Christmas Comes Early for University-Area Children
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) December 24, 2013 -- Through the combined efforts of the Hyde Park Smoothie King and the University Area CDC, Christmas came early for several University-area children Wednesday morning.
“Helping to give these kids a Christmas they may not have otherwise had really brings the community together,” said Ronnie Oliver, director of development at the UACDC. “It’s great to see so many people come together to put a smile on a child’s face.”
The gifts were delivered to the UACDC as a result of an independent toy drive held across town. Families were invited to the campus and children selected several presents ranging from dolls and remote controlled cars to train sets and castle-shaped tents.
Justin Clark, owner of the Smoothie King located in Hyde Park, has been accumulating toys from customers all year and offers a refreshing incentive to help drive the collection. “We give a free smoothie to anyone who brings a new toy,” he said. “This is our eighth year and it keeps getting bigger and better.”
Partnerships throughout the community along with focused philanthropy are what make UACDC’s program special. “We work with our community partners to identify families who don’t just have need, but who are also working hard to improve their lives,” explained Oliver.
Detective Aquino at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has been working with the UACDC for five years and was instrumental in assisting one particular family. “Three-year-old Tianna was adopted by her grandmother at birth and now, her grandmother is battling cancer,” Oliver said. “Detective Aquino is extremely involved in getting them the help they need and made it his mission to ensure Tianna had a Christmas, as well as give her grandmother one less thing to worry about.”
About the UACDC
The University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc. (UACDC) is a 501(c)(3) public/private partnership whose mission is children and family development, crime prevention and commerce growth. Its primary focus is the redevelopment and sustainability of the at-risk areas surrounding the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida. The UACDC was named Nonprofit of the Year for public and societal benefit by the Tampa Bay Business Journal in 2011 and 2012. It is headquartered in the University Area Community Center Complex, owned by Hillsborough County and operated by the UACDC, which is located at 14013 North 22nd Street in Tampa. For more information about UACDC, please visit http://www.uacdc.org or call Dan Jurman at 813-558-5212, ext. 208.
Alicia Welch, Vistra Communications, http://www.consultvistra.com, +1 (813) 961-4700, [email protected]
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