The first annual Hope Fest took place on March 16th, 2019 at Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover, Florida and it was crazy awesome!!! Although the attendance was lower than expected, students and their families representing 40 Hillsborough County schools turned out and enjoyed the event. The mission of encouraging the youth and giving them hope for the future was accomplished. Three days before the event Conchita Canty-Jones and Jon Buckles took the prize spinning wheel on a promotional tour to Rampello Magnet School, Dover Elementary School and Spoto High School where Jon spun the wheel and told dozens of students at each location that they have value and that if they will attend class, apply themselves and graduate that they truly can have a wonderful future ahead of them. And more than a few of the students went back to class with some serious prizes too. 95% of the participating exhibitors and vendors said they want to give it another go, and many promised to step up their game in the planning and execution so that the event can positively impact the lives of even more students next year at Hillsborough County Fairgrounds from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on April 25th, 2020 and it is going to be absolutely amazing!!!

2. In collaboration with Hillsborough County Schools and the local community, our
first annual community event finally happened… and it was crazy awesome!!!

3. Anything great is more difficult than people outside can believe. I am sure it is simply
the first step in something great. Tom Tucky | Good Guy Signs

4. The Strawberry Crest High School JROTC Cadets manned the parking lot but they were
like, where are all of the students? Next year we are going to rock it out!!!

5. Chaplain Daniel Middlebrooks, Executive Director of Chaplaincy Care gave the
opening invocation

6. Plant City Tomlin Middle School’s Barie Fry sang the National Anthem and
the Strawberry Crest High School JROTC Color Guard presented the colors

7. Jeffrey Cain with Character GPS brought smiles
to the students and their parents on the stage

9. These students rode away on their brand new bicycles

10. The art exhibit featured 36 art pieces from five
Hillsborough County public schools

11. Art judged by Plant City Women’s Club

12. This all sounds just wonderful! And I'll get in contact with Jim so I can get those kiddos
their ribbons and art. They are going to be so pleased!! Erin Saladino | Hillsborough County Public Schools

13. Thanks for acknowledging the volunteers and their contribution to the event. They
very much enjoyed being there! Corporal Alan Wilkett | Pasco Sheriff's Office

14. Jeff and Debbie Cain - Character GPS - Know Your Principle

15. Plant City Elks Lodge – Love History – Honor the Flag

16. On behalf of Craig Latimer, Supervisor of Elections, it’s was a pleasure to
participate in today’s event. Congratulations on your success! Please find the
results of today’s voting. Digna Alvarez | Supervisor of Elections Office

17. The Plant City Republican Women Federated was proud to be part of this special
event. So many wonderful organizations! It was great to see the kids with such
smiling faces. Hopefully there will be many more next year! Sherry Scheitler | President PCFRWC

18. Jessica Pierre’s message was value, encouragement and appreciation

19. The Four Hillsborough County Technical Colleges booth attracted future students

20. Congratulations on a successful event! I am glad to have been a small part of it! Please
do let me know when you start the planning process for next year so I can plan my yearly
donations accordingly. Talk to you soon! James Mitchell | Executive Marketing Director | Florida Hospital Center Ice

21. Thanks to our generous contributors we had $5,000 worth of prizes to give-a-way!

22. Reborn Ministries launched it’s new prize spinning wheel and it produced
many smiles from the prize winners in the Going for the Gold Booth

23. The volunteers in the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance booth
told the students that life is their journey and to travel drug free

24. Bay Care Health System told the students its time to Get Their Fit On!

25. I saw children winning bikes, stuffed animals, all great prizes and they were
happy while learning, to me goal accomplished.
Angela Salter | Hillsborough County Fire Rescue-Office of Emergency Management

26. It looks like Alexandra and Cindy both enjoyed themselves. Look at those beautiful smiles.

27. Ashley Dunbar and her family with Project G.R.O.W.
talked with the students about respecting their parents

28. Jim Blizzard with Child Evangelism Fellowship encouraged the students to
maintain Value, Truth and Honesty with Integrity in their lives

29. All the vendors that came did an incredible job in setting up and presenting
their topics. The locations was perfect for the parking, set-up and the
ability to see everything. Dr. Dan Middlebrooks | Chaplaincy Care

30. Great to have the food vendors there for the public.
Dr. Dan Middlebrooks | First Call Baptist Church

31. David Morejon and his crew served up some delicious meals

32. Philou’s Cajun on the Geaux did a great job!

33. Larry Eaton cooled things down with his delicious drinks

34. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Super Heroes from Station 36 Valrico

35. The event was positive and well organized. Those who showed up
enjoyed themselves, including my family.
Deputy Nicholas Elliott | Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

36. Heroes from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Bomb
Squad encouraging the students to always Be Their Best

37. Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue

38. "I think that we blessed some people but WE were the ones most blessed.“
Big James – Vocational Church

39. US Army Recruiting Station Brandon, FL – Be All You Can Be

40. Robbie and her sidekick conducted a workshop and talked with the
students about the value of maintaining a “can do” attitude in life

41. We’ve Got Your Customers and Erwin Tech
partnered together to bring out the football toss

42. Strawberry Crest High School JROTC Cadet Sophomore Josue
Garza smoked his opponent in the football toss…

43. and won a $1,000 Technical College Scholarship. Go Josue!!!

