March/April 2015
Board of Directors
Thomas A. James, Board Chairman
Chairman, Raymond James Financial
Donor Spotlight: David Wilson and Shoreline
Image Works, LLC
Frank Chivas, Vice Chairman
Owner, Island Way Grill, Marlin Darlin,
Rumba & Salt Rock Grill
Always behind the scenes, David's experienced eye
films the raw video footage from which our Chi Chi
Media Moments are made. These Moments, written
and produced by Academy Executive Committee
Members John and Monica Kobasic share the stories
from students, board members, volunteers and
parents with our supporters. For the past two years
David‘s company also produced multiple videos about
the Foundation’s mission. Thank you David for
donating this valuable service!
Robert D. Basham
Founder, Outback Steakhouse, PDQ
Restaurants
Griffith S. Braddock
Owner and GM, Braddock Metallurgical, Inc.
Ron Ciganek
Senior Vice President, US AmeriBank
Top: David with
Chi Chi, John & Monica
Kobasic, Izon (6th
grade), Litzy (4th
grade) and Rebecca
(7th grade); Bottom:
David takes video of
the gardening program
with Superintendent
Eric Dixon
“David is a real video perfectionist, and we're
already starting to see the value and proof of his
talent.” ~John Kobasic
Event Spotlight: Local Rotary and Kiwanis
Clubs provide over $19,750 in Renovations on
the Academy Campus
Robert Enck
President and CEO,
Equinox Fund Management
Glenn W. Jones Jr.
CFO, Fintech
W. Andrew Krusen, Jr.
CEO, DFG Management
Claude J. Macari
Partner, KPMG
Jessica M. Majeski
Financial Advisor,
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
With a Matching Grant by Rotary District 6950, the
Academy and Foundation received new carpet,
safety gates throughout the campus, flat screen
TV’s in each classroom, new water fountains, new
bathroom fixtures, student golf attire, and water
proof storage bins for backpacks. With in-kind
donations the total project is worth more than
$30,000. A special thank you to Chuck Dean, Lynn
Wargo and the Rotary Club of Dunedin for
facilitating the grant process. Thank you to the
clubs and companies listed below for donating to
this amazing renovation:
Rotary District 6950
Rotary Club of Dunedin
Rotary Club of Clearwater East
Rotary Club of Dunedin North
Rotary Club of Dunedin Waterside
Rotary Club of East Lake Sunrise
Rotary Club of Largo
Rotary Club of Palm Harbor
Rotary Club of Safety Harbor
Kiwanis Club of Dunedin
Bill Coleman and the Institute for Creative Arts
McGill Plumbing
Nielsen
Spectra Contract Flooring
Scott Curtis
President,
Raymond James Financial Services
Julie Mastry
President,
Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts
Conrad A. Plimpton
Chairman and Owner, Inolex Group
Philip J. Powell, Jr.
CEO/President, C3 Management, Inc. &
Powell Holding and Development
Above: 5th graders
Wiley and Shawna
appreciating their new
classroom water
fountain; Left: 4th
grade students Joel,
Litzy and Desiree enjoy
their new carpet
Right: Rotary of Dunedin
Members: Immediate Past
President Chuck Dean,
Current President Nora
Mihopoulous and Program
Chair Lynn Wargo show off
the new gates at the Chi Chi
Academy with Asaiya (7th
grade) and Jon (6th grade)
“Part of our business and mission statement is doing good for the
community. If we have a skill that can be of service to a wonderful
organization like Chi Chi’s, it is our pleasure to contribute.”
~Bill Coleman, Institute for Creative Arts - Designer of the new
Academy gates pictured on right
Over
Elliott M. Ross
Managing Director, RMC Ross Realty LLC
Fred E. Whaley
Sr. V.P. & Managing Dir. N. Shore Wealth
Mgt. Group, Raymond James & Assoc.
Bill Wickett
Executive Vice President Communications,
Tampa Bay Lightning
Donor Spotlight: South End Civil with Bob
Baker and Richard Wegman
On January 10th big machinery rolled onto the Golf
Club as it underwent much needed improvements.
