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4XPro donated $500 to Clothes to Kids this year and continued their support of one of our family's favorite charities.
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SBT got creative this year and hosted the annual Thanksgiving dinner as a drive-thru because of rain. For the first time in over 15 years, the sun did not make an appearance at the annual dinner. SBT had many things to be grateful for this year though. We were able to gather together in person and serve over 750 pounds of turkey to our beloved community! Thank you to all our volunteers and employees who packaged meals and delivered them to the long line of vehicles. We were happy to keep this important tradition alive. Watercraft Superstore was proud to sponsor the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition's Family Fun Night this year. The event took place at the Buccaneer Football Field and was complete with free food, games, slides, vendors, health screenings, and live entertainment. The Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition focuses on improving North Greenwood, the neighborhood where both SBT and Watercraft Superstore are located. The organization works towards building community wealth through community business development, health, self-sufficiency, literacy, education, and resilience.  This year, Marine Mat continued their support for C.A.S.T. for Kids by making a $1,000 donation. C.A.S.T. for Kids is a nonprofit organization that arranges fishing trips for kids with disabilities. Robby Wellden commented: We like C.A.S.T. for Kids because it allows children the opportunity to spend time on the water. Fishing and being on a boat is something every child should be able to enjoy, regardless of their individual differences. Marine Mat has many products that make being on a boat comfortable and fun. We love that children all over the country get to go fishing through this organization. This year was particularly special because Marine Mat got to sponsor a C.A.S.T. for Kids event in Charlotte Harbor, Florida. In the future, Marine Mat hopes to host an event in the Tampa Bay Area, so it was great to have Marine Mat volunteers attend an event close to home. Marine Mat donated shirts, hats, and koozies to the event to be included in swag bags for the volunteers and children.
O'Neal and Nedra Larkin hosted a school supplies event in Clearwater to help families prepare for heading back to school. SBT donated $1,000. Sage Pickren, SBT Director of Community Outreach, commented: As a former teacher, I personally know how challenging it can be to have enough supplies for your students at the beginning of the year. School supplies is expensive, and when you work in a Title 1 school, many families cannot afford to purchase everything on their school supplies lists. We hope that donations like these can reduce the back-to-school stress for families that live near our factory. We are proud to be able to support the Larkins as they continue to make North Greenwood a place where children can access a good education and have the tools they need to succeed. SBT donated $5,000 to become a Diamond Partner for the 5th Annual Rising Above! Youth Explosion Leadership Conference. This event was hosted by the Clearwater Neighborhood Family Center, which is conveniently located on the same street as SBT. The center is dedicated to the belief that families should have the resources, support, and skills necessary to raise children in a healthy and safe neighborhood, which promotes the development of their maximum potential.  SBT manager, CJ Lammers, and SBT Social Media Manager, Barbara Bacvic, pose with Conference Coordinator, Michele Edwards and Executive Director, Terry Jones The 3-day event was hosted at The Long Center, SPC Drew Campus, and the N. Greenwood Aquatic Center. Youth that attended the conference participated in indoor and outdoor games, heard from guest speakers on panels, and were served free food! 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!  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. 
  Kim Pickren and the C-Side Sisters celebrating walking 60 miles for breast cancer prevention and treatment. This year SBT donated $4,600 to Susan G. Komen Foundation, which brings their lifetime donation status to over $20,000! Donations to Susan G. Komen help spread awareness about breast cancer and provide trusted resources to patients to help them navigate their diagnosis and understand treatment options. Kimberly Pickren is a member of the C-Side sisters, a team that trains and walks together at the annual Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk. I look forward to training with these wonderful ladies every year who help fight against breast cancer and walk for a cure! Too many of my friends in our immediate community have suffered from breast cancer and I am grateful to get to walk with them and for them.  Kim Pickren and the C-Side Sisters in a training walk in Palm Harbor, Florida.
