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Donations Assist Sports Programs

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By JOHN CEBALLOS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

RUSKIN - A pair of burgeoning South Shore sports programs received major boosts in their efforts to get established in the community.

During a Feb. 8 meeting, the Community Foundation of Greater Sun City Center decided to award a $10,000 grant to the South Shore Jr. Longhorns, a nonprofit, volunteer Pop Warner youth football and cheerleading organization that will serve Ruskin, Apollo Beach, Wimauma and surrounding communities.

At the same meeting, the foundation also agreed to donate $2,000 to the Lennard High School baseball program.

The Sun City Center organization, which serves the area south of the Alafia River, is a division of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, an administrator of endowments that connects donors with philanthropic projects.

"It's so important to keep kids engaged in the community," said Evelyn Lunsford, chairwoman of the Sun City Center foundation. "They really are our building blocks for the future, and we like to do everything in our power to build a better community for them."

The donations are important to the two organizations. The South Shore Jr. Longhorns - who will play home games on Lennard's football field - are scheduled to begin their first season in August. The Lennard baseball program started its second season Tuesday.

Kennedy Duran, head coach of the baseball team, said the money will go toward field and maintenance equipment, as well as a netting to cover the outfield fence, a pitching machine and new uniforms.

"Every little bit helps," Duran said. "We've already had some equipment donated to us by the community; for us to be able to operate, we need their support."

Dean Walters, president of the South Shore Jr. Longhorns, said the goal was to raise $25,000 by the end of their first season in November. With the recent grant, the organization has raised about $13,000.

"The grant gives us much more flexibility in that we can now take on some lower-income players," Walters said. "A lot of consideration will also go into getting safer equipment as opposed to the most inexpensive gear."

About 180 youngsters are registered for the Jr. Longhorns, and Walters estimates that number will reach 300 when the season starts.

Registration and a fundraiser will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Ruskin Recreation Center, 901 Sixth St. S.E. Admission is $10. Registration is $189 for tackle football and cheerleading, and $99 for flag football.

For information on the Jr. Longhorns, call (813) 641-2561 or visit www.ssjlonghorns .com.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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