Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 9-4-18

Local
D. E. L. T. A., Inc. Reports Successful 20th Anniversary Event
D. E. L. T. A., Inc., Board Members and Keynote Speaker, Dr. Solita Jones, OB/GYN, at D. E. L. T. A., Inc.'s 20th Anniversary and Fundraiser held Friday evening, August 24, 2018, at the USF Gibbons Alumni Center. Front row, L-R: Gloridine McNair, Vice President; Sabrina Aiken, Dr. Solita Jones, Keynote Speaker; Iowana Whitman-Tims, President/CEO; Vernell Savage, Treasurer, and Dwayne Merriweather. Back row, L-R: Erica Williams, Esq., Delicia Davis, Alan Commedore, Esq., and Aidza Antonio-Thomas, Secretary.
Approximately 100 friends and supporters joined Delta Enriches Life Through Training & Aware- ness (D. E. L. T. A.), Inc., as the eleven-member, all vol- unteer Board of Directors celebrated 20 years of service to the community.
The highlight of the evening was Dr. Solita Jones, featured speaker and a past scholarship recipient. In her introduction of Dr. Jones, Iowana Whitman- Tims said, "Solita touched my heart a little more than 10 years ago when as a high school senior, she inter- viewed for one of our schol- arships."
Dr. Jones thanked both the nonprofit organization and the Tampa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for investing in her future. She emphasized that, "Reaching back to in- spire, educate and motivate the next generation of our at- risk youth is my passion. Our children are our future and they are worth the invest- ment."
D. E. L. T. A., Inc., lever- ages its resources with like- minded organizations to achieve its mission. The non-
Dr. Solita Jones, left, re- ceives a gift of appreciation from Iowana Whitman-Tims, Board President/CEO, D. E. L. T. A., Inc.
profit set as its 20/20 Vision for the anniversary celebra- tion and fundraiser to con- tinue to serve the community one day at a time while rais- ing $20,000 at the signature event.
The nonprofit reached its fundraiser goal and contin- ues to receive donations from friends and supporters.
During the program, Brenna Fields Taylor, an avid supporter of D. E. L. T. A., Inc., announced a dedi-
cated scholarship in memory of her mother, Mrs. Augus- tine Fields, (the “Augustine Turner Fields Memorial Scholarship”) to be awarded at the annual scholarship program sponsored jointly by the Tampa Alumnae Chapter and D. E. L. T. A., Inc., Annually, the two or- ganizations award approxi- mately $25,000 to local, graduating high school sen- iors.
(Submitted by Iowana Whitman-Tims, Presi- dent/CEO D. E. L. T. A., Inc., https://deltainctam- pabay.org)
Brenna Fields Taylor an- nounced a dedicated scholar- ship to be managed by D. E. L. T. A., Inc., in memory of her mother, Mrs. Augustine Fields.
Tampa Member Continues To Serve In National Position
A local resident of Tampa was in attendance at the 105th VFW National Convention. The convention was held at the Bartle Hall Convention Center, in Kansas City, MO.
Ms. Lee Harris is a member of Temple Terrace Auxiliary 10140. The VFW convention marks the begin- ning of her second year serv- ing as representative of Florida on the National Coun- cil of Administration, which governs the Auxiliary be- tween national conventions.
A highlight of the conven- tion was the second annual Circle of Excellence Cere- mony, where 21 Department (state) presidents were hon- ored for their leadership dur- ing the 2017-2018 year.
Other highlights included the opportunity for members to view all 49 entries of the Young American Creative Pa- triotic Art entries and the “Buddy”® Poppy displays, in addition to attending several joint events with the VFW, such as the Joint Opening Session and the Patriotic Cel- ebration on Tuesday evening.
During the convention, National President Dee Guil- lory commended the 2,000 attendees for all their hard work in honoring veterans and supporting deployed mil- itary personnel and their fam- ilies. Members have spent millions of dollars and volun-
LEE HARRIS
... Florida Representative At National Convention
teer hours helping the heroes of our country.
The National President also thanked members for volunteering nearly one mil- lion hours in the nation’s hos- pitals, and donating $300,000 to VFW Veterans and Military Support Pro- grams, which includes Oper- ation UplinkTM to provide long-distance calling oppor- tunities to deployed soldiers and hospitalized veterans.
The election and installa- tion of new National Presi- dent Sandi Kriebel, a Life Member of Yingling-Ridgely Auxiliary 7472 in Ellicott City, MD, and the other 2018-2019 National Officers on Wednes- day, July 25, concluded the convention and brought the past president’s term to an end.
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