OPINION: Thumbs up to cinema group for free movie trips

Thumbs up to the Regal Entertainment Group, which operates Swamp Fox Stadium 14 cinemas in Florence, for providing the Florence and Timmonsville Boys & Girls Clubs with a “Mornings at the Movies” grant to cover transportation, gasoline costs and staffing expenses for free trips to the movies this summer. “Our young people can’t wait to take a trip to the movies and it wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of Regal Entertainment Group,” DeCar Brown, director of operations for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area, said. “The number of youth we serve often doubles in the summer, putting a strain on our financial and staff resources. We’re certainly grateful for opportunities like Regal’s Free Family Film Festival. Our goal is to offer fun and engaging activities for our young people, to constantly stretch their imagination while opening doors to a world of exploration and excitement.” The Boys & Girls Clubs have played an integral role in the Florence and Timmonsville communities for more than 40 years, providing daily programs and services to young people ages 6 through 18. The clubs are open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer and immediately after school until 6 p.m. during the school year. It offers programs that emphasize education and career enhancement, character and leadership development, and health and life skills.

E.J. Newby, president of the United Way of Florence County (UWFC), said the UWFC would like to thank the Florence Rotary Club for its recent contribution of $1,000 to the 2009-10 General Campaign. The United Way of Florence County is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, health and income. These are the building blocks for a good life — a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement and good health. “Our goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place,” Newby wrote. “We plan to make an impact in our community by helping children, youth and adults achieve their potential; promoting financial stability and independence; and improving people’s health. We invite the community of Florence County to be a part of the change. Together, united, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. That’s what it means to Live United.” The Pacesetter Campaign will run from Aug. 10 through Sept. 15, and the annual Day of Caring Campaign Kick-off is scheduled for Sept. 18. The General Campaign is scheduled for Sept. 21 through Nov. 20, while the campaign “Thank You” is scheduled for February and March. Although the UWFC Board of Directors has not set a campaign goal yet, Newby said, last year’s campaign raised in excess of $1.3 million. “We are grateful to acknowledge the early gift of $1,000 from the Rotary Club of Florence,” he wrote.

Speaking of the Florence Rotary Club and its good works, Mindy Taylor, community relations manager for Progress Energy in Florence, offers this: “Thumbs up to the Florence Rotary Club for their recent achievement as the third largest club, out of about 33,000 clubs worldwide, to achieve the 100 percent Paul Harris Fellow Status. A Paul Harris Fellow is given to individuals in recognition of their support of the Rotary Foundation. The mission of the Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. ... The Florence Rotary Club, founded in February 1920, has contributed in excess of $300,000 to the Rotary Foundation.”