FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lisa Early 321-239-7855

MAYOR DYER TO ATTEND
PARRAMORE HERITAGE CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

WHO: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

WHAT: Parramore Heritage Children’s Festival

WHEN: February 19, 2005
Saturday
12:00 p.m. (noon)

WHERE: John H. Jackson Community Center
1002 West Carter Street
Intersection of Westmoreland and Carter Street
On Westmoreland, One Block South of State Road 408


ORLANDO, FL (February 19, 2005)- Parramore Heritage Children’s Festival

Mayor Dyer will attend and speak at this event, organized by the City’s Director of Children and Education, with support from a coalition of community partners, including Mayor Richard T. Crotty’s Youth Initiative (The Club), the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Community Coordinated Care for Children, Orlando/Orange County Weed and Seed, the Center for Drug-Free Living, and others.

At the event, the City will offer financial assistance for childcare to as many as 300 children, ages 6 weeks to 12 years, residing in the Parramore Heritage area, to end longstanding waiting lists for childcare assistance among working families residing in Parramore. This was made possible through funding provided by the City to Community Coordinated Care for Children (4C).

In addition, the City is working with Mayor Richard T. Crotty’s Youth Initiative (The Club) at the event, to enroll as many children as possible - ages 5 to 18 - in the Club, to increase enrollment in out-of-school programs among children residing in the Parramore Heritage area.

The City’s goals are to 1) help families keep their jobs by having safe places to leave their children while they work, 2) ensure the supervision and safety of children during non-school hours, and 3) achieve other positive results for children, which are linked to participation in out-of-school programs - including better performance on achievement tests, higher grades and school attendance, less disciplinary action, avoidance of drug and alcohol use, decreases in delinquency and violent behaviors, avoidance of sexual activity and pregnancy.

According to Mayor Dyer: “When I became Orlando’s Mayor, I promised to restore the Parramore neighborhood to its proud past – to the safe, beautiful and proud place it once was, where parents and grandparents didn’t have to worry about crime or safety or well being of their children. Today we take another step in that direction. We want to help the residents of Parramore have safe places for their children to stay while they are at work. We want to help their children have safe, interesting, and fun things to do when school lets out every day, and also when summertime is here. We want to make sure the children of Parramore have what it takes to be successful in school and throughout their lives.”

Entertainment at the event will include: local DJs, Radio Disney, a children’s “Parramore Idol” competition, and the National Anthem sung by 2-year-old Briana Salters.
 

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