Compiled by Michelle Colesanti

Golf Scramble Fundraiser Benefits Royal Family Kids

On Tuesday, April 25 from 5:30-9 p.m., Royal Family Kids Tampa will hold its first annual fundraiser golf scramble at Top Golf in Brandon. Enjoy over two hours of golf, a hot breakfast and listen to a keynote speaker.
Prizes will be given away for the good (and not so good) performances. A silent auction will be held. All proceeds support a week of camp for kids that have experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment. Corporate sponsorship is available as well as individual registration.

Visit www.TampaKidsCamp.org or contact Scott Mulhollen, camp director at 641-4141 or email at scott@rfkctb.com.

Lenten Mission Speaker Comes To St. Stephen Catholic Church

Dr. Ann Garrido, a Catholic writer, educator, administrator and communications consultant who has a passion for bringing the best research and practice of healthy communication and conflict management from the business world into the church world, will be the Lenten Mission Speaker at St. Stephen Catholic Church, Monday to Wednesday, April 3-5 at 7 p.m. each night. She will speak about “Redeeming Conflict.

“Sometimes we think that if we were good Christians, our lives would be void of conflict. Nothing could be further than the truth. The witness of Jesus and the history of the church tells us that conflict is a perennial factor of life lived in community with others. But, the tensions we encounter don’t need to tear us apart.

Handled well, they have potential to help us build much stronger relationships with each other and become holier persons. Come reflect on what the Christian tradition has to teach us about conflict done well,” Garrido said. St. Stephen is located at 5049 Bell Shoals Rd. in Valrico. Visit StStephenCatholic.org.

Food Pantry Volunteers Hold Food Drive

Saint Anne Catholic Church Food Pantry partners with Feeding Tampa Bay, USDA, Publix and Winn-Dixie supermarkets and Saint Anne Parishioners to assist an average of 400 families each week as well as the homeless in the South Shore Area. The food pantry is open every Wednesday from 9 a.m.-12 Noon. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. All in need are welcome.

Food Pantry volunteers held a food drive at Publix Supermarket in Apollo Beach in February where 5,000 pounds of food and $800 in charitable donations were collected to help stock the food pantry shelves.

Saint Anne Catholic Church is located at U.S. Hwy. 41 and 11th Avenue N.E. in Ruskin. For information about the Parish, visit SaintAnneRuskin.org.

Brandon Christian Women’s Connection Luncheon

The Brandon Christian Women’s Connection luncheon My best friend is in her 70’s and can’t remember diddly will feature Jill Andrew from Superior Residences in Brandon. The luncheon on Monday, April 10 is nondenominational and no membership is required. It will take place from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The cost is $15 and first time guests pay $10. The luncheon will take place at Bell Shoals Baptist Church in the Special Event Center, 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. in Brandon.  Please call Lillie at 740-0098 for a reservation or information. 

Saint Anne Catholic Church Hosted Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage

Saint Anne Parish hosted a Virtual Pilgrimage with the North American Lourdes Volunteers in February. The event included a guided Lourdes experience, during which participants immersed in the Gospel message of Lourdes given by Our Lady to St. Bernadette, had the opportunity to touch Grotto Rock and experience the healing grace of Lourdes Water, and received a Plenary Indulgence granted by Papal Decree.

Saint Anne Catholic Church is located at U.S. Hwy. 41 and 11th Avenue N.E. in Ruskin. For more information about the Parish, visit SaintAnneRuskin.org.

Knights of Columbus International Free Throw Championship

The Saint Stephen Knights of Columbus Council 14084 has participated in sponsoring its Parish competition to allow students from the parish and school an opportunity to compete in this Knights event. Statewide shooters test their skills and mental fortitude to advance through several rounds to a state championship held by our Florida Council each year.

