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Kids Appreciation Day has long history
By BOB McCLURE
Article published on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 |
SEMINOLE – It started in 1979 as a way for the business community to honor the city’s youth.
Since then, Kids Appreciation Day has evolved into an annual Seminole tradition for elementary school students to celebrate the end of school and the business community to say “good job.”
This year’s event is set for Tuesday, June 3, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., at Seminole City Park, 7464 Ridge Road.
“It’s a children’s party,” said Gretchen Cain, business assistance specialist for the Greater Seminole Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event. “It’s their day. It’s for the kids to reward them for all their hard work and the respect they’ve shown their teachers during the school year. It’s just a neat thing. It’s something very unique to Seminole.”
The free event is anxiously awaited each year by elementary school students in Seminole due to the array of prizes given away and the fun associated with the event.
Jimmy Johnson, executive director of the chamber, is one of the founders of the concept and worked closely with Ben Cramer, Cathy Shiels, Yvonne Woods, Eva Jones and Harold “Doc” Kinsey to launch the first event.
“It came about because of Seminole High School,” said Johnson. “Drugs were becoming a problem and it was influencing some of our kids. We wanted to let kids know they didn’t need to get involved in things like that and to honor them for their accomplishments.”
Johnson said the event started off as a party for all ages of students and has since transitioned into a day to honor only elementary school students.
“We’re about the only community in Florida that does something like this,” Johnson said. “Our business community supports this with no expense to the city or the taxpayers. It’s just a lot of good volunteers that makes this work.”
Johnson said about $3,000 in donations is required each year to purchase prizes and food for kids.
Amenities include free drinks, hot dogs and popcorn for the kids only. There is also a watermelon eating contest, a bounce playground and magic tricks performed by Wendy and Sunny.
But the gift giveaways are the biggest part of the day. Generally, the prizes include bicycles and electronic computer games, among other items.
Dr. Stephen Nickse of the Seminole Chiropractic Injury and Wellness Center chairs the chamber’s committee for the event and normally purchases most of the prizes.
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Article published on Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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