Our club is working to transform our community by helping to address root causes of poverty in zip codes where third grade reading scores are lagging and families are struggling. We have adopted three elementary schools that are participating in Polk Vision's Know and Grow program. Families who attend a 3 session, 6-hour training each earn a new iPad - provided by funding from our club - loaded with apps and resources for learning and connecting. Our club members volunteer as peer mentors to the parents learning the tech tips and how to navigate the school's parent portal, while the kids separately learn about fitness and nutrition. Each family is fed a meal at each training session, the families take home bags of groceries as well as books for the children. We are proud of our partnership with Polk Vision on this initiative, which aligns with the Rotary International Foundation's areas of focus on basic education and literacy and maternal and child health.

Our Club is full of People of Action who believe in Service Above Self and actively Serve to Change Lives. On Saturday, September 18 some of our members worked at the Lakeland Veteran's Memorial Park to spruce up the park by power washing monuments and walk ways. We have projects planned soon to help close the digital divide in local public schools by partnering with Know and Grow to supply families in need with devices as well as mentoring, to clean up one of our city's many beautiful lakes, and to ring the bell for The Salvation Army at the holidays. 

Our club was pleased to present a check for $25,000 to the City of Lakeland at the City Commission meeting on Monday, May 3. This donation is for the purchase of AED equipment for first responders, and comes as a result of proceeds from our club's annual charity fundraisers - Spring Obsession and golf tournament. We are proud to support our city and its hard working and dedicated first responders.