44. Thank you Jon, I know next year will be bigger and better, for the seed you planted will continue to grow.
Trooper Tod Cloud | Florida Highway Patrol

45. David & Kay Kasser with Combee Culinary Care talked to the students about
eating right and explained that they are what they eat

48. Grace Pest Control – Petting Zoo Booth

49. Faith and Crystal gave up competing in a rodeo to work the
Reborn Ministries booth and they did an awesome job!!!

50. Joe Kelley and his family served the students in the Common Ground Movement booth

51. Future Marine? It could happen

53. My "mission moment" - was to see the smiles on the faces of the families as they were
leaving the fairgrounds. They were happy and not only that, they were carrying their
winnings proudly!!!! So, to me, success was measured by the smiles of the departing
family members ---- we gave families a fun, wholesome family day!!!
Cindy Grant | Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance

54. John Ingraham, Taylor Johnson and Sandra Romero from Strawberry
Crest High School JROTC received the $500 highest attendance check

55. Jyrah Hessing from Freedom High School and Antwan Brown from
Benito Middle School entertained us with their dance routine

56. Pastor Bart Denny | Pastor of iFour Worship /
Bible Baptist Church closed the event out in prayer

57. John Amato with N-E-Where Transport presenting the highest event attendance check
to John Ingraham and his cadets. The cadets claimed parking duty for Hope Fest 2020.

58. Marketing Fliers

60. Our Contributors
ABC Tent Makers Randy Baldwin
Academy of Spectrum Diversity / Chris and Tammy Dester
ACE Industrial Equipment / Brad Harper
Accurate LED / Chris Bernardo
All Phase Electric / Troy Puleo
Alto Recycling / Ryan Smith
Aparicio-Levy Adult Technical School / Dr. Jim Goode
Bailey’s Bouncies / Rob Bailey
David and Diana Bailey
Brewington’s Towing / DJ & Chris Brewington
Buccaneer Beads / Lenore & Jenny Amato
BURN / Rick Deaton
Busciglio Farms / The Busciglio Family
Canoe Escape / Joe Faulk
Captain Bones / Roman Diaz
Career Source / Tom Laub
Chaplaincy Care / Dan Middlebrooks
Character GPS / Jeff & Debbie Cain
Complete Fleet Care / Kim Sheppard
Cons Helping Cons / Bob and Tanya Taylor
Cracker Barrell / Chris Canning
Cracker Barrell / Matt Donahue
D-Stiles Productions / David Stiles
Dallas 1 Development / Shawn Martin
Dunkin Donuts / Gina Alazar
Erwin Tech / Dr. Jim Goode
Everyday Blessings / Pam Bell
Florida Hospital Center Ice / James Mitchell
Flowing River Church / Kathleen Peck

61. Light of the World / Leonard Lord
Load Runner Trailers / Chris Thurmond
Martinez Company / John Dardano
Mastec / Yacer Morales
Missions Barbeque / Nick Conner
N-E-Where Transport / John and Anthony Amato
N-E-Where Transport / Toby Torrens
Outback Steak House / Ashton Herter
Plant City Elks Lodge / Judy Wise
Plant City Federated Republican Women’s Club / Sherry
Scheitler
Pro Mower / Paul and Mark Southhall
Road Safe / Crystal McGowan
Service Master / Scott Hollenbeck
Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue / Ron Goldberg
Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ / Rod Lincoln
General RV / David May
Good Guy Signs / Tom Tucky
Harley Davidson / Maggie Snyder
Hillsborough County Fair Association / Suzanne Holcombe
Hillsborough County Parks and Recs / Dave Ramirez
Hillsborough County Property Appraiser / Heather Lamond
Home Depot / Robbie Kleinotas
Home Depot / Michael Martin
Hungry Harrys / Jamie Bradford
iFour Worship - Bible Baptist Church / Bart Denny
IPS Industrial Plastic Systems / Michael Brown
ITEX / Jack Hall
Jeffrey Allen / Ben Sverdlow
Ker’s Wing Bar & Grill / Brett Mazzucco
Latam Catering / David Morejon

62. Southwell Security / Tom Southwell
Splitsville / Jeremy Yoder
Strong Tower Insurance / Earl Burkett
Sunbelt / Dan O’Connell
Synergy / Guy and Donna Calleja
The Buckles Family
Toastmasters / Sam Abrahani
Two Wing Transport / Jay & Penny Ayers
United Hoist Equipment / John Pullaro
Valmont Tampa Galvanizing / Shane Cothern
Wal-Mart / Mitch Hughes
Watkins & Sons Paving / Ronnie and Amber Watkins
We’ve Got You Covered / Scott Smith
Whitehall Products / Mark Justin