Promoting success through education has long been the focus of Achieve Plant City, a nonprofit that provides educational services to local families.
Its programs include children’s education, adult literacy, parenting education and parent and child activities. With the COVID-19 pandemic still rippling through the country, the effects of the last disrupted school year are still felt within families across the community. Children have fallen behind and there is now a desperate rush to help them catch up for fear of them potentially facing hurdles for the rest of their educational experience. Achieve’s many classes help community members step up to the plate and positively impact the lives of children and adults alike.
Angelica Ibarra, executive director of Achieve Plant City, said that COVID-19 caused families that were already struggling to face an onslaught of new hurdles. Children were having to suddenly find access to the internet and to computers and many families were having to share the equipement they were able to find among a variety of children. Without hands on learning many fell even further behind and Ibarra said she hopes the community will come together to make sure they protect the children that call this area home.
In order to keep the programs up and running Achieve relies largely on the money it raises through fundraisers like the upcoming wine tasting. There will be wine provided by Roots Tap Room & Wine Bar and owner Brandon Snyder has curated an intricate wine menu from different regions for those who attend. Ibarra said Snyder will guide guests through the provided wine selections and added they are beyond thrilled to have the local business share its time and knowledge with the group.
“The wine tasting we are having is a wonderful way for us to grow our programs and just do more for the families we serve,” Ibarra said. “There are so many ways people can get involved with the group though. We are always in need of tutors, we have adult literacy programs and people can come in and volunteer, even if it’s just one day a week. The majority of the children we work with are typically at least two or more years behind their reading level. We are always looking for volunteers to come and read with the children and help them with their homework.”
Hors d’oeuvres will also be available, as will music and a silent auction.
The event will be at Cow Creek Farm, 6802 Five Acre Road, and it will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $62.50 and sponsorships are still available for those who want to throw their support behind the event. You can receive a table at the event for up to four guests for $250 and sponsorships go up to $2,500.
“We are really focusing on having just a fun environment so people can come in, it is a little semi-formal, people will come in and we will have all the tables set up, an area for the wine tasting and another area with heavy hors d’oeuvres,” Ibarra said. “A cash bar will also be available for those individuals who may not want to taste the wine.”
If you go
What: Reading is Where the Magic Begins Wine Tasting event
When: 5:30 p.m. April 1
Where: Cow Creek Farm, 6802 Five Acre Road
Tickets: Purchase tickets online at achieveplantcity.org or by calling Ibarra at 813-752-4010.
Deadline: Those who wish to attend are asked to put in their ticket requests by the end of this week. If any spaces are still available, Ibarra said they will make exceptions through next week.