Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 11-12-21

Features
Over 700 Meals To Be Given Away In East Tampa
The East Tampa Business and Civic Association (ETBCA) will be hosting its 11th annual Thanksgiving Dinner give- away. The event is Saturday, November 13th, at New Mt. Zion M. B. Church, 2511 E. Columbus Dr., Tampa (33605).
As a committed leader to combating food scarcity throughout Tampa and Hills- borough County, ETBCA will host an annual Thanksgiving Dinner food giveaway to over 700 families. There will be a complete Thanksgiving dinner, including a turkey in each box.
Along with the boxes, Dunns River Cafe will also be providing a cooked meal on the 13th. Owner Kevin Rich who's no stranger to commu- nity service, gives away hun- dreds of meals each year to different organizations that help feed the homeless and those in need. Rich says that, "he loves to support the com- munity in any way he can."
The event is sponsored by Hillsborough County, Health Matters Pharmacy, New Mt. Zion MB Church, Gospel Light- house Mission, Exit Bail Bonds, One Community & More, WellCare, Woodland Terrace Neighborhood Associ- ation, Dunns River Cafe, OES LOE #321, Trinadad, LLC, and the Eddie Session Foundation, Inc.
DIANNE HART
CEO, East Tampa Business and Civic Association
ETBCA's annual Thanks- giving food giveaway helps families in need keep food on the table all week long, not just on Thanksgiving Day. An esti- mated one in four children are going hungry due to the eco- nomic downturn from the COVID-19 pandemic. In Hills- borough County alone, more than 14% of residents are living below the poverty line, a num- ber that has skyrocketed due to the crisis, and the holidays will be especially difficult for vul- nerable families.
CEO of ETBCA Dianne Hart says, "We are so proud to be able to provide these meals to families. This giveaway is open to anyone that is in need." She also encourages youth that would like to volunteer to please call their office at 813- 248-3977.
Businessman Gets Patent For Invention For Athletes
Anthony Jones is a Tampa businessman looking to grow his business in a unique way. His company Printtra, Inc. is a brand iden- tity and print company help- ing small to medium sized companies establish and pro- mote their brands through websites, social media, and specialized apps. The com- pany also prints all the pro- motional materials for its clients.
While he runs a successful business, he is also an inven- tor who accomplished what many do not. He actually patented his invention.
In 2009, Jones and his wife, Latilia, were running a program for kids while he was at the University of South Florida studying for his mas- ter’s degree.
The program helped inner-city kids with free tutor- ing, ACT/SAT training, and sports training. Jones also worked with former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Mike Alstott in his camps for kids.
As the summer pro- gressed, the weather was es- pecially blistering. Kids and adults were tying their tee shirts around their heads to try to cool off. Unfortunately, as the kids did drills, the shirts would fly off. Hence, the idea for his invention, Rally Hed.
Rally Hed is high-perfor- mance headgear that will keep the wearer cool and protected from the sun.
Latilia Jones, Atty. Michael Colitz, and Anthony Jones ... holding the patent for Rally Hed.
The Joneses built proto- types of mesh, trying to con- struct a head garment that would protect and stay on. Samples were given to some of the kids at the summer pro- gram and the response was positive. Many parents asked if they could purchase the pro- totype.
Jones decided to get a patent on the unique design, a process that would take years. They eventually met Michael J. Colitz, a patent attorney from Dunedin in 2012. Colitz was instrumental in helping the couple with their patent, which was granted in 2019.
After having done exten- sive research in marketing, manufacturing, and pricing, the product will have a full launch in 2022.
Jones sees the Rally Hed as not just a useful product to protect people from the heat.
He also sees the product as a way for organizations to raise money and brand awareness. The Rally Hed can be cus- tomizable to place logos and insignia. Organizations and groups can have their own “signature” Rally Heds.
The name Rally Hed ex- plains another use for the product, at games and events, instead of rallying with towels, teams and fans can rally with their personalized Rally Hed head gear.
Jones is keenly aware of the struggles that at-risk youth face. He grew up in the projects in a single parent household with eleven chil- dren. He was the first one in his family to go to college, not to mention graduate school. It was not easy.
You can follow @rallyhed on social media or their web- site www.rallyhed.com.
The Rally Hed is a cooling, protective head piece that pro- tects the head and neck of the wearer.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021