HydroTurf Sponsors Students in the Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision Transition Program

Students in the Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision (LBLV) Transition Program participated in a charity event on April 1 for the American Lung Association of Florida: Tampa Bay. HydroTurf donated $500 to the program to sponsor the team and provide a well-deserved pizza lunch following the event.  The annual Fight for Air Climb is a stair climb race up the 42-story Bank of America Plaza in downtown Tampa.  Thirteen Transition Program students climbed the building and/or raised money at the event with their fundraising business, Braille With Vision.  The Lighthouse Transition team, "Are we there yet?", raised a total of $1,926 for the ALA of Florida: Tampa Bay!  Many of the students have been training since January, climbing the 914 steps of the building during Saturday practice climbs.  Teachers and volunteers climbed with students during the race to provide sighted guide assistance if needed.  Two students placed in the top 30 out of 300 climbers and both placed first in their respective age groups!!

Thanks to the generous support of HydroTurf, all students and team members received an official "Are we there yet?" team shirt and a celebratory lunch at Eddie & Sam's NY Pizza after the event.  The HydroTurf Sales Manager, JC, was introduced to the sport of stair climbing by climbing alongside one of the Transition students.  Many people do not even know that stairclimbing is a sport, yet alone how difficult it is!  LBLV Transition students gained valuable skills contributing to the community, managing a fundraising campaign, building confidence, and budgeting money at a local restaurant.  Together, HydroTurf and Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision teens gave back to the community!   ​