Joan Roszmann, Judy Lamb, Gail Baker, Lin Coats, Cindy Keppel, Carol Heberlein, MaryAnn Martin, Lena O’Neal

Healthy Families Team Members pictured: Rhonda Harper, Gail Steadman, Belkisa Zoraja, Mary Sandvik, Ana Venegas, Jennifer Beldotti, Dana Selfridge, Annette Saxon

 

Daughters of Penelope Baby Shower

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The Daughters of Penelope EROS Chapter 356 held a baby shower event at their monthly meeting at St. George Community Center in New Port Richey. There was no specific mommy to be or baby present but the group of caring and generous women each brought in baby items such as diapers, toys and some of the most darling outfits for baby boys and girls. The gifts were presented to Becky Bennett with Pasco Kids First for their Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando program, a positive-parenting home visiting program for expecting families or those with newborns. In addition, the ladies donated journals, toiletry items, undergarments and more for the kids served at the Pasco Kids First Children’s Advocacy Center.  The Daughters of Penelope formed 38 years ago and support a variety of charities throughout the year.

Pasco Kids First Ribbon Cutting/Open House

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Pasco Kids First is holding an Open House and Ribbon Cutting on Friday, May 10th from 12pm – 2pm of their new East Pasco Office located at the Dade City Business Center – 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103.  The ribbon cutting will take place at 1pm by the Dade City Chamber of Commerce.   The new office houses the Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando East Pasco Team and Trauma Treatment Team.  Guests will enjoy light refreshments while meeting team members and learning more about the services provided for children and families in East Pasco.

Pasco Kids First is a private, not-for-profit organization serving children and families in Pasco County for 30 years with the mission to keep kids safe and strengthen families by providing services addressing child abuse and neglect. The programs include prevention, assessment and treatment services.

In 2018, Pasco Kids First served 1,473 children at the Children’s Advocacy Center through child abuse assessments or therapy services. The Healthy Families program provided 3,984 educational home visits to 252 families with 461children.  For more information about Pasco Kids First, visit www.pascokidsfirst.org or call 727-845-8080.

Flyer: Dade City Ribbon Cutting (1)

Tampa Bay Newcomers Donate $2,500 to PKF

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The Tampa Bay Newcomers Charity Committee, chaired by Sandy Smith, selected Pasco Kids First as their annual charitable donation recipient.  Pasco Kids First representatives Becky Bennett and Jon Wisenbaker were joined by Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando Graduate Michelle Barber at the group’s monthly membership luncheon. Barber shared her story of being a first time mother of twins and the impact the organization made on her family.   Tampa Bay Newcomers President Marleen Eagan presented Pasco Kids First with a check for $2,500.

Tampa Bay Newcomers was founded in 1950 to extend the hand of friendship for women who want to make new friends.  The club is both a social and community service organization. Monthly luncheons are held throughout the Tampa Bay area and feature local speakers.

  Photo Attached: Pictured left to right: Sandy Smith, Michelle Barber, Becky Bennett, Jon Wisenbaker, Marleen Eagan

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