Event seeks to support children and educate families
Published 5:28 pm Saturday, June 11, 2016
- Photos by Miranda Pederson/Daily News Malik Jefferson (from right), 8, screams into a misting fan while standing with Jorge Santamaria, 9, and Jordyn Downey, 8, all of Bowling Green, on Wednesday at the 16th annual Stand for Children at Bowling Green Ballpark. The event allowed organizations and businesses to let children and their parents know about services that are available, according to Joshua Smith, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education.
The community will come together Thursday to raise awareness about services available to local children at the 19th annual Stand for Children Day at Bowling Green Ballpark.
Families, summer camps and child care centers can attend the free event from 9 to 11 a.m. and bring children to play at several booths and activities manned by area agencies and businesses. Information about the services in the community will be available.
A proclamation and ribbon-cutting ceremony is at 9 a.m. Monday at Bowling Green Ballpark to officially kick off Stand for Children Week. Community Education Enrichment Coordinator Alice Tarnagda said the annual ceremony helps children know there is support in the community.
“It involves the entire community,” Tarnagda said. “I think it’s important for our community because it shows the care that our community is able to provide children in all of Warren County. Our community values children so much to have an entire week.”
American Bank & Trust, one of the event’s title sponsors, has been involved for more than 13 years because it is an opportunity to give back to the community, manager Brian Carey said.
“We look at it as a good avenue to get good information not only to the kids, but to the parents and families to take the opportunity later to use some of the businesses and companies out there,” Carey said. “We are a community bank, and we’re trying to take advantage of things going on in the community to be able to give back to the community.”
Big Brother Big Sisters Program Director Jennifer Shoemaker said the event lets families know what services her agency provides.
“We love being a part of that and supporting kids here in Bowling Green and the surrounding counties. It’s so much fun interacting with the kids,” Shoemaker said. “I just try to make it fun and give high-fives and make them smile. I just love that about this event.”
Tarnagda said 40 vendors and more than 1,300 people attended last year’s Stand for Children Day. Organizers hope to top those numbers this year.
— For more information, call Alice Tarnagda at 270-842-4281 or email atarnagda@commed.us.
— Follow faith/general assignments reporter Simone C. Payne on Twitter @SimonePayne or visit bgdailynews.com.
