Current of Tampa Bay Founder Receives National SECA Award

TAMPA, Fla. – (Jan. 13, 2015) – Current of Tampa Bay Founder, Jason Sowell, will receive the 2015 Friend of Children Award during the 66th Annual Conference of the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA). The conference, ‘The World From Our Front Porch: Community and Culture’, will take place January 15 through 17 at the Astor Crowne Plaza in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

Dedicated to improving the quality of care and education for young children and their families throughout the south, SECA supports leadership development and the creation of exemplary early childhood projects.
The Friend of Children Award recognizes an individual as a national advocate for children and who also works to foster professional growth and development in early childhood experts. Past recipients of this award include former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, former First Lady Laura Bush, actor/director Rob Reiner, singer/songwriter Dolly Parton and Mister Rogers Neighborhood’s Fred Rogers.

“I am truly honored and humbled to receive SECA’s Friend of Children Award,” said Sowell. “The passion shared between myself and Current volunteers has allowed us to make a substantial impact in so many communities and we look forward to continuing and growing our projects while spreading hope throughout the nation.”

As a speaker, published writer, non-profit entrepreneur, missionary, wedding officiant and part-time barista, Jason has worked in the nonprofit sector for 15 years. After participating in several overseas missions trips, he decided to focus his efforts on local U.S. cities by bringing hope to neighborhoods through tangible projects. In 2008, Jason founded Current of Tampa Bay with the goal of educating young adults on social initiatives while mobilizing them to bring about change. Current’s most prevalent program, the Laundry Project, assists lower-income individuals and families by covering all expenses and providing necessary items required to wash clothes and linens. Affordable Christmas is a seasonal initiative giving needy families and parents the opportunity to purchase holiday gifts for their children at a tenth of the original cost. Current’s third project, Hopes for Homes, provides free repairs and renovations to homes owned by working class families.

About Current of Tampa Bay, Inc.
Current of Tampa Bay, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in Florida that started with young adults committed to educating others on current social initiatives and mobilizing them to bring about change. Current establishes community groups for awareness and education and organizes local initiatives such as the Laundry Project, Hope For Homes Project and Affordable Christmas. To learn more about Current of Tampa Bay, visit contact Jason Sowell, Executive Director/President of Current of Tampa Bay, Inc. by phone at 727-537-9082 or by email atJason@EngageTheCurrent.org.

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