- May 1, 2024
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What was the Ormond-by-the-Sea Lions Club up to in December?
On Dec. 4, the Lions partnered with the Division of Blind Services in Daytona Beach to present the Holiday Happening for students and clients, an event with games provided by the Ponce Inlet and South Daytona Lions Clubs. According to a press release, there was a snowball fight area, holiday entertainment by
Dance with Me DJ, festive hats made by Diamond Jim the Balloon Man and a fire truck for the children to have their photos taken in, courtesy of the Daytona Beach Fire Department. Lion Frank White dressed up as Santa and handed out candy canes and stuffed animals.
Then, on Dec. 12, the Lions hosted their Community Holiday Party at Alfie's Restaurant, where Santa also made an appearance, as well as the singing Acafellas from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. A total of 62 people were in attendance, and $250 were donated to Volusia County Fire Rescue. Additionally, $500 were donated to the Conklin Davis Center.
The following awards were presented to members:
Life Memberships were granted to three community volunteers who work with the Lions on their Eyeglass Sip and Sort each week. They are:
Lastly, on Dec. 11, members hosted a Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, played by Lions Frank White and Melinda Uebel, at Alfie's Restaurant.
Security First Insurance announced in December that its Learning and Development team is among the top 100 winners of the 2022 Training APEX awards by Training Magazine.
The team's specific ranking will be revealed on Feb. 28, at the 2022 Training Conference and Expo in Orlando. Training Magazine's APEX Awards rank each company based on the excellence of their employer-sponsored training and development programs, according to a press release. Security First spent two months completing the application process. which included a 37-page application and required examining the team's body of work since its inception in 2018.
"However, this accomplishment is even more remarkable because the Learning and Development team earned this rare distinction on their first application, further highlighting the sound design, development, and delivery of Security First’s training programs," the press release states.
Security First submitted two training programs with its award application — the 120-Day Claims Examiner Trainee Program and the Customer Advocacy Training Program.
The Learning and Development teams are "the unsung heroes," the press release states, as they enrich the lives of the individuals they train and the companies where they work.
“I have an amazing team deeply invested in designing training and development programs that make a difference in what makes us great — our people," said Belkys Stallings, director of Training and Diversity Initiatives. "We focus on providing a learning experience that meets the needs of our employees and the organization. We applied for this award intending to receive feedback on our programs. Instead, we were selected to be among the top 100, which is a credit to the tireless efforts of my team and our company’s efforts for continuous improvement and learning. I am so humbled and proud of our accomplishment."
An Ormond Beach family collected over 1,700 toys for a holiday toy and donation drive benefitting Wolfson Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health in Jacksonville, an act done in memory of their family member Michael Alberico.
Michael's Ohana Holiday Toy Drive and Donations surpassed the family's goal to collect 1,000 toys, and their direct campaign, which is still open, has raised over $1,000. Jennifer Capri, Alberico's sister, is keeping his legacy alive through fundraisers. In an email to the Observer, she said the fundraiser was a "huge success" and that the toys collected totaled an estimated $20,000.
"We hope our fundraiser will educate the public on the services the hospital offers and that these families are not alone," the family stated on its campaign page. "No one should suffer from mental health issues by themselves."
To donate, visit https://giving.baptistjax.com/fundraiser/3587392
The Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties is promoting a matching campaign to raise funds for the Volusia County Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, where, through Jan. 31, all donations up to $5,000 to the program will be matched by Brown and Brown of Daytona Beach.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a nationwide program that mails one monthly book to enrolled children ages 0-5 at no cost to their families. The Early Learning Coalition is the facilitator of both the Flagler and Volusia Imagination Libraries, and in Volusia County, over 3,500 children are receiving books each month, according to a press release. The Imagination Library serves children in Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Holly Hill, Port Orange, DeLeon Springs, Lake Helen and Pierson.
"As an advocate for quality early learning, ELCFV is proud to facilitate such an impactful program," the press release states. "Studies in early education routinely show that reading aloud to children from a young age positively impacts a child’s brain development."
Community members may make a one-time donation or sign up for recurring contributions online at www.elcfv.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library/. Donations can also be made via check and mailed to: The Early Learning Coalition of Flagler/Volusia, 135 Executive Circle, Suite 100, Daytona Beach, FL 32114. Please note in the memo that your donation is for DPIL-V.