Four shooters advanced from the District competition at Nativity and participated in the Regional competition held at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz. Tabitha Vega, Noelle Herrera, Brianna Spencer, and Austin Wiles represented the Council with great skill and character. It is not an easy competition as each contestant must shoot 25 free throws in hopes to make more than their fellow competitors. It takes not only skill but also one’s ability to focus and overcome nerves.

Austin Wiles was fortunate enough to move on to the state competition held in March in Clermont, by winning his regional 10 year old age group. Austin was able to come out on top and bring home his second consecutive First Place State Free Throw championship for the council and school.

Flag Folder Ceremony At St. Stephen Catholic School

On February 1, members of the Color Corps from Monsignor John F. Scully Assembly 3419 visited St. Stephen Catholic School for a Flag Folding Ceremony. Color Corp Commander S/K Shawn Ryan, S/K Mark Lovejoy PGK, S/K Ed Veronic and S/K Julio Alvarez PGK, FFN, FDD showed the children the proper way to fold the American Flag and explained what each of the 13 folds represents.

Heather Stanley, 4th Grade Teacher, stated that one of the most important lessons that the children learned was that our country is rooted in a deep faith in God. For many of the children, this was the first time that they had seen a flag folding ceremony.

It was a very peaceful and well-spoken ceremony. You could see that many of the children were very intrigued and impressed by this.

Fifth Annual Golf Tournament Hosted By Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church will hold its Fifth Annual Golf Tournament at River Hills Country Club, on Saturday, April 29, at 1 p.m.  Prizes will be awarded to the winning foursome as well as for Longest Drive and Closest to the Hole Contests. There are also Hole in One Prizes and a Putting competition.

The event will conclude with dinner, a raffle and silent auction during the Awards Ceremony. For individual and foursome registration as well as sponsorship opportunities visit www.hiepiscopal.org. All proceeds will benefit the mission and ministries of Holy Innocents Episcopal Church.

Scrap For Missions At Bay Life Church

Bay Life Church announces its annual Spring Crop on Friday, April 21 from 6:30-11 p.m. and Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., benefiting youth activities and mission trips. Bring your own supplies to work on paper crafting projects in a well-lit and fun atmosphere. The registration fee is tax deductible, and includes continental breakfast, home cooked lunch, drinks and snacks all day, plus scrapbook/crop space, swap table, goody bags and door prizes.

There will be “Make and Take” stations (for a nominal fee), a silent auction (including retired Stampin’ Up!® products), and raffle baskets valued between $150 and $300.
For $5 donation, get 100 photos scanned.

The cost is $25 for Friday night, $30 for Saturday, or $45 for both if you register by April 14.  Late registrations, late payments and walk-ins are welcome with registration fee of $30 for Friday night, $35 for Saturday or $55 for both.

 Register at www.baylife.org/scrapbooking. Space is not reserved until paid in full.

Flow Fitness Puts New Spin On Specialty Fitness Boutiques For Reviving Women

Kara Birkey, founder and visionary behind Flow Fitness, has created a fresh concept for women in the workout industry. Flow Fitness provides women with a variety of specialty fitness classes fueled by pure music within a virtuous environment. Opening Saturday, March 25, Flow Fitness will be Riverview’s first specialty fitness boutique for women. Birkley, having served as an administrative assistant for a top-selling gym owner for more than 10 years felt the time was right for something fresh in this trending industry.
Envision a place to get your sweat on and then take a little time to rejuvenate yourself in the state of the art “REVIVE ROOM”.

Flow Fitness offers a variety of trending classes guided by genuine and knowledgeable instructors, covering a range of amazing and achievable health and fitness benefits that suit you.

Flow Fitness is located at 11331 US Hwy 301 S., Ste. 101 (north of Symmes Rd.) in Riverview. Call 374-3019 or visit www.flowfitnessboutique.com.

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Michelle Colesanti
Michelle has been with the Osprey Observer for almost nine years, and her current position is Assignment Editor. She resides in Bloomingdale with her husband Phil, two sons, Philip and Matthew, and Tigger the cat.