Social Seens... Photography by Gram
Harvesting Hope
In its 50 years, Eckerd Connects has assisted children, young adults and families in finding needed services through programs
in family and child services, workforce development and juvenile justice services. Its 11th annual awards program, dinner and
dessert reception was called Harvesting Hope and was held this year in Oldsmar to benefit the organization that the late Jack
and Ruth Eckerd founded. The Eckerds believed that everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed. Spectrum Bay News 9’s Al
Ruechel was master of ceremonies. The Jack and Ruth Legacy Award was presented to Barry and Janice Banther, the Leadership
Horizon Award to Eric Beck and the Children’s Hero Award to Brayden Fawcett.
Leah Bouchard Beck congratulated her husband
Eric for receiving the Leadership Horizon Award
from his fellow connectors donor group co-founder
Rachel Burns.
Sunscreen Film Festival Fundraiser
The Church of Scientology hosted “Dinner and a Movie,” the third annual Six (Months) ‘Til Sunscreen fundraiser in the 10th
floor ballroom of the historic Fort Harrison in Clearwater to benefit the Sunscreen Film Festival. The evening featured a four-course
dinner with wines, a screening of the 2013 comedy Identity Thief starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, and a questionand
answer session with the film’s storywriter Jerry Eeten, who is a Pinellas County teacher.
162 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
Janice and Barry Banther were selected to
receive the Jack and Ruth Legacy Award in
recognition of their many years of support
and service to Eckerd Connects.
Eckerd Connects board member and the
Pinellas and Pasco associations’ chair
Ray Ferrara was thanked by the
Eckerd Connects President and
CEO David Dennis for Ray’s ProVise
Management Group’s sponsorship.
Photography by Noraa
Jerry Eeten, who wrote the story on which
the evening’s featured film was based, was
introduced at the fundraiser by Lisa Mansell,
public affairs director of the Church of
Scientology.
Anthony and Barbara Stone enjoyed
the dinner and special screening at this
fundraiser for the Sunscreen Film Festival
that will take place in April.
St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film
Commissioner Tony Armer was thanked
by the festival’s director Chris Eaton for
founding the Sunscreen Film Festival.