RE LOG - Spring 2017

SPRING 2017 Ransom Everglades LOG 27 Overtown Youth Center Some four dozen RE alumni, family, and students participate in the REACH Too (Ransom Everglades Alumni Can Help Too) event, a Day of Play at the Overtown Youth Center. More than 65 children enjoy basketball, wiffle ball, football, board games, jewelry-making, water-balloon games, sidewalk-chalk drawing, and hula-hooping with the RE family. This event grew out of the RE Alumni Connections Event with Alonzo Mourning, a former RE parent and Miami Heat star who co-founded the Overtown Youth Center in 2003. Blessings in a Backpack RE students have volunteered with Blessings in a Backpack to pack approximately 400 parcels each week to send home with students at Tucker Elementary School so that they have healthy snacks over the weekend. TEDx Coconut Grove Ransom Everglades has partnered with TEDx Coconut Grove since 2012, providing a stage, school resources and assistance with fundraising for the independent, self-organized performance event that relies on engaging speakers to spark deep discussion and local connection. Activists, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, musicians, CEOs, philanthropists and others have enthralled thousands at the Lewis Family Auditorium with thought-provoking talks. Ransom Everglades School has supported TEDx Coconut Grove, which is organized independently and without supervision or financial support from TED, and donates the resources of its advancement and business offices to assist with operations. One- hundred percent of donated funds are directed to a holding account used exclusively by TEDx Coconut Grove. The relationship began when a parent, student and faculty member – each inspired by TED in different ways – shared their interest in hosting a TEDx conference on the RE campus. The goal since then has been to engage the community in a discussion of ideas, expand perspectives and make a philanthropic impact. The event brings more than 1,000 Miamians annually to Ransom Everglades, and offers complimentary tickets to students from Breakthrough Miami, Empowered Youth, Booker T. Washington, Best Buddies and other groups. Each year, TEDx Coconut Grove sponsors present a “Hope Award” in the amount of $5,000 to one deserving student.