From left, former Florida State Representative Sandy Murman, Tammy Holmberg, and Connie Smaldone, at the April 2, 2009 launching of the Brandon branch of the All Children's Hosptial Guild. Holmberg serves as this year's Honorary Mayor of Brandon. Smaldone announced at the meeting that she intends to run for honorary mayor when the race for Holmberg's successor kicks off in June. The mayor's race, a Community Roundtable initiative, is won by the "candidate" who raises the most money for charity; Smaldone said one of her causes will be the newly formed Brandon branch of the All Children's Hospital Guild.

Murman noted that the April 2 guild launching would be followed by the April 3 grand opening of A Kid's Place in Brandon, a $5 million state- of the-art center for abused, abandoned, and neglected children a residential. "This is health care, that's child welfare, but they both serve children in this community and [therefore] share a very important mission," Murman said.

Smaldone noted that her son, at age 2, was a patient at All Children's Hospital and that, in part, fuels her drive to support the guild. "Children don't have a say a lot of times, and especially in medical situations," she said. "They absolutely need advocates, even beyond their parents."

Holmberg agreed. "There's so many children in our community who use this [All Children's Specialty Care of Brandon] center for services, they need to expand" she said. Forming and supporting a guild, Holmberg added, "is a good way for our community to come together and help."

From left, former Florida State Representative Sandy Murman, Tammy Holmberg, and Connie Smaldone, at the April 2, 2009 launching of the Brandon branch of the All Children's Hosptial Guild. Holmberg serves as this year's Honorary Mayor of Brandon. Smaldone announced at the meeting that she intends to run for honorary mayor when the race for Holmberg's successor kicks off in June. The mayor's race, a Community Roundtable initiative, is won by the "candidate" who raises the most money for charity; Smaldone said one of her causes will be the newly formed Brandon branch of the All Children's Hospital Guild.

Murman noted that the April 2 guild launching would be followed by the April 3 grand opening of A Kid's Place in Brandon, a $5 million state- of the-art center for abused, abandoned, and neglected children a residential. "This is health care, that's child welfare, but they both serve children in this community and [therefore] share a very important mission," Murman said.

Smaldone noted that her son, at age 2, was a patient at All Children's Hospital and that, in part, fuels her drive to support the guild. "Children don't have a say a lot of times, and especially in medical situations," she said. "They absolutely need advocates, even beyond their parents."

Holmberg agreed. "There's so many children in our community who use this [All Children's Specialty Care of Brandon] center for services, they need to expand" she said. Forming and supporting a guild, Holmberg added, "is a good way for our community to come together and help."