 Marine Mat donated $1,000 to Oldsmar Cares' Weekend Food 4 Kids campaign. Many families rely on the meals that school systems provide to keep their children full and healthy. The Food 4 Kids program helps fill the hunger gap for about 20 families who struggle with meals for their children over the weekend at Oldsmar Elementary and Forest Lake Elementary. Marine Mat's donation will help feed these children over the weekend for about two months.   In November 2021, SEI donated $5,000 to Eckerd Connects to support their Hungry for Hope campaign. The program will feed many families in the community during the holiday season who otherwise may go without a traditional holiday meal. The donation from SEI will be able to feed approximately 200 families. Greg Pickren, owner of SEI commented, "We have been proud supporters of Eckerd Connects for over 10 years. We are happy to be able to donate to this program that makes it possible for families to have food during the holiday season. We are grateful that organizations like Eckerd Connects make giving back in our community possible."
Each year, Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines brings students from all over the US and Canada to a 3-week personalized training program in California. The program helps students who are blind or visually impaired, veterans, and individuals with autism get matched and acquainted with highly-skilled service dogs. These dogs are specially bred and trained to help people with disabilities gain independence and confidence in their daily lives.  Students of Leader Guide Dogs of America with their new service dogs! Ryan's donation of over 1 million United Airline miles allowed students (and their dogs!) to travel to their service dog training program at no cost them. In addition, many volunteers and staff of Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines were able to travel using the airline miles.  Ryan earned his United Airlines miles by participating in a Bug Bounty program where he reported vulnerabilities in their mobile app to United Airline in exchange for frequent flyer miles. Ryan explained his decision to donate, "My wife and I love spending time with our dog, Beignet. She is definitely not well trained enough to be a service dog, but she enhances our lives and brings us a lot of joy. I was very excited to find an organization that put my airline miles to good use and I'm happy to know that these individuals were taken good care of as they were traveling to meet their new companions."
Ocean Blue Project is a national non-profit organization based out of Oregon that focus on cleaning and conserving oceans and waterways. Each year, the organization runs projects in Florida during the months of November through March. Greg Pickren, owner of SEI Marine Products describes the decision to donate, Each year, our family takes a trip to Key West during lobster mini season. We have noticed while we are boating that there is a lot of plastic in the ocean and some of our favorite reefs have been damaged from pollution. We want our SEI customers to enjoy boating while they are out on the water with their families and one of the ways we can make their experience better is by donating to organizations that keep our waterways clean and beautiful. Ocean Blue Project’s vision is that the world’s oceans, beaches and rivers will once again be pristine, self-sustaining ecosystems where wildlife and human communities can coexist and thrive. Their main programing areas include microplastic removal, local clean-ups, river restorations, and school curriculum. Stay tuned for pictures of the project in Key West that SEI’s donation has funded!   Who knew Marine Mat wasn't just loved by people? This spring, Marine Mat donated a mat set to Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder (DPMMR), a non-profit organization committed to the conservation and protection of marine mammals. These professionals have been rescuing whales and dolphins in the Florida Keys since 1987. The mats were placed on the dock to protect the dolphins from the sharp edges. As you can see, the dolphins love Marine Mat!
 Eckerd Connects is one of the Pickren family's favorite charities. The local organization is known for the powerful impact they have on youth and families across the country. This year, WCSS donated $5,000 to their 13th annual Night of Inspiration virtual event, which benefitted the Success Award fund. Recipients of the Success Award are working hard to pursue their dreams and provide a better life for their families. These funds help create the opportunity for them to reach their potential by providing things like clothes for a job interview or tutoring services to a child in foster care. We were so excited to hear what past recipients have accomplished and we look forward to the bright futures of those who will benefit from this year's fundraiser. On April 24th SBT sponsored the Clearwater Open Karate Championships. Kids who live in North Greenwood and the surrounding community were able to show off the skills they have been practicing and participate in some healthy competition. The event organizer and karate teacher, Walter Evans, commented: “SBT has been a big support of our program and donated to our karate tournament in past years. Donations like these help us buy trophies for my students and make the day a success! Thank you SBT.”   In March 2021, Watercraft Superstore donated $5,000 to Clothes to Kids. The Pickren Family companies are long-time sponsors of Clothes to Kids. As students transition back to in-person learning, this donation will help the non-profit organization find them clothes for school. Kim Pickren volunteers weekly at Clothes-to-Kids: I get to see first-hand how the donations we receive are carefully used by Clothes-to-Kids. We help children of all ages feel confident and proud of the way they look at school. I think that confidence transfers into school success and I’m grateful for the work this organization does for our community.  |
AuthorSage Pickren Archives
May 2024
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