Dr. William E. Hale founded the community prayer breakfast in 2006 with a vision of gathering community leaders of all walks who would come together to recognize our shared strengths and to start the day in prayer. The Salvation Army continues this community tradition in his memory. There is no charge to attend, however, space is limited and advanced reservations are required.
Please join us in honoring our 2026 Lois Odence Planters Nursing Scholarship recipients on Thursday, September 24th at the Belleair Country Club. 11:00 AM Registration & Networking 11:30 AM Program & Lunch 1:00 PM Event Concludes Limited seating available. Planters began in the spring of 1992 by a group of women interested in becoming more involved in Morton Plant Hospital and its Foundation. As more women joined the core group of founders, a Spring Tea was planned and a mission was created: “To establish an educational, social and fund-raising network for those within the Morton Plant Foundation Family and to create and support community outreach, Foundation programs and events.” In 2001, The Lois Odence Endowment was established with gifts made in memory of Mrs. Odence, a Planters founder, with an emphasis on nursing. Each year, scholarships are awarded to nursing students at the hospitals of Morton Plant Mease Health Care to help defray expenses beyond their nursing school needs – such as childcare and transportation. To better support our extraordinary nurses, the Lois Odence Nursing Scholarship Fund has now expanded to fund both nursing scholarships and the acquisition of technology to better provide our nurses with the tools necessary to enhance their caregiving and learning. This expanded fund is now called the Lois Odence Nursing Education and Technology Fund.
Two years after the 2024 hurricanes, many Florida families are still rebuilding, while communities across Tampa Bay continue preparing for future storms. On Thursday, September 24, 2026, Hurricane Help Florida and StormResQ will host the inaugural Remember. Rebuild. Prepare. event at the Bob Buckhorn River Center. The event will bring residents together with trusted disaster-recovery organizations, local contractors and community resources while raising awareness and support for families still living in damaged homes. The event is free and open to the public from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Hurricane Help Florida will distribute 500 resident hurricane-preparedness kits and 250 pet-preparedness kits while supplies last. Guests may also make a $45 donation to attend from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., which includes lunch from SaltBlock Hospitality and helps support continued rebuilding efforts. We are honored to welcome John Bennett, Chief of Staff for the City of Tampa, along with nonprofit partners, volunteers, community leaders and local businesses committed to strengthening Greater Tampa Bay’s disaster preparedness and long-term recovery.
