Without service to our community, the RumRunners would be just another bunch of rowdy pirates. Our goal is to volunteer in the capacity as role models and mentors to the Bay Area children, adults and senior citizens who are underprivileged, abused, sick, or institutionalized.
We work as liaisons with local area hospitals, orphanages, senior care facilities, abuse shelters, and other pertinent institutions to support their efforts and schedule visits, as well as organize and host charity events.
Our charitable endeavors include Shriner's Children's Hospital, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, Hope Children's Home, several visits to children in local schools, and several other events in the local community. Here's what we've been doing this year!
Northdale Family Fun Fest - April 2007
The Northdale Family Fun Fest is a wonderful annual free family event sponsored by the Northdale Civic Association, in partnership with Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and & Conservation Department. Thousands of people come out to watch the parade, see the exhibits, and enjoy free food and music all day. This year, the weather was glorious and several Pirates from the Krewe of RumRunners were there to pass out beads and "Arrrs!"
Gro Group Annual Luncheon - Feb 2007
The Gro Group of Tarpon Springs is a group of special needs adults who are in partnership with the Pinellas County School Board and the City of Tarpon Springs. The instructor is a horticulturalist and garden designer who teaches a vocational curriculum while the students are being trained in hands-on skills such as propagation, landscape design, and nursery operations. The Gro Group operates a nursery and garden center which is open to the public and which serves as the city's tree nursery. Specializing in xeriscape plants and butterfly attractants, they work in collaboration with the Florida Native Plant Society.
The Krewe of RumRunners are proud to have the opportunity to put smiles on the faces of these fabulous friends each year at an annual luncheon!
Pine View Elementary School Pirate Invasion - Jan 2007
Each year on the 100th day of school, the Krewe of RumRunners "invade" Pine View Elementary with lots of beads in hand! Many of the students and faculty look forward to this event each year, and don their best Pirate outfits and "Arrrrr!". Led by our Captain, the pods are filled with sing-a-longs to Sponge Bob Square Pants and other fun songs!
St. Joseph's Hospital Christmas Eve Invasion with Santa - December 2006
With bags of toys, teddy bears, and cake in hand, 10 pirates and Santa Claus invaded the St. Joseph's Children's Hospital early on Christmas Eve morning to bring a smile and a surprise to many of the children who would be spending their holidays away from home. For those kids who could not make it down to see Santa, a personal visit was made by the jolly old fellow!
Sheltering Arms Children's Shelter Toy Delivery! - December 2006
With the massive success of our Toy Drive this year, we were able to brighten Christmas for at least 12 more kids in our community. 75 toys and bears were personally delivered by one of our members to these kids on December 23rd, ensuring many smiles and much laughter on Christmas Day!
Girl Scout Pirate Invasion - December 2006
These wonderful girl scouts of the New Port Richey/Holiday area raised money all year, putting in a quarter here and there from money they earned from chores and other work, to donate to a Christmas Charity. When the girls heard about our toy drive for the kids at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, they decided that they wanted to donate almost 30 teddy bears to our cause. Unfortunately, our Toy Drive fell on a day that they could not attend - so we surprised them the following weekend with an "invasion" of their final annual meeting. This troop has now expressed an interest to work with us more closely, and we are thrilled to work with them.
Toy Drive for St. Joseph's Children's Hospital - December 2006
For 7 years now, the RumRunners have one special end of the year event at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital that truly shows what we stand for. Santa and his Pirate helpers bring toys and cheer to the girls and boys at the hospital on Christmas Eve. This year, Empire Winery & Distillery hosted our Toy Drive which was an amazing success! With the help of Empire, the community, and many RumRunners, we were able to raise hundreds of toys for these very special kids.
2006 Pirate Golf Challenge Benefiting St. Joseph's Children's Hospital - October 2006
The success of our first Annual Pirate Golf Challenge was heartwarming for all of the RumRunners. As the most significant fundraising event this year, the RumRunners in partnership with the Krewe of Shamrock raised over $20,000 for St. Joseph's Children's hospital! Months of planning and organizing went into this massively successful event, and we thank our sponsors, golfers, and volunteers for making it happen. Special thanks to our platinum sponsors (N-E-Where Transport, Suncoast for Kids Foundation, TBT) and our hosting golf facility, Lansbrook, for their efforts in making this such a success. We'll see you next year for the Second Annual Pirate Golf Challenge!
More Events:
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Kids Stuff Daycare Invasion 07/06
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Toby O'Brien Charity Event 05/06
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Hurricane Relief Party 05/06
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Northdale Family Fun Fest 04/06
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JDRF Walk-a-Thon 03/06
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Hillsborough County Dept of Children's Services Volunteer Picnic 02/06
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Busch Gardens Pirate Opening 02/06
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Gro Group Invasion 02/06
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St. Joseph's Gasparilla Gurney Parade 02/06
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Tampa Bay Lightning Beading 01/06
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Pine View Elementary Invasion 01/06
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St. Joseph's Christmas Eve Invasion 12/05
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SED Christmas Invasion 12/05
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Brandon High School Homecoming 12/05