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December 2025 Volume 22, Issue 12
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CELEBRATING 23 YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
LAZYDAYS EMPLOYEE FOUNDATION GIVES $300,000 GIFT TO A KID’S PLACE ACTIVITY CENTER
Staff Report
Representatives from the Lazydays Employee Foundation present $300,000 to A Kid’s Place.
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A partnership built on compassion, commitment and community reached a milestone this week as A Kid’s Place announced a final gift of $300,000 from the Lazydays Employee Foundation, bringing the employees’ total support over 16 years to an extraordinary $1.4 million. A Kid’s Place, which opened in 2009 as a unique residential foster care community designed to keep siblings together, has been supported by Lazydays since the project’s earliest days. Even before the first home was built, employees of Lazydays RV pledged to sponsor one of the five houses on the new campus. Through voluntary payroll deductions and internal fundraisers, they raised $350,000 to build the Lazydays House, a warm, family-style home that has since sheltered hundreds of brothers and sisters during some of the hardest moments of their young lives. In November, A Kid’s Place leaders gathered with members of the Lazydays Employee Foundation to accept the foundation’s final donation — funds that will help complete a new activity center where children will be able to play, learn, gather and heal together. The gift, staff said, will ensure the space becomes a joyful centerpiece on the nonprofit’s 5-acre, cul-de-sac-style campus.
In addition to their financial support, Lazydays employees delivered snacks, essentials and gifts for the children — another example of the handson generosity that has defined the partnership. During the presentation, Dana Philp, inaugural president of the Lazydays Employee Fo u n d a t i o n , shared a quote from Lazydays RV co-founder Don Wallace that captured the emotion of the moment: “To make a rope, it takes a lot of individual strings.” Though Wallace could not attend, his words reflected the spirit of a foundation built entirely by employees — run by volunteers, funded by staff payroll deductions and fueled by a shared desire to change children’s lives. Since forming their nonprofit in 2005, Lazydays employees have worked to ensure every dollar raised goes directly toward helping at-risk youth. Since opening, A Kid’s Place has cared for more than 150 abused, neglected and underprivileged children. It remains the only facility in Hillsborough County designed to keep siblings together, with each home staffed by live-in house parents who provide stability and love during an otherwise traumatic time. As A Kid’s Place prepares to open its new activity center, the organization said this final gift from the Lazydays Employee Foundation is more than a donation — it is a legacy. For more information about A Kid’s Place, visit https://akidsplacetb.org/.
By Libby Hopkins
Cardinal Roofcustomers. ing is a roof“Our price is ing contractor our price,” Wilson company built said. “We don’t do on customer add on pricing to referrals and make our prices an honest work seem lower than ethic. Its quality they are.” craftsmanship Cardinal Roofand small-town ing has been a service are at part of the Branthe core of its don community Cardinal Roofing is a third-generation roofing contractor business, which company built on customer referrals and an honest work eth- for 30 years. it has been pro- ic. It has been a part of the Brandon community for 30 years. “We are proud viding for 30 of our business years. and honest to a fault,” “We are here Wilson said. “We supto stay, heavily inport our community volved in our comand invest in our vetmunity and provide erans and students of our customers with our area. We treat evhonest, affordable eryone as if they were roofing services,” family and give real said co-owner Bridadvice, and we don’t get Wilson. take advantage of anyCardinal roofing one. We educate our was started by Wilcustomers and take son’s father, Roger, the fear out of roofing, in 1995. He grew up learning roofing from which is not common knowledge for most his father, James Harrison Jenkins. people.” “He learned with his five brothers, who Keeping things local is especially importall had at least one son,” Wilson said. “My ant to Wilson and the team at Cardinal Rooffather only had two daughters, and the sto- ing. ry goes. When I was born, my mother was “Our community is the center of my worried my dad would be disappointed that heart,” Wilson said. “I do most of my shopas I wasn’t a boy. My father’s response was, ping and purchases with local businesses ‘There is nothing I can’t do with my daugh- just like mine. Going to The Green Boutique, ters that my brothers can do with their using JF Kicks for events and just keeping sons.’ My sister and I both proved the point. our money within the local area is very imI am the president of Cardinal Roofing, and portant to me.” my sister has her own medical clinic, Trinity If you would like to learn more about CarWellness on Lithia Pinecrest.” dinal Roofing or its services, you can visit its Cardinal Roofing started as a second-gen- website at www.cardinalroofingfl.com or eration contractor company and is now call 813-689-7663. Its office is located at third generation. 1312 Orangewalk Dr. in Brandon. “It’s available for my own children, if they wish, but first they have to pursue their own dreams before making the decision if this is the future they want for themselves,” Wil- NELSON’S FOOD DRIVE...... .............PG 3 son said. “It’s the same courtesy my parents OPERATION LOTUS............................PG 5 gave to me and my sister. GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH......PG 12 What makes Cardinal Roofing different from other roofing companies in the area HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES......... .PGS 26-27 is that it is completely transparent with its EYE ON BUSINESS.................PGS 34-35
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Volunteers help bring the ancient city to life during Walk Thru Bethlehem, held December 11–14, where more than 200 helpers each night guide guests through the immersive holiday experience. Even after reservations filled within 24 hours, organizers continued the tradition of welcoming walk-ups so no one misses the chance to enjoy Brutus the camel, warm hospitality and the retelling of the Christmas story. See full story on Page 18.
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