Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 2-23-18

FLORIDA SENTINEL
6th Annual Grandmothers Pre-Valentine’s Day Gala Held
Recently, nearly 600 bay area grandmothers gathered for the Annual Grandmothers Pre-Valentine’s Day Gala. The event was held on Sunday, February 11th, at the Fort Harrison Hotel, in Clearwater. Ms. Tonya Lewis, founder of Children With A Vision, Inc., launched the event 6 years ago.
Her goal was to give grandmothers and some great grandmothers who are raising children a special day. The ladies in attendance were transported to the hotel from Tampa by tour buses.
They enjoyed a special dinner and were escorted by members of Stone Square Lodge #42, the Woods & Wanton Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers, Men of Vision, and other young men from throughout the Tampa Bay Area.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018
Ms. Keisha Boyd served as the Mistress of Ceremony.
The honorees this year are Mrs. Voncile Dry and Mrs. Flossie Pittman.
Among those in attendance at the 6th Annual Pre-Valentine’s Day Gala, shown from left to right are: Pastor Jessie McNeil, Ross Anderson, founder of Men of Vision, Inc., Coach Courtney Smith, Tonya Lewis, founder of Children With A Vision, Inc., and founder of the Grandmothers Pre-Valentine’s Day Gala, Claude Holmes, of Holmes Funeral Home, Haines City, and Danny Motley.
State Senator Darryl Rou-
Lesley Richardson, left, is shown with Tonya Lewis, and Keisha Boyd, Mistress of Ceremony, at the gala.
Motivational Speaker, Selphenia Nichols-Simmons and George Streets, of Streets & Streets Photography attended the gala.
Ms. Voncile Dry, 110 years young, was honored as the Oldest Mother. She is shown with her chaperone, Staff Sgt. Rojas.
Ms. Flossie Pittman, an honoree, is shown with her children at the gala.
Guest Speaker Neil Kiefer, was a Title Sponsor for the gala.
The escorts for the 6th Annual Pre-Valentine’s Day Gala consisted of members of Stone Square Lodge Kenya Lane, Gabby Lane, Pastor Jaime Over- #42, the Woods & Wanton Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers, Men of Vision, and other young men from
street, and Debra Opong-Yao attended the event. throughout the Tampa Bay Area.
son delivered the speech at the gala.
keynote
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