- March 12, 2025
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Jeremy Schlosser, Mary Crouch of Sunshine Health, and 11-year-old Joey Schlosser speak with one another.
Photo by Ian SwabyIra Jenkins and 5-year-old Kingston Jenkins discuss the items they are gathering.
Photo by Ian SwabyCenterPlace Health employee Shannon Carrasco and 7-year-old Kennedy Konen watch as 2-year-old Lorelay Enriquez tosses a ball towards Abi Valez, who is dressed as a shark.
Photo by Ian SwabyCenterPlace Health staff members Christine Coviello, Liz Rosado, Tiona Settles, and Tracy Green
Photo by Ian SwabyParticipants said they had fun in the sun.
Photo by Ian SwabyZolee and Lauren Ambrus, and Janice Houchins of First 1000 Days Suncoast, watch as 5-year-old Josiah Ambrus examines some of the items he has received.
Photo by Ian Swaby7-year-old Jackson Bedoya has his hair cut by Zay Williams of ManKind Barber Lounge.
Photo by Ian SwabyCenterPlace Health members get into the spirit of the event, with Tara Wilcox in front.
Photo by Ian SwabyGrace Barger, 7-year-old Allison Silveira, and Shannon Carrasco get their groove on.
Photo by Ian SwabyDanielle Vieira of Banyan Pediatric Care Centers
Photo by Ian SwabyCourtney Blackwell and Jeremy Gorzynski of Safe Children Coalition
Photo by Ian SwabyInflatable balls adorn the statue in the event space.
Photo by Ian SwabyCenterPlace Health employee Shannon Carrasco and 4-year-old Everleigh Carrasco greet Abi Valez, who is dressed as a shark.
Photo by Ian SwabyCarlos Perez, 6-year-old Jessica Perez-Lopez, Esperanza Lopez, and 4-year-old Kathy Perez-Lopez explore the books available.
Photo by Ian Swaby6-year-old Alizaiah Lopez, 3-year-old Johan Serna, and 7-year-old Aiden Bermudez play together.
Photo by Ian SwabyPrincipal Fayth Jenkins and Stacy Zenteno of Suncoast School for Innovative Studies
Photo by Ian SwabyNicole Leffingwell and Mary Plourde of Orangetheory Fitness
Photo by Ian SwabyDJ Nate Brown calls on the winner of a raffle prize.
Photo by Ian SwabyAbi Valez and 3-year-old Jamauri Williams dance in sync with one another.
Photo by Ian SwabyAlthough the summer heat may be intense this year, during the Fun in the Sun Back to School Bash, it was exactly where attendees wanted to be.
Guests at the event, which was held at the CenterPlace Health - Women and Children's Health Center, collected free items including school supplies like backpacks, medical and dental health vouchers, and food, but also enjoyed the upbeat spirit of the occasion, keeping energized with frozen treats from Kona Ice and bouts of dancing.
“It was awesome,” said 11-year-old Dan Zach.
Kari Ellingstad, CEO of CenterPlace Health, said the event, now in its second year, serves the nonprofit’s mission of providing health care regardless of anyone’s ability to pay. Its offerings include pediatric and behavioral health, pharmacy services and OBGYN services.
“We want to make sure that we're defining health in a broad sense, so we want to meet the needs in terms of mental health, and helping people access the resources that they need to live a healthy life,” she said.
Ellingstad added that the clinic’s community partners, who organized the event, were crucial in achieving this goal.
Some of the vendors present included All Faiths Food Bank, Orangetheory Fitness and First 1,000 Days Suncoast, while ManKind Barber Lounge provided students with haircuts.
“I think it’s heartwarming,” said Dan Zach’s mother, Deb Zach, admiring the combination of fun and education from the organizations serving children in the community.
