Polk County’s Only Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run

Polk County’s Only Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run

Saturday, November 7, 2015 at the Lake Mirror Promenade

Polk County, FL – Polk County’s Annual Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 7, 2015 is just a week away! The Red Ribbon Run events, presented by Title Sponsor Publix Super Markets, Inc., and event partners, MIDFlorida Credit Union and Florida Dairy Farmers, is a family weekend where parents can compete in the Half Marathon or 5K, and children can participate in the Kids Fun Run.

Register by midnight on October 31, 2015 to save money on entry fees for the Half Marathon and 5K on the event website at www.RedRibbonHalf.com. The scenic run course will take place along picturesque Lake Mirror and Lakeland’s beautiful downtown and Lake to Lake area. Start time for the Half Marathon is 7:00 a.m., and the 5K begins at 7:30 a.m. Check-in will begin at 6:00 a.m. for both races.

Kids Fun Run Registration for students in grades K-8 is FREE and includes a commemorative Run t-shirt for pre-registered participants, along with free refreshments! Registration check-in will take place at the Lake Mirror Auditorium, starting at 7:00 a.m. The Fun Run will start at 8:00 a.m. at Lake Mirror Promenade, 121 S. Lake Ave., in Lakeland, and follow a route that will loop around Lake Mirror and end back in the Promenade area. Awards will be given for 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd place runners in gender categories, as well as to the top 3 elementary schools and top middle school with the largest percentage of participating students, based on school census number.

Supporters can also participate in a Red Ribbon Virtual Race for the Half Marathon and 5K. Virtual race profiles can be created at www.makeyeshappen.com/heronation. For those who wish to track training efforts, your Garmin, Runkeeper, or Fitbit can be connected to automate workouts. Cost is $50 and participants receive a Red Ribbon Hero Nation t-shirt.

At the conclusion of the Run events, everyone is invited to stay to enjoy the Annual Veterans Day Parade at Lake Mirror Promenade with lots of red, white and blue events to honor our heroes, including a fly over presented by Draken International. Save on the cost of lunch for your family by visiting the event website at www.RedRibbonHalf.com (under race registration – race store tab) to pre-order a delicious BBQ sandwich, chips and a drink, provided by Jimbo’s Pit BarBQ. Kids’ meals are also available. Cost for lunch will be more expensive on event day!

For additional details and event info, please contact InnerAct Alliance's executive director, Angie Ellison, at (863) 802-0777 or visit the official event website at: www.redribbonhalf.com, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RedRibbonHalf and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedRibbonRunSeries 

InnerAct Alliance Awarded TD Charitable Foundation Grant

InnerAct Alliance Awarded TD Charitable Foundation Grant

Polk County, FL – InnerAct Alliance is the proud recipient of a generous grant from TD Charitable Foundation to support evidence-based prevention programming that also encompasses anti-bullying education. The grant, provided through TD Bank, will allow InnerAct Alliance to introduce the “Too Good for Drugs and Violence” program to three additional schools and approximately 330 more students in the Polk County Schools.

“Too Good for Drugs and Violence”, developed by the Mendez Foundation, has been approved by the Federal Government and is listed on the National Registry for Evidence Based Prevention Programs (NREEP). This indicates that the program has been through the scientific trial process and proven to be effective.

The objective of “Too Good for Drugs and Violence”, taught over a period of 10 weeks, is to increase skills for de-escalating potential bullying situations and to build skills that point students towards success in school and in life. We know statistically that the more successful an individual is in school, the less likely they are to become involved in risky behaviors. This innovative program has five interwoven components: Goal Setting, Decision Making, Bonding with Others, Identifying and Managing Emotions, and Communicating Effectively.

“InnerAct Alliance is honored to have been chosen as a recipient of the TD Charitable Foundation grant and we are extremely grateful to our prevention partners at TD Bank for their support!” said Angie Ellison, executive director. “The funding will allow our prevention education efforts to continue to expand and strengthen our students, schools, and community.”

InnerAct Alliance, formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center, has worked diligently for the past 30 years to reduce the abuse and underage use of harmful substances along with involvement in other risky behaviors while supporting positive healthy decisions through: Community Awareness and Support; Prevention Education; Economic Impact; and Leadership Development. 

For additional information on InnerAct Alliance’s prevention programs and services in the community, please call (863) 802-0777.

UthMpact’s 2015 Project Homecoming Event – Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, 2015

Polk County, FL – With Homecoming season upon us, teen leaders from UthMpact are busy coordinating its first year of Project Homecoming to provide formal wear and accessories to deserving high school students in our community who might not otherwise be able to afford the expense of a fun Homecoming celebration.

Student Shopping Days to distribute dresses and menswear to those in need will take place this weekend on Saturday, October 10^th, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and Sunday, October 11^th, from Noon – 4:00 pm at Vintage Warehouse, 4308 Wallace Road, in Lakeland. High school students with a Polk County School ID can sign a Project Homecoming Pledge promising to make smart, healthy decisions on the evening of Homecoming and receive their formal wear for FREE!

We are asking for assistance from our community to support this effort, along with our Spring Project Prom event, by donating gently used dresses, men’s suits, shoes, purses, and accessories. These items may be dropped off at Vintage Warehouse during the shopping event hours this weekend, or at the InnerAct Alliance office, 621 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland, weekdays from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

UthMpact is a coalition for teens by teens, empowering and educating teens to make healthy decisions and actions against alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.  Over the past three years, several hundred prom dresses and menswear have been provided to teens in need through the Project Prom effort in our community.

UthMpact's goal is to promote a fun and safe Homecoming night. For more information, please contact Emily Plank and Samantha Barwig, UthMpact Coordinators, at (863) 802-0777, or visit www.uthmpact.org