The Chrysler Championship held its Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 16, 2005. They set a new record of giving with over $2.6 million donated to local Tampa Bay charities through the Birdies for Charity initiative. $150,000.00 was given to Academy Prep Center for Education as the Chrysler Championship's Charity of Choice. The tournament now holds the title for donating the largest amount to charities in the state of Florida and ranks 7th in the National PGA Tour. They increased their donations from last year 110% and were the instrumental tournament in driving the PGA Tour's charity support to over one billion dollars in the United States.

This incredible partnership includes a $50,000 donation from AstraZeneca as part of the CRESTOR© Charity Challenge (www.crestor.pgatour.com). The Challenge is a season-long competition that recognizes and rewards the tournament leaders entering the final round at 35 PGA TOUR events. At each selected tournament, a $100,000 contribution will be made supporting the PGA TOUR's "Drive to a Billion" charitable program. This is AstraZeneca's second year supporting Academy Prep's Health and Nutrition Program.
Thank you, AstraZeneca!

Academy Prep is thrilled and honored to be the Charity of Choice with students, families, supporters, and staff volunteering at the event. The 2006 tournament will be held October 23rd through the 29th and six months later the Championship will move to a great March date in the PGA Tour the 5 - 11th, 2007.

To consider being a sponsor or purchase tickets for the event, visit www.chryslerchampionship.com or call 727-942-5566. To support Academy Prep through Birdies for Charity (with up to a 30% match of what you give), call Gillian Barnes at 727-322-0800.

THANK YOU CHRYSLER CHAMPIONSHIP!

Over 5,000 hours of volunteer and community service hours were donated to Academy Prep Center of Tampa from September 2004 through May 2005! That’s 125 - 40 hour weeks of service. Volunteers ranged from 13 to over 70 years of age with all of our families participating and over 150 community volunteers. All types of activities were completed including: tutoring, study hall support, mentoring, planning and running events, making costumes, hosting our play’s cast party, preparing the library, teaching academics and art classes, implementing writing labs, music and story telling presentations, designing new courses, cooking and teaching etiquette skills.

We want to recognize our:

Family Volunteers of the Year: Marlene Reese and the Word Family (pictured here)

Community Volunteers of the Year: David McChristian, Jeff Grim, Arthur Flatau and Jack Wiesenfeld

Many thanks to our community volunteer partners:

Academy of Holy Names, Berkeley Prep, Christ the King Circle 12, Florida Aquarium, J.C. Newman Cigar Company, Hilton Garden Inn, Hillsborough High School, Jesuit High School and Father’s – Mom’s Groups, Junior League of Tampa, Merrill Lynch, Optimist Club, Poe Financial Group, PriceWaterhouse Cooper, Sierra Club’s Inner City Outings, Tampa Bay Police Department, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa Downtown Rotary, Tampa Prep, Tampa Tribune, University of Tampa, University of South Tampa – Volunteer Center