Polk County Public Schools
Youth-oriented groups, associations and organizations are invited to apply for grant money to be used for community service projects addressing a local need. The Polk County Youth Service Learning Council, composed of public and private school students, is awarding grants of $250 to $500 to youth groups.
The groups are required to use the grant money for community service projects that serve the elderly, improve literacy, prevent drug use or violence or help animals.
The application deadline is Friday, March 14. For further information on the application process and project requirements contact Jayne Bates, Crowe Chizek and Company LLC, at (863) 603-4836. Grant awards will be announced on April 1, 2008.
The Service Learning Council, consisting of 19 young people, will review applications and select grant awardees. Lakeland’s Crowe Chizek and Company LLC is a Polk County Youth Service Learning Council sponsor.
Funded projects are required to submit a final report describing preparation, service provided, project activities, participants, accomplishments and an accounting of how awarded funds were spent. Groups awarded a grant will also participate in an end-of-project event and make a presentation on their activities.
Projects also need to be started by April 25, 2008, Global Youth Service Day. The Service Learning Council is tying-in this endeavor with Global Youth Service Day.
The Superintendent’s 5K Run/Walk for Excellence will be held Saturday, April 5 at the Fort Fraser Trail in Highland City, south of Lakeland just off U.S. Highway 98 South.
A 5K Run/Walk begins at 8 a.m. followed by a Kids Fun Run at 9 a.m. Entry fees for the event will be used for programs in the school district’s gifted student education department. There are no entry fees for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Race awards will be given out to male and female overall winners, male and female masters (40 and over) and the top three finishers in gender and age group divisions.
Contact Pam Sudzina at (863) 534-0934 for event details and registration information or for information on the school district’s gifted student education programs. Parking on race day is available at the Jim Miles Professional Development Center, 5204 U.S. Highway 98 South, Lakeland.
View Event Details here
Visit the Gifted Department's district information page here.