Posted: 1/17/2014

Business Partnerships for Community Success

We are fortunate to live in the tri-county area of Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties where local businesses are not only a part of the decorative landscape but their business practices demonstrates they believe in giving back to support and strengthen children and families. Go by any ball park and you will see children and youth sports teams with the names of local businesses on their shirts.  The ball fields are adorned with business banners along the outfield wall or fence, school yearbooks or events are supported by local businesses, parks and recreation areas are built and/or maintained by business leaders and companies, and many community events that promote healthy child development and strong families are supported and sponsored by local businesses. The list goes on and on. For instance, think about the last time you walked into your local grocery store and noticed a parent with a toddler riding in a cart that was designed with a seat for the young child and had room for their groceries, too. What about the last time you went to your favorite restaurant and noticed the server handing a child an activity book and crayons to help the little one wait patiently as their food was being prepped.  You see it’s the little and big ways that local businesses engage within the community that makes a difference in the lives of children and families.

You and I may at times overlook the ways that businesses impact the community. We may possibly take for granted businesses that support strong families, healthy child development, schools, youth leagues, churches, and community events. Without their impact, without their involvement, our community would quickly feel the impact.

I am grateful to say our experience here at Heartland for Children is one of a community full of supportive, giving, businesses that choose to focus on making a difference in the lives of children. We are grateful for our business partners who raise awareness about the importance of promoting healthy child development, support positive parenting practices, demonstrate community involvement, and believe in advocating that every child in Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties live a life free of child abuse and neglect. It is safe to say that our business partnerships ensure community success!

The challenge before us is the need for more businesses and business leaders to see the need and to choose to be Champions for the children in our community.

Together we can make a difference, one child, one family at a time.

Ways businesses can help:

• Spread the message about the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect
• Display information/signage about Heartland for Children initiatives at your place of business
• Share parenting information with your employees and the community
• Help us find opportunities to post information, display pinwheels, play TV spots, etc.
• Donate your business services to a family in need
• Become a fan of Heartland for Children’s Facebook page by clicking the “like” button & sharing content posted by HFC
• Participate in April Child Abuse Prevention efforts
• Participate in the Rudolph Round-Up Holiday Toy Drive
• Make a financial donation to Heartland for Children

For information on becoming a business Champion Partner, please contact Andrea Hagan at 863-519-8900 ext. 214 or e-mail ahagan@heartlandforchildren.org