Friday, November 23, 2012
An Oldsmar audio and video marketing company donated 42 children's backpacks to Rob Ditro's Backpack Lady Project last month. It is the Dunedin charity's largest single donation to date.
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Friday, November 23, 2012
An Oldsmar audio and video marketing company made the largest single donation to The Backpack Lady Project to date last month. Spectrio donated 42 backpacks to Rob Ditro's charity. The Dunedin man started it last year to honor his late mother's legacy. "As fortunate as we are to be able to feed and clothe our families, and make sure our kids have what they need in school, we know that there are a lot of families that struggle. We are always looking for ways to give back to our community and this was the perfect opportunity," Noah Blankenship, Spectrio national account executive, is quoted in a news release. Ditro was overjoyed by the generous Oct. 25 generous donation. All backpacks donated to The Backpack Lady Project go to local schools…
Sunday, September 23, 2012
OK, so you had a busy week. We understand. Let us catch you up on all the highlights!
1. Dunedin Patch Editor Katie Dolac is writing a weekly series about her experience in the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office's Citizens Academy. This week: A crash story brought back tragic memories, valuable lessons and information worth passing along. 2. A Dunedin man had sex with four girls younger than 12 who were in his care, and he may have other victims, detectives said Tuesday. Darrell B. Lawson, 39, faces six counts of capital sexual battery on a child under 12. 3. Curtis Fundamental Elementary's staff was trying to suggest The Backpack Lady Project donate to another school when a recent donation was turned down, the school's principal said Monday. 4. Each week, Dunedin Patch will be asking local candidates where they stand on …
Sunday, September 2, 2012
OK, so you had a busy week. We understand. Let us catch you up on all the highlights!
1. The Backpack Lady Project, Rob Ditro's nonprofit named in honor of his late mother, made a special delivery to the kids of Skycrest Elementary on Tuesday. Check out our video report to see this community service in action and to find out how you can help. 2. Lucky Dill Deli could be coming to downtown Dunedin as part of the Gateway project, but the plan still has a long way to go. Have you seen the conceptual drawings yet? What do you think? 3. The Dunedin Blue Jays rallied to help longtime minor league coach Omar Malave, whose 1-year-old granddaughter is fighting for her life. Malave already lost his 3-year-old grandson last fall. 4. The Republican National Convention in Tampa was a boon for at least one local business this past week: …
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Back-to-school season is gearing up, which means so is The Backpack Lady!
1) Expect partly sunny skies today and scattered thunderstorms. The high is 89; winds 5-10 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight's low is 76. 2) The lowest reported gas price in Dunedin is $3.19 (cash, regular) at the Super Shop, 1001 Broadway, on TampaGasPrices.com. 3) The last Pinellas County Sheriff's candidate debate before the primary is tonight! Patch is covering it live from Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater. Debate organizers are calling it the most hotly-contested Pinellas County Sheriff's race in recent memory. The debate is free to attend, but you can also watch it LIVE right here on Dunedin Patch starting at 7 p.m! 4) The Backpack Lady Project announced that it's accepting backpack donations again! The …
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Backpack Lady Project fills a need for packs at San Jose Elementary, at a time when it is still grappling with unspeakable loss.
The Backpack Lady’s delivery arrived just in time for the first day back at San Jose Elementary School. “Are you heaven sent?” asked Janine Munns, family and community liaison. Rob Ditro, his son, Brendan Ditro, 13, and Drew Mesick, 12, just carried 20 backpacks inside the cafeteria. Munns playfully complimented the boys on their pink backpacks. The boys carried several pink, purple and white backpacks — girls' colors. Munns said the school gives away at least 50 packs a year. She’s often on the phone, asking businesses for donations to replace kids’ broken, missing, flimsy or tattered backpacks. At a time when the numbers of students on free or reduced lunch are rising, Munns said, the school is left finding ways to get the kids what …
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-82.781934
San Jose Elementary School
1670 San Helen Dr, Dunedin, FL
/articles/backpacks-deliver-hope-to-school-healing-from-tragedy
943902
/locations/5155144
Rob Ditro's project puts packs on students' backs, causes ripple effect of giving.
To me, the whole spirit of giving is to expect nothing in return. "Nothing" means no accolades, no "thank yous," no monetary compensation, no pats on the back ... nada. That was the idea behind a Patch donation to The Backpack Lady Project. The story I wrote about the project happened to be Patch's 1 millionth story nationwide, and Patch wanted to acknowledge it: "This story is pure Patch," Brian Farnham, Patch editor-in-chief, wrote in his blog. "By that I mean it's a small, meaningful story that goes to the heart of our mission: connecting users with their communities, and with each other." With that spirit in mind, Patch made a monetary donation to Backpack Lady founder Rob Ditro's cause. We felt that reporting it would have undermined …
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Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
730 San Salvador Dr, Dunedin, FL
/articles/backpack-ladys-generosity-inspires-patch
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/locations/5157687
John Dolac
9:38 am on Monday, August 22, 2011
Wow, what a great community!!! Says alot about the residence of Dunedin, Fl. Thanks, Patch for bringing this to the surface, it is good to read about how wonderful the human heart can be. more ›