BUSINESS
Chamber to honor teachers
56th l Annua
Donations sought to recognize education leaders Weekly Staff report
T
he Key West Chamber of Commerce is calling on local businesses to honor 22 local teachers. For more than 18 years, the Tom Sawyer Five Star Program, which is one of many of the chamber’s education initiatives, has recognized teachers from every local Key West public and charter school (along with Sugarloaf ) with an assortment of donated services and gifts. The teachers will be selected by school principals to receive awards at one of three chamber membership luncheons—the first occurring on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Gifts and services are donated by local businesses in increments of $25 (per teacher) for a total donated value of $550. The goodies are distributed to teachers on the day of recognition, including items like oil changes, attraction tickets, retail vouchers, restaurant gift certificates, professional services and cash. The program is rooted in 18 years of chamber education initiatives, which began when John and Georgia Parks initiated the “Honor Roll 100 program” in the late 1990s. In 2005, the program was named
Education is the future of the community and it’s the foundation of our business community, — Chamber Exec VP Virginia Panico
for the late Tom Sawyer and remains one of the chamber’s proudest commitments to the local community. “Education is the future of the community and it’s the foundation of our business community,” said Key West Chamber Exec VP Virginia Panico. “Key West is very diverse and most of us, depending on our interests at the time, belong to certain segments and we tend to get our own worlds. But we can never overlook education. It is instrumental to everything we do as a community.” Panico says the Tom Sawyer Teacher recognition is not only eye-opening for business and
community leaders, but it also allows teachers an opportunity to attend a chamber meeting and witness firsthand what the chamber does. “A lot of people think the chamber is all about business,” said Panico. “But Key West is diverse. We have education, the arts, our gay community, snowbirds, and retirees and so on. It is always important that we support one another and understand that we all succeed together.” The chamber spearheads more than six education programs, including scholarships, mentoring, classroom sponsors and more. The chamber is currently seeking donations from members and other community advocates who want to participate. Panico says this year’s initiative will not come without heartfelt remembrance, as the education committee pays tribute to the late Sharon Moore, who was instrumental to the program for many years. For those interested in supporting the Key West Chamber’s education efforts please contact : 305-294-2587 or visit 510 Greene Street just below Old City Hall.
THANK YOU!
DOOR PRIZE DONATIONS 2015
Marathon Lumber • Marathon Bait and Tackle • Tackle Box • Keys Fisheries • Island Gift Shop • West Marine • Papa’s Pilar Rum • Faro Blanco • Village Barber • Fl Keys Snoballs • Keys Hairmasters • Rachael Neller Hair Cuts • Brutus Seafood • Bull Buster Line • Fl Keys Aquariun • Reef Water Works • Salon Blanco • Alo Jewelers • Midas Touch • Cash Flow • Lazy Days • Anthonys • Studio 53 • Grays Taxidermy • King Seafood • Sunset Nails • Marathon Boat Yard • Marathon Marina • Papa Johns • Fl Keys Air Conditioning • Marathon Florist • Put your name on Anything • Porkies • Royal Furniture
2015 MIBT SPONSORS
Some of the teachers recognized in 2014 include Sabryah Alghrary, Valerie Palay, Christine Shanle, Katie Holtkamp, Nicole Smith, Tyler Smith, Mark Coleman and Julie Curry pictured with Chamber President Nicki Will and the late Education Committee Chair Sharon Moore.
James Smith • Lynn Goodwin and Jimmy Padget • Key Colony Real Estate • Mid Keys Sand and Rock • Specialty Hardware • Don Dahlfues • Huntress Charters • UPS Store • Gene Ford • Lobster Trap Art • Keys fisheries • Rhodes • Plumbing • Zonta • McGraw Developers • James and Bettye Chaplin • Henrys Trucking Page 5 • Key West Weekly • Oct. 16, 2015