Fall Newsletter

The Executive Director's Corner

Your LEAD Coalition team is busy preparing for our biggest fundraiser of the year, “Birthday Bash.” It is a time to reflect on our accomplishments for the year and to look ahead at our goals for next year. Thanks to the support of our community, we can assist our homeless residents, support local businesses, provide future home buyers with access to companies that can help them make their dreams of owning a home come true, and provide information regarding adult vaccines. Whether you purchase a ticket and attend our Birthday Bash or provide a donation, your support is welcomed and needed.

Limited Seats Available!

Join us and our community collaborators for a night to remember featuring LIVE music from Lowell Harper and Dionzia Santiago, as well as performances by Aerial Dance PC.

It will be a fluid evening for you to come and go as your schedule allows.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Community Calendar

Are you planning a community event and looking for a way to share it with a large local audience? Add your event to our NEW & IMPROVED Online Community Calendar! If you have any questions about submitting your event, please email marketing@leadabetterlife.org

Written by Amber Payton

On August 4th, 2023, the STEAM team successfully concluded their six-week summer camp and began gearing up for the new school year. To ensure our students had a great start to the year, we provided them with a backpack of school supplies, a one-year membership to a STEM magazine, and some snacks. Our students received certificates and STEAM medals as a token of appreciation for their hard work and dedication over the summer.

During the summer camp, our students had the opportunity to learn new things, make new friends, and share their experiences with us. We were thrilled to hear what they liked and didn't like, and the most exciting part of the program. Every single one of our students had an incredible time, and they are eagerly looking forward to next year's program.

If your child would be interested in applying for next year's summer camp, please visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter for updates on enrollment. Although there are certain requirements, we welcome everyone to apply. To be eligible, students must be in third to fifth grade, and they can remain in the program until graduation from high school.

If you'd like to support the Youth Development Fund, please visit our website.

Cornerstone Trust Micro-loan Program

Written by Therrita Walsh

The Cornerstone Trust Micro-loan Collaboration successfully completed its small business workshop series in August with over twenty participants taking advantage of the opportunity. The series consisted of essential topics for successful business development, including business mindset, structure, accounting, business plans, marketing, and branding. The sessions were every Tuesday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Participants had the opportunity to apply for a Micro-loan of up to $5,000 to help start or expand their business. This opportunity was possible due to the collaborative efforts of LEAD Coalition and Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, with assistance from local business owners Richard Dodd from Reliant South, J Dia Green-Jones, Alecia Rhodes, Beverly Wall, Jason Crowe from Community Bank, and Grey Dodge with the City of Panama City.

This small business series aimed to educate small business owners and provide them with seed capital to help grow their businesses. We are pleased to have completed this series and look forward to continuing to support small business owners in their endeavors.

Community Outreach: Adult Vaccines

Written by Terri Thomas

The LEAD organization has been actively promoting adult vaccinations through billboards and radio spots. In addition, during the month of September, LEAD partnered with Cooper's Drugstore to host a successful vaccination clinic every Thursday. The clinic served as an opportunity for the community to learn more about recommended vaccinations for adults and to discuss their vaccine options with their doctor or pharmacist.

Participants were able to take a brief survey and receive prizes such as T-shirts, cups, bags, keychains, and other goodies. Our goal is to remind individuals to get their vaccination to protect themselves and others. With the cooler months and holiday season ahead, LEAD plans to host more vaccination clinics throughout the community in preparation for Flu season and to address rising cases of COVID-19. We highly encourage the community to consider getting their Flu and COVID-19 vaccines to stay safe and healthy.

Get 4 FREE at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests this fall on COVIDTests.gov

Trusted Messengers

Volunteer with LEAD

Do you want to do something meaningful for your community? LEAD is currently looking for passionate individuals, like you, to join our team of dedicated volunteers! You can choose from a variety of roles, including event planning, food distribution, promoting upcoming events, or street outreach. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds, whether young adults, retired individuals, families, church groups, or sports teams, to offer their unique skills and perspectives to aid us in serving the community. By volunteering with LEAD, you'll have a fulfilling experience and help us to help others LEAD Better Lives. 

LEAD Coalition of Bay County Weblinks