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SBT is a proud sponsor of the Walter Evans Shihan School of Survival. Each year, the tournament hosts kids from around the community to compete and show off the karate and martial arts skills they've been learning. The non-profit organization has a focus on teaching children health, safety, discipline, focus, self-respect, and respect for others. Shihan School of Survival takes pride in providing programs to their youth that give them the mindsets to pursue their academic achievements and jumpstart their future careers.  With the help of SBT, this year's tournament was the best yet! Our new venue made the event very professional and we are continuing to grow! 
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This spring, SBT donated $5,000 to Eckerd Connects, a long-time Pickren Community Outreach partner. The donation supported Eckerd Connects' Success Awards, which helps children, young adults, and families who are especially vulnerable to failure in the community. The program pays for transitional needs so that recipients can reach their vocational and educational goals. David Dennis, President and CEO of Eckerd Connects, explained the impact of the donation: Thank you so much for your generous gift through SBT to our Success Awards fund this spring.   This year, through the help of Paul (an SBT employee), we found a new nonprofit organization that could use our support. Sunstate Orchestral Program introduces music to children at an early age and promotes a love for music making. The organization uses the El Sistema technique, which has inspired educators all around the world and serves youth in high-poverty areas. Children who attend the Sunstate Orchestral Program have opportunities to build self-confidence, discipline, commitment, social skills, and other fundamental values essential to child development. SBT's donation will contribute to the Honors Spring Recital and Masterclass Series, which reaches over 300 families in the Tampa Bay Community.
HydroTurf was the lead sponsor of the Daytona Freeride. The Daytona Freeride, held on January 13-16, 2022 in Daytona, Florida, offered surf riders the chance to show off their expertise as they competed in battle rounds featuring both aerial stunts and mastery of the waves. The event is the largest gathering of personal watercraft enthusiasts in the USA.    As part of the event, HydroTurf made a $10,000 donation to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Located in Buffalo, New York, Roswell Park treats every type of cancer at every stage. They offer comprehensive care with doctors who create personalized plans of treatment. Donations to Roswell Park support cutting-edge cancer research that focus on finding life-saving treatments and implementing best practices for patient care. Stephen Tackney, manager of HydroTurf, commented on the importance of this donation and the success of the event: We are proud to support the Daytona Freeride- an event that keeps our industry thriving and creates excitement about the sport. Since cancer is an illness that impacts so many families across the world, we were happy that the Daytona Freeride allowed us to donate to Roswell Park. It's important that researchers and doctors have the funding they need to provide the best patient care possible. Brian Sizemore is a surviver of cancer and was treated at Roswell Park. He deserves a lot of recognition for planning this successful event. We are extremely impressed by the professionalism and turnout at the Daytona Freeride. We cannot thank Brian and his team enough.  Stephen Tackney and Barbara Bacvic from HydroTurf thank Brian Sizemore for organizing the event.  As part of the Herd of Hope campaign, HydroTurf was awarded a blue buffalo for their generous donation. Watercraft Superstore donated over $300 worth of products to the Salty Science Fundraiser on January 8, 2022. Salty Science is a team of four female marine scientists who row across the ocean, for the oceans. They focus on managing and preserving marine ecosystems to make them healthier and more sustainable. They study evidence-based solutions to marine conservation issues. Stephanie Mosny, manager of Watercraft Superstore commented, "We are proud to support the women at Salty Science as they embark on their journey to make the oceans healthier. Our company relies on families wanting to spend time on the water and we are happy to be able to donate our products to help make their fundraiser successful."  2021 was the largest giving year for the Pickren Family Companies, with donations totaling over $50,000.This year, the Pickren Family Companies continued their support of longtime partnerships and picked up some new ones! Because of the success of the companies, along with the acquisition of Hydro Turf, we were able to be more generous with our charitable donations than any prior year. Greg Pickren, owner of the Pickren Family Companies, expresses his gratitude: The success of the companies hinges on the competency and dedication of our managers and employees. It's through their hard work that we are able to give back to our community and support causes that are close to our hearts. A few of the well-established, non-profit organizations that we were able to continue to donate to are Eckerd Connects, Clothes to Kids, and Oldsmar Cares. Those organizations have a long history of helping children in the greater Tampa Bay Area. Two of our most exciting new partnerships are with Ocean Blue Project and Cast for Kids. Ocean Blue Project leads efforts that clean the world's oceans and keep our marine ecosystem healthy. Cast for Kids creates fishing events for kids with disabilities, who may not otherwise be able to access boating and the outdoors. Sage Pickren, Community Outreach Director, describes how we select charities: We are always looking for organizations that set children up for future success. We particularly love organizations that promote healthy living and foster a joy for outdoor activities, especially those on the water! Being in the field of special education, I know about the many barriers children can face in school and their community. We hope that our work provides more equitable experiences to children and families in our neighborhoods. In line with the Pickren family's love for being active, SEI and SBT each gave away 50 bikes and helmets to the communities surrounding the factories. SEI donated bikes to Oldsmar Care's Spread the Love Kids Christmas & Toy Giveaway. Justin Webb, general manager of SEI, personally donated all of the helmets to Oldsmar Cares. SBT donated bikes and helmets to O'Neal and Nedra Larkin's annual Christmas celebration in Clearwater. Santa was also able to give out 50 $10 McDonald's gift cards thanks to SBT. Greg Pickren, owner of SEI and SBT, is a cycling enthusiast. Below, he shares his decision about donating to this cause: We are grateful that we have strong relationships with non-profit organizations and community partners in Oldsmar and Clearwater. These partnerships make contributing to our community meaningful and efficient. We are proud to give away bikes and helmets to the neighborhood kids and we hope that they enjoy riding their new bikes outside as much as me and my family love to ride.  Each year, the Larkin family and community leaders host a Thanksgiving dinner in North Greenwood. SBT has been a proud sponsor of the event for over 15 years. This year instead of a buffet line, 250 pre-packaged meals were distributed to local families. SBT paid for the catering of cornbread dressing, green beans, gravy, and 60 turkeys!   Alex Alford, SBT employe, and close relative to the Larkins described the Thanksgiving dinner and how the community participated:
 Local leaders, including O'Neal Larkin, and former clearwater mayor, George Cretekos. 4XPro donated $3,000 to Clothes to Kids. Jeremy Cashman, manager of 4XPro describes why he likes the organization: Clothes to Kids is one of my favorite organizations because their work helps kids feel confident and be successful at school. Children have a lot to think about while they're at school. We hope that this donation helps some kids not worry about what they're wearing.  MarineMat donated $3,000 to CAST for Kids and became an Associate Partner of the foundation. CAST for Kids is a nonprofit organization that arranges fishing trips for kids with disabilities. Being on a boat can be challenging for children with disabilities due to physical demands and outdoor logistics. One of the goals of CAST for Kids is to make fishing more accessible to populations with special needs and expose children, who may not otherwise get the opportunity, to enjoy fishing and being outdoors. MarineMat general manger, Robby Wellden comments: MarineMat is proud to be an Associate Partner of CAST for Kids. We love being able to donate to organizations that encourage families to get out on the water and go boating. Every child deserves the opportunity to go fishing and we are happy to be a part of making that activity accessible and fun for everyone. 
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AuthorSage Pickren Archives
April 2022
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