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mypapernow > From left, Darci D'Onofrio and Susan Saunders, of Center Place, and Virginia Johnson and Dottie Berger MacKinnon, of A Kid's Place of Tampa Bay in Brandon, off Lithia-Pinecrest Road.
mypapernow > "She had a vision and worked hard at making it happen," said Dottie Berger MacKinnon, chair of A Kid's Place, in talking about Anne Nymark, founder of the Greater Brandon Community Foundation. "Somebody needs to recognize her for what she's done."

MacKinnon, a former Hillsborough County Commissioner and founding force behind both Joshua's House in Lutz and A Kid's Place in Brandon, said the June 18, 2009 recognized a gathering of people and organizations that share a sense of purpose behind their giving ways.

"You work because it's the right thing to do," MacKinnon said. "You do it from the heart, and that's how Anne is."
mypapernow > Virginia Johnson, executive director of A Kid's Place of Tampa Bay in Brandon.
mypapernow > Charles Del Castillo, left, and Jerry Ball, with Dottie Berger MacKinnon, left, and Virginia Johnson, of A Kid's Place of Tampa Bay in Brandon, which celebrated on April 3, 2009 its grand opening. The residential campus is a $5 million state- of the-art center for abused, abandoned, and neglected children . Located in the Greater Brandon area, at 1715 Lithia Pinecrest Road just south of Lumsden Road, the five-acre campus is comprised of five homes, approximately 3,200 square feet each, that collectively can accommodate up to 60 children. The focus is on keeping siblings together in temporary housing during times of crisis.

"I maintain that you do something because it's a passion," MacKinnon said in an interview after the luncheon. "For me, it's foster kids."

A former Hillsborough County commissioner, Berger MacKinnon 18 years ago led a group of concerned citizens, including Bob Thomas, Olin Mott, Jim Zimmerman, Laurence Hall, Greg Johnson, and Alberto de Alejosis, in the founding of the Joshua House in Lutz, a residential  home for children who have been removed from their families. At the April 3 groundbreaking, Berger MacKinnon, chair of A Kid's Place, was credited, too, as the driving force behind the founding of A Kid's Place.

Johnson is the Brandon campus' newly named executive director.
mypapernow > Carlos Del Castillo, left, and Jerry Ball, with Susan Saunders, left, and Darci D'Onofrio, of the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association. The check from the foundation, Saunders said, "will allow about 500 needy children to be transported for free to live theater at Center Place."
mypapernow > Center Place Patron Party Spices Up The Arts With Havana Nights Theme (April 25, 2009) photo
mypapernow > Center Place Patron Party Spices Up The Arts With Havana Nights Theme (April 25, 2009) photo
mypapernow > Center Place President Tammy Holmberg, with Kay and John Sullivan, this year's recipients of the S.L. "Spud" Clements Award.

The printed program for the 2009 Center Place "Havana Nights" Patron Party has this to say about the award:

"It is difficult to separate Spud Clements "the man" from Spud Clements "the politician," but where Center Place was concerned Spud's untiring support far surpassed his political obligations. He was truly a servant of his community, but to those who knew him, it was obvious that Center Place held a special place in his heart.

"Perhaps Spud had a vision of what a vital role Center Place woudl paly in our burgeoning community. Whenever Center Place needed held and support he ws directly and personally available. Spud spearheaded efforts to secure state grants for Center Place that kept us financially stable through our lean years and helped to furnish our new facility. He kept his significant contributions in the background while he fondly watched the Center grow and flourish. The smile on his face when the building was opened was not for his own involvement, but rather reflected the opportunities that he knew Center Place woudl have to serve out growing community.

"The S.L. Spuds Clements Award is given to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to Center Place either monetarily or through giving of time and efforts unselfishly."
mypapernow > Center Place Patron Party Spices Up The Arts With Havana Nights Theme (April 25, 2009) photo
From left, Darci D'Onofrio and Susan Saunders, of Center Place, and Virginia Johnson and Dottie Berger MacKinnon, of A Kid's Place of Tampa Bay in Brandon, off Lithia-Pinecrest Road.
mypapernow > From left, Darci D'Onofrio and Susan Saunders, of Center Place, and Virginia Johnson and Dottie Berger MacKinnon, of A Kid's Place of Tampa Bay in Brandon, off Lithia-Pinecrest Road.
From left, Darci D'Onofrio and Susan Saunders, of Center Place, and Virginia Johnson and Dottie Berger MacKinnon, of A Kid's Place of Tampa Bay in Brandon, off Lithia-Pinecrest Road.
See photo in original gallery.

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