For Immediate Release Contact: Beth Leytham
February 29,2024 [email protected]
(813) 245-1522
Brad Gregory
(813)-381-3839
A Kid’s Place Fostering Hope Gala Raised Nearly $1,000,000
A Kid’s Place valued partner, KeHE, received the 2024 Dottie Berger MacKinnon “Voice of Children’s Rights” award during the Fostering Hope Gala. Proudly receiving the award on behalf of KeHE for its commitment to abused and neglected children was Mindy Sarino, Lisa Burke and Kelly Telford.
(BRANDON, FLA.) – In wholeheartedly embracing Brandon-based A Kid’s Place and its commitment to education, mental health, and the independent living, the 10th Annual Fostering Hope Gala, presented by Homes by WestBay, netted a record $990,000 on Saturday, February 17, 2024. The Diamond themed event took place at the Motor Enclave with approximately 450 people in attendance.
“This year’s event was successful beyond our expectations, and a true testament to the heart of our community,” said Board Chair, Beth Bradburn, Homes by WestBay Vice President and CFO. These funds will go a long way in supporting the children we assist.”
Founded in 2009, A Kid’s Place is a unique safe haven for children in the foster care system. Its home-like, residential program assists children from birth to age 22 who were removed from their parent’s care because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. In addition to offering services to meet the social, medical, educational, and psychological needs of foster children, A Kid’s Place puts a special emphasis on keeping siblings together in a stable, and nurturing environment.
Funds raised from the Fostering Hope Gala directly assist in providing essential daily health and welfare needs of the children A Kid’s Place serves, including food and clothing, personal care necessities, fun activities, and maintenance needs for A Kid’s Place residential facility. Since its inception, A Kid’s Place has provided care to 1660 children — 87% of them sibling groups – and 735 families. Additionally, children have been provided over 270,000 bed nights “safe harbor”, including warm beds, clean clothes and pajamas, and healthy meals.
“It is a bit like catching ‘lightning in a bottle’,” commented Brad Gregory, CEO of A Kid’s Place. “I am very humbled to be part of a community that truly invests in the lives of the children we serve.”
Homes by WestBay has been committed to A Kid’s Place for several years. As the largest locally owned, privately held homebuilder in Tampa Bay, Homes by WestBay imbues a culture of leadership and giving back to the local community not only through financial contributions, but through time and service. In fact, West Bay was integral in launching A Kid’s Place’s independent living program which helps high school graduates who are in the foster care system transition to living on their own.
About Homes by WestBay – Founded in 2009, Homes by WestBay is Tampa Bay’s largest locally- owned, privately held homebuilder. Throughout Tampa Bay, including Pasco, Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee Counties, Homes by WestBay designs and develops the finest communities and best neighborhoods. We deliver exceptional quality and value in our price range, superior design and lead the market in customer satisfaction.
Homes by WestBay is a recognized Energy Star Market Leader, earned the 2019 Platinum Builder Award from the Annual Builder Achievement Awards Program through 2-10 Homebuyers Warranty, and has received numerous other awards from the Tampa Bay Builders Association and the Southeast Building Conference. For more information, visit www.HomesByWestBay.com or get social with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About A Kid’s Place – Founded in 2009 by Dottie Berger MacKinnon, A Kid’s Place was designed as a solution to issues regarding child welfare services in our community and is a model program in the child welfare system, adhering to and exceeding best practices in this field. Our Siblings Connected program and House Parent model are what make A Kid’s Place unique, as siblings are allowed to be placed together and begin to heal from the trauma they have endured in a safe and loving home-like environment.
A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay has helped over 1,660 children and 735 families since inception. A Kid’s Place is CARF Accredited in Group Home Care and has received a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 84% of all funds raised directly supports our programs. For more information visit www.akidsplacetb.org or get social with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
