The breakfast was to celebrate the four years since the opening of the Midway Safe Harbor. Eric Geboff, executive director of the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, extended the welcome and recognized the guests.
Midway Safe Harbor students Angel Hamilton and Jamarra Daughterty led the pledge of allegiance. The invocation was given by the Rev. Robert Whittaker III, pastor of New Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church. Whittaker, chairman of the Midway Coalition, spoke of the progress the group has made in the Midway community. He spoke of the constructive things being done to help inspire young people and thanked the school board members for their support.
Dede Schaffner, chairman of the school board, spoke of the five-year dream that the Seminole County School Board, Boys & Girls Club, Seminole County Commission and Seminole County Sheriff’s Office had for the building of the Safe Harbor Center.
Pat Cucci of the Midway Safe Harbor works to keep the vision going. He thanked and acknowledged the partners of the program and those who were in attendance who had contributed to the new mural and garden. Cuccie expressed the desire to have more partners join the program.
The two young ladies spoke of the success of the Last Best Chance program that has improved their lives. Angel Hamilton, a 12th grader, has taken the classes needed to get her high school diploma, and Jamarra Daughterty, Midway resident and a 7th grader at Riverwalk Christian Academy, has worked to bring her GPA
The Midway residents are recruiting scholarship donors to make available scholarships to continue the education of Midway students who are ready and need financial support to attend college after completing high school.
Anthony Hall, a former Midway resident and now attorney with Litler and Meldeson, awarded a $1,000 scholarship in 2008 to Anthony Simmons, who is attending the University of South Florida. Other citizens are supporting the project by offering scholarships to other students.
The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools is a non-profit organization led by a 42-member volunteer board of directors from the community. Members raise and distribute funds to enhance the performance of students and teachers in the Seminole County School District.
With help and support, sponsorships will preserve and keep on building character and hope for years to come for those children who attend the Midway Safe Harbor.
For information on Pathway to Progress, contact at Pat Cuccie at 407-320-5595.