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Local Cub Scout Sells Popcorn In All 50 States To Become Amongst Top 10 In US
By Amy Schechter
William Benrud, a local Wolf Cub Scout, was able to sell popcorn to a person from every state and even Korea, Germany and England.
locally.” So, William took it upon himself to make a video, and his parents shared it. Everyone was surprised when the video was viewed more than 6,500 times and shared over 150 times. At one point, William even cracked the top 10 of all popcorn sales across all of Scouting. When asked what he wants others to know about his success, he said, “I want people to support my Cub Scout career. I’ve learned to never give up on a challenge that you started. I want to tell everyone in the community to buy at least one bag of popcorn; if not from me, from another Scout.” Pretty impressive for a second grader. Plus, he is going to make sure all the money goes back to his pack so they can have an amazing campout. As the top seller, he will earn himself a well-deserved hammock so he can take a break. To all of the other Cub Scouts who may want to tackle some big goals, William said, “Just try your hardest and have fun.” To order, visit www.trailsend.com/store/scout/R3N5JOO2. To view William’s video, visit www.facebook.com/victoria.benrud/videos/102 23263031980358. If you order from him, he will send you a personalized thank-you message.
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Chicks For Charities Makes Major Impact For Local Children’s Organizations
By Marie Gilmore
Classes, Cards for Troops, bunco and the Chicks Cruisin’ for a Cause. Chicks for Charities has helped more than a dozen local charities and has donated more than $160,000 over 11 years, and as its popularity grew, so has the impact it has been able to make on the comThe Campo Y and Water Smart Tots were the recipients of a munity. donation of more than $20,000 for water safety programs from The group is not Chicks for Charities. like most other clubs or For 11 years, the Chicks for Charities, organizations, as being a member does also known locally as Charity Chicks, has not require any dues payments and there supported the local area’s children’s chariare no meetings. ties. With annual fun events including “It is a gathering of like-minded local Ladies Movie Nights, bunco and even women who support our local charities annual cruises for a cause, the group of here in Brandon. We like to get together ladies from the community have been and have fun and help a charity, that is making a difference. what we are all about,” said Holmberg. For 2020, the charity of choice for the The group, sponsored by businesses 11th annual Chicks for Charities Cruise like Chick-fil-A, Green Boutique, Osprey was water safety programs for children, Observer Newspapers, Canine Cabana, and the cruise on Royal Caribbean was Cardinal Roofing and many more, is simscheduled just as the COVID-19 quaranply dedicated to hosting events and raistine hit, so all cruises were cancelled. ing money for local children’s causes. However, the pre-cruise events still hapFor more information about Chicks pened and Royal Caribbean continued for Charities, visit its Facebook page or with its commitment and donation. Water email chicksforcharities@gmail.com. Smart Tots and the Campo YMCA were both recipients of the more than $20,000 donation. YMCA Director Jarrod Williams was thrilled and honored to be a part of the campaign. “We just can’t tell you how much this donation means to the Y this year, it will help us make a big difference for water safety programs for children,” he said. Tammy Holmberg, owner of Chick-filA at Lake Brandon Village and Chick-fil-A Brandon South on Bloomingdale Ave., was inspired to start up the gathering of women doing good as a part of her Brandon Honorary Mayor campaign in 2008-09. The events Holmberg held during her campaign were so popular that she decided to continue hosting, such as Ladies Movie Nights, Sketch and Sip
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“I just wanted to have some fun with it,” 7-year-old William Benrud stated matter-of-factly. Its a casual answer for a 7-year-old who has accomplished a huge feat. William managed to sell popcorn to someone from every state in the United States and even Korea, Germany and England as part of his fundraiser for Boy Scout Pack 632. Every year, Scouts from all over the country sell popcorn as an annual fundraiser to help them raise money for activities. Many of them ask their family and friends in their local circles, but William found that the power of social media could take him so much further. His mom, Victoria Benrud, explained, “We encouraged him to do it on his own, but we used our social media platforms to help him. Since we’re not doing storefront sales in the community, this is our only fundraiser, and so much of the money does come back to the boys
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November 2020 Volume 19, Issue 11 Ph: 657-2418
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE: 21
Tickets for this year’s FishHawk Turkey Trot can be purchased online and for $25, participants will receive a Turkey Trot shirt. For $35, racers will receive the shirt and a medal is also an ornament. Visit www.sohopefl.org. If you or a student you know are interested in volunteering to help the charity, email info@sohopefl.org.See Page 53 for Full Story.
12/01/20