Valrico Resident Is The 2011 Miss ECHO

Nicole Pinner, a resident of Valrico and a ninth grade student at Bloomingdale High School, was recently named the 2011 Miss ECHO. Pinner was crowned for her efforts in raising $330 for the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO).
Pinner was a participant in the Ninth Annual Kids Helping Kids Fashion Show, presented by ECHO in October, at The Bridges in Riverview. More than 40 children participated in the show which raised $16,000 for ECHO.
Pinner said, “When I won Miss ECHO, I reflected on how surprising it was that I had won. I raised funds by asking local businesses to donate money to ECHO’s cause. I participated in the ECHO fashion show because I wanted to play an important role in helping and supporting the community.” This was the third year that Pinner participated in the fashion show.
Cami Gibertini, long time chairperson of the ECHO Kids Helping Kids Fashion Show and active member of the ECHO board of directors, said, “We started crowning Miss/Mr. ECHO two years ago to bring awareness to the show and to help keep the children involved with ECHO throughout the year. By winning the crown, Miss ECHO gets to participate in Brandon’s Fourth of July parade and represent ECHO through the year. We want to get the word out about what children like Nicole do to raise money and awareness of ECHO. Hopefully this will inspire other children to participate.”
ECHO is a 501(c)(3) organization which was established in 1987. ECHO strives to provide food and clothing to residents of the greater Brandon area who have suffered a recent emergency. Each year ECHO serves more than 12,000 residents. Half of the residents are children. The annual fashion show, which features children modeling clothes provided by Kohl’s, is ECHO’s largest fundraiser each year.
Stacey Efaw, executive director of ECHO, said, “We continue to see an increased need in our community. One in eight people are food insecure which means that they do not know where their next meal will come from on a daily basis.” Efaw added, “Without the efforts and support of residents like Nicole, ECHO could not continue to serve those residents in need.”
ECHO is located at 507 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon. For more information, please visit www.echofl.org or call 685-0935.