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Happy Holidays from the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay!
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Crisis Center Mission
The mission of the Crisis Center is to ensure that no one in our community has to face crisis alone.
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The Best Holiday Gift of All!
By Clara Reynolds, President & CEO
The holidays are a pretty special time in the Reynolds house. Like many of you, we have certain traditions that are really important to us. We like to get a live Christmas tree the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The guys of the house are in charge of the outside decorations while I'm in charge of creating the holidays cards (though we all have to work together to get them assembled and out of the door). There is the baking of cookies on Christmas Eve and watching funny holiday movies. At the core of these silly rituals, however, is the focus on creating memories focused on family relationships.
As I think about this holiday time of the year, I'm reminded of the importance of all kinds of relationships. So many of us spend significant time and money to travel across the country to be with family and friends. At the office, we attend parties, participate in workplace "White Elephant" or "Secret Santa" gift exchanges, and decorate with holiday cards received from business associates across the world. All of these rituals are designed to enhance our relationships with each other..
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READ MORE
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- MORE GOOD NEWS! -
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Facing Loneliness at the Holidays
Late in the evening on Thanksgiving Day, Intervention Specialist Rebecca received a phone call on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline from a distraught young man named Jonathan, who told her he didn't want to live anymore.
Tragically, Jonathan lost both of his parents in an accident. Having never appropriately dealt with the traumatic and sudden loss, he was struggling to form any close relationships and had isolated himself. The holidays are always difficult for Jonathan because they're a time traditionally spent with friends and family.
Jonathan shared that the loneliness this year was becoming overwhelming.
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Hillsborough Sheriff Makes Special Visit to the Crisis Center
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Sheriff Chronister with Crisis Center
Staff and Board Members
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The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay maintains essential relationships with our community's law enforcement agencies. Each area of the Crisis Center collaborates with local police departments and the sheriff's office to keep people in our community safe and healthy. Earlier this month, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister visited the Crisis Center and communicated the department's priorities and vision during a board of directors meeting.
Thank you to Sheriff Chronister for everything he does for the community and for spending some time at the Crisis Center!
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Emily Surak: Lightning Community Hero of Tomorrow
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Suicide prevention advocate Emily Surak was recently honored as a Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero of Tomorrow, electing to give the $25,000 grant she received from the Lightning Community Foundation to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
Now a senior at Plant High School, Emily became involved with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay when she learned a friend had struggled with thoughts of suicide. From that moment, Emily became a suicide prevention advocate.
Over the past two years, Emily used her platform as Miss City Beautiful's Outstanding Teen and Miss Central Florida's Outstanding Teen to raise awareness about community resources like the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, 2-1-1, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK). Emily organized the
Be The Voice talent show to raise suicide prevention awareness, provided gift bags to gateway services staff, swam at
Strokes for Hope, and has been interviewed by local media and spoken at Crisis Center events.
Recognized during the Lightning game against Colorado on Saturday, Dec. 8, Emily wants the grant to be used to help develop support materials that additional high schools will use to launch their own
Be The Voice events.
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Celebrating the Holidays and Crisis Center Donors!
Crisis Center donors and community partners were invited to join us for a night of celebrating the holidays in the boathouse at the new Julian B. Lane riverfront park. Over 100 guests, including members of the President's Circle, Sustainer Society, Legacy Society, Circle of Caring, and Women in Action, gathered to hear a quick note of thanks from Board Chair Christopher Rogers and President & CEO Clara Reynolds.
The annual event was sponsored by Prida Guida & Perez, and guests enjoyed wines from City Beautiful Beverage Company, Union by Commune + Co, and the private collection of John-Edward Alley and Beth Rutberg. Thank you to all of our donors who choose to support the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay throughout the year!
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Now is the time to make a gift to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay for your 2018 taxes! Your donation funds vital community resources like the gateway contact center, trauma counseling, travelers' aid, and sexual assault services. By contributing, you're helping to ensure that no one in our community has to face crisis alone!
To make an online donation, click
HERE.
You can also mail a donation to:
Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
One Crisis Center Plaza
Tampa, FL 33613
Thank you for your support!
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- Take a Tour! -
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Tuesday, January 8th (12pm-1pm)
Thursday, January 24th (12pm-1pm)
Tuesday, February 5th (12pm-1pm)
Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, One Crisis Center Plaza, Tampa, FL 33613
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay offers tours for people to learn more about the services we provide to the Tampa Bay community. See firsthand the difference we are making. Join us for a one-hour lunch and tour where you will meet with a board member, key staff and other interested community members.
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- Thank you to these Crisis Center Corporate Partners! -
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- Thank you to these Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Funders! -
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