by James Coulter
Located to the side of the Children’s Museum at Bonnett Springs in Lakeland is a door. Next to it, sculptures of butterflies rest on a branch with one butterfly emerging from a cocoon. The doorway leads to a place that helps young children emerge from their own cocoons and grow into their smarter, wiser, and kinder selves.
The Carol Jenkins Barnett United Way Children’s Resource Center, according to its website, is “a community-based learning and resource center that provides classes, playgroups, workshops, developmental checkups, community activities, and support for parents and caregivers of children ages 0-6, as well as for expectant moms and dads.”
Last Friday evening, special guests had the opportunity to tour the facility and learn about its services. Afterward, they were able to enjoy some drinks and appetizers outside at “the depot.”
United Way of Central Florida hosted its annual Gents & Bourbon at its resource center next to the Children’s Museum in Bonnett Springs Park in Lakeland on Friday evening.
Originally, the event was to include tours of the facility and drinks and appetizers on the rooftop bar located above the museum. However, due to inclement weather, the after-party was hosted at “the depot” outside the museum.
“Turnout was fantastic, despite the weather,” said Jordan Weiland, Marketing Content Strategist for United Way of Central Florida. “It worked out well and gave an indoor space for people to use in addition to the patio.”
The event was hosted at The Carol Jenkins Barnett United Way Children’s Resource Center to help showcase it to the local community and share information about the programs and services provided at the new facility.
“We wanted to invite the community out to share what United Way does at the location, so guests had a tour of the space first and then got to mingle with Campaign Chair Desmond Clark on the patio,” Weiland said. “We are grateful for the Children’s Resource Center team for sharing about their space and programs so passionately and for our Campaign Chair Desmond Clark for sharing his heart with the crowd.”
Despite the rainy weather earlier that evening, the overall event experienced a great turnout. Proceeds from the event will benefit the United Way of Central Florida Success By 6 program, part of the Early Childhood Education initiative by United Way of Central Florida.
Their next big fundraiser will be their Season of Giving Dinner on Dec. 21 at 5:30 PM. For more information and tickets to the event, visit: https://www.liveuwcf.org/comm/SinglePageRegEvent.jsp?EventKeyHex=3233343136
