Non-Profits Get a Boost for their New Year’s Goals in 2015

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jan. 29, 2015 - PRLog -- Representatives from 39 different Tampa Bay area charities assembled at the historic Fort Harrison this week to network and collaborate for 2015. Groups represented included a broad array of social and community interests – from arts organizations, to tutoring, to homelessness. Nearly 100 people attended.

         The luncheon started off with a short presentation by Lynn Mattiace, the Executive Director of the Pinellas PACE Center for Girls. She spoke about the vital work their center does to get young women back focused and re-directed onto a path towards success. Ms. Mattiace then showed a video that made the need for this program very real and tangible.

         The video told the story of a smart young woman whose life took a horrible turn for the worse once she hit high school. The PACE Center helped her to feel safe enough to realize her own strengths, so that she could make her own choices about her future and successfully move forward in life.

       Following the video, Pat Clouden, the CEO of Consumer Energy Services gave a short talk on goals and the importance of having big goals for the future. The key? To take your goals and make them bigger.

         “L. Ron Hubbard wrote that ‘if you don’t hitch your wagon to a star, it’s a cinch you’re not going to get up to the top of the pine tree, because it takes this much to get this much’ so I am going to ask you to take whatever goal you were thinking of, and make it bigger,’” said Mr. Clouden. Guests then shared some of their goals for the coming year.

         Meanwhile guests enjoyed a buffet lunch, including roast beef, potatoes, salad and corn on the cob. A dessert buffet provided a sweet ending to the lunch.

         The event provided a forum for area non-profits to network and share resources. The next luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday the 25^th of March. The event is open to staff or board members from non-profit organizations. There is no cost to attend.

         The Fort Harrison has been a site for charitable support since construction completed in late 1926. Since the Church of Scientology’s top to bottom restoration and renovation of the Fort Harrison in 2009, more than 12,000 people have attended fundraising activities and community events at the historic property.

         The Fort Harrison has been the international religious retreat for the Church of Scientology since 1975.

         If you are interested in receiving an invitation to the event, please contact Pat Harney or Lisa Mansell at 727-467-6860.