The 245 yard Maintenance Department road on
the east side of hole #1 is now paved with millings,
providing less stress on our equipment and way
less dust on the golfers. Also, the pond seawall is
now secured, keeping the building safe from future
erosion. Thanks to the incredible efforts of
Academy Executive Committee Members Bob
Baker and Richard Wegman, South End Civil (a local
site improvement contractor) donated all of the
equipment, labor and supplies. We are grateful to
them.
Top Left: South End Civil smooths out the millings on the
road; Top Right: the Pond wall reinforced with beams;
Bottom Right: Equipment donated by South End Civil for
the project; Bottom Left: completed paved road
“Doug Dempsey, Marty Mancini, John Wiggins
and their generous resources went above and
beyond to create valuable improvements.
Many thanks to this team!“ ~Bob Baker
Student Spotlights:
5th Graders learn real life business skills
The Honor Roll list is growing: 17 students
at Enterprise Village
receive Honor Roll for 2nd grading period
Fifteen middle school and two elementary
school students celebrated their Honor Roll
accomplishment in January. Students who
achieve Honor Roll are served a pancake
breakfast by Chi Chi Academy staff and enjoy
the morning with each other. Among the
students is 8th grader Dominick who received
Honor Roll for the very first time!
Through a six-week curriculum, 5th graders are
taught the basics of economics, capitalism and
business. Once at Enterprise Village, students
put their weeks of preparation to the test as
they manage storefronts and work in public
and private sector enterprises. The Chi Chi
Academy 5th grade class took on work at BIC
Graphics, Kane’s Furniture and DITEK.
Right: 5th grader
Eric works on
manufacturing at
DITEK
Left: Students
celebrate their Honor
Roll achievement
“I was proud and surprised to receive Honor Roll for the first time ever. So far I am
maintaining the grades and look forward to achieving it again.“ ~Dominick, 8th grade
Program Spotlight: The First Tee National
School Program at Forest Lakes Elementary
introduces golf to 545 community youth
Top: Program Director Tony
Simpson goes over Life
Skills with students; Right:
Student taking on target
practice with Starting New
at Golf (SNAG) equipment
The program introduces the game of golf as well as
The First Tee Nine Core Values and Nine Healthy
Habits to elementary students during school
physical education classes. Young people discover
the lifelong sport while learning basic golf motor
skills and the inherent values of the game. These
youngsters are then invited to our year round golf
camps where they can grow their game and
practice on a real golf course, featuring junior tees.
“The core values and healthy habits of The First Tee will last a lifetime. I’ve enjoyed
starting the program and look forward to even greater success in the future. Thanks to
Coach Tony and The First Tee for their support.” ~Coach Mullins, Forest Lakes Elementary
Academy Executive Committee
Elliott Ross - Chair
Brad Ausdemore
Bob Baker
Scott Brown
Linda Damsky
Will Hurter
John Kobasic
Monica Kobasic
Jessica Majeski
Katie Majeski
Chuck McGee
Pete Morrell
Jeremy Robinson
Scott Tobe
Sean Tobe
Katrina Trump
Richard Wegman
Academy Mission
To assist at risk children by
improving their self-esteem,
character, work ethic,
social adjustment, and academic
performance using the golf course and
its business as living classrooms.
Contact Information
3030 N. McMullen Booth Road
Clearwater, FL 33761
For more information
www.chichi.org or
call Cary Stiff
(727) 726-8829 x 202
email: [email protected]
Upcoming Events—2015
Chi Chi Pro Am
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Innisbrook North Course
50/50 Raffle
Valspar Championship Week
March 12-15, 2015
Chi Chi Charity Classic
Sunday & Monday,
November 15 & 16, 2015
Did You Know...?
Camille Surdi, LPGA has joined The First
Tee of Clearwater’s Coaching staff!
Camille joins our highly qualified
instruction team with many years of
experience. She is a Class A member of
the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional
Division and has given over 35,000
lessons throughout the last 25 years.
She Coaches a Target class on
Wednesday afternoons at the Sports
Complex as well as personal lessons.
To learn more about Camille, visit:
www.camillesurdi.yourlpgapro.com