July 2022
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
LOCAL 9-YEAR-OLD SELLS LEMONADE TO HELP KIDS IN HOSPITALS By Sara Battaglia Her mom, Elysia, said, “Any recipes — from anybody. We’ve been doing Zoom calls and baking or cooking with whoever. … It helps with Brandt’s OT and is what she loves to do.” The family lives in Lakeland but is partnering with Brandon area nonprofit, Dancing for a Difference, as a drop-off location for toys and hosted a lemonade stand at the studio’s recent recital. The community can help by donating toys, supporting Brandt’s lemonade stand, purchasing Leonora Brandt and her toy shirts, helping donations. with recipes or Local 9-year-old Ledonating moneonora Brandt has a rare tarily. Her mom genetic disorder called said they are panhypopituitarism as planning a date well as a Chiari malforfor her upcoming mation, but this hasn’t lemonade stand stopped her from wanting fundraiser soon. to make a difference in Brandt was also the lives of other kids. At interviewed by just 8 years old, she made Special Books her first lemonade stand, by Special Kids, fundraising over $3,000 a very popular to get toys for children in YouTube chanhospitals. nel. Brandt and Brandt said, “I wanther mother have ed to start the lemonade a heart for helpstand because I know how ing others. boring hospitals can be Leonora Brandt and her first lemonade “I just want to stand. and I don’t want any kids see Leonora’s dream of blessing children to that have to be there to be bored.” continue to come true,” said Elysia. The toys were donated to Lakeland ReBrandt’s mom also has plans to open a gional Health, and she plans the next dropsalon geared towards families with special off to be at Johns Hopkins All Children’s needs in the near future. For more inforHospital. Also, she now creates shirts, mation on Brandt and her upcoming fundbracelets and stickers with her favorite raisers and adventures, please visit their line, “Happy is Best.” Her next big plan is to Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ create a cookbook full of recipes that make growingleonora/. others happy.
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CAMPO FAMILY YMCA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS, NEW SPLASH PAD By Amy Shecter cial assistance for summer day camps. The new splash pad isn’t the only thing gushing, as staff and patrons cannot get enough of it. Aquatics director Heidi Blair said, “The new splash pad has been fantastic. Our first day open, there Photo Courtesy of Gerardo Luna Photography. were over 60 Chicks for Charity presents $2,500 donation to Campo YMCA. people there enFor two decades, the Campo Famijoying it. To have ly YMCA has provided an avenue for something new and exciting has been health, wellness and all-around family amazing.” There really is no comparison. fun. On May 31, along with the Greater Children can enjoy fun splashing in the Riverview and Valrico Fishhawk cham- water and parents can choose to join in, bers of commerce and members of the catch a tan or escape into the shade. community, the Campo Y celebrated In addition to the brand-new splash this milestone anniversary with a rib- pad, the Campo YMCA offers a tradibon-cutting for its much-anticipated tional gym with free weights, weight splash pad. machines and cardio equipment, basketWith the new attraction in the back- ball courts, workout classes, lap/open ground and Diana Ekonomou, daughter swimming and swim classes, sports of Ray Campo — for whom the facility leagues and on-site child care. is named — looking on, the GRCC 2022 As a nonprofit, it works year-round chair of the board, Michael Broussard of to raise funds so that no one is turned The Flying Locksmiths, proclaimed May away. Health and wellness are for every31 Campo Family YMCA Day, noting, one, and the Campo Y seeks to strength“It’s time to make a splash!” To celebrate en the community through the services the event, GTE Financial presented a they offer. check for over $10,000 as a charitable To inquire about membership assisdonation from its employee fundraising tance or learn more about the Campo efforts in April. Additionally, Tammy Family YMCA, visit its website at www. Holmberg along with Chicks for Chari- tampaymca.org, follow it on Facebook, ty donated $2,500 from their Top Gun: or call 813-684-1371. The Campo Y is Maverick movie night to benefit finan- located at 3414 Culbreath Rd. in Valrico.
