Gay Lynn Love, Brandon’s Honorary Mayor for 2012-2013, along with Sam Creasmen, President of the Community Roundtable distributed checks to her chosen nonprofits, including a check for $10,000.01 to Melissa Jay, representative of JDRF earlier this month at the monthly meeting of the Community Roundtable at Center Place in Brandon.
The month of June and the early part of July are busy times here in the greater Brandon area. We have the annual Brandon Honorary Mayors’ Race and the annual 4th of July Parade, both sponsored by the Community Roundtable for over 50 years.
Sam Creasman, president of the Community Roundtable said, “This year’s Honorary Mayors’ Race was outstanding. The amount of money raised surprised me especially given the difficult economic year we are having.”
The two candidates, Gay Lynn Love and B. Lee Elam, raised over $40,000.00. Love, whose non-profits included the Brandon Family YMCA, the American Cancer Society and JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) was declared the 2012 Brandon Honorary Mayor prior to the start of the annual 4th of July Parade.
Love said, “It was a lot of hard work, but I got a lot of support from family, friends and the community. It was really a group effort.” Love added, “I am so grateful that everyone embraced the charities that are so dear to my heart.”
Love distributed the checks to her selected non-profits at the monthly meeting of the Community Roundtable held on Wednesday, July 11, at Center Place. Before she distributed the $23,000.00 raised during the month of June, Love had already issued a proclamation that July 7 was Chris Colwill Day at Brandon Sports and Aquatic. Colwill, a diver from Brandon, will represent the United States in London at the upcoming Summer Olympics.
Love said, “I am looking forward to serving as Honorary Mayor. It’s humbling to be Honorary Mayor with so many extraordinary people who have served before me.”
B. Lee Elam, a long time Brandon resident and ardent supporter of the community, raised $19,000.00 for three local non-profits: ECHO; Bill Carey Boys and Girls Club; and the Brandon Service League. Elam said, “Anytime we raise money for Brandon charities, we have done a good thing. I enjoyed the race this year.” Elam added, “From the beginning I asked myself how am I going to beat Love? The answer is you can’t! She tired me out!”
Creasman said of the 4th of July Parade, “This year’s parade was fantastic. It was one of the best we’ve had.” Creasmen added, “It was smiles all around. I walked the parade route, and so many people told me how great it was.”
The Community Roundtable was established in 1957. It serves to assist non-profits in the greater Brandon area. Meetings of the Community Roundtable are open to the public and are held on the second Wednesday of the month at Center Place in Brandon at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.thecommunityroundtable.org.
