HCA FLORIDA BLAKE HOSPITAL JOINS ELC

FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE

Palmetto, Florida, July 14, 2023 – HCA Florida Blake Hospital is thrilled to announce a new initiative with the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County to create the School Supply Station, a dedicated space for teachers to access school supplies to create dynamic classroom environments without bearing a financial burden. Caregivers at HCA Florida Blake Hospital are collecting school supplies in July, and the hospital is donating $5,000 to support the new program. To close out this inaugural school supply drive, we are calling on the community to help Stock the Station!

We cordially invite everyone in the community to contribute to the cause by donating school supplies or making a cash donation on Saturday, July 22, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The Stock the Station event will be held at Happy Cubs, located at 6207 21st Ave. W., Bradenton, next door to HCA Florida Blake Hospital. The public can simply drive-through and leave a donation or stay to enjoy music, Carousel Soft Serve Icery, popcorn and various activities for all ages. A list of recommended supplies, provided by the Early Learning Coalition, can be found at HCA Florida Blake Hospital’s Facebook page.

"We are excited to join with the Early Learning Coalition to create the School Supply Station," said Paige Laughlin, chief operating officer of HCA Florida Blake Hospital. "We are committed to the well-being of our community beyond our daily mission of providing excellent patient care. There is no worthier cause than supporting our hardworking teachers and putting children in the best position to grow and succeed."

Early childhood education is vital to the development of children, according to the Early Learning Coalition. During these formative years, children undergo rapid brain development and lay the foundation to their future learning and well-being. High-quality early childhood education programs

provide a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can explore, interact and learn

through play.

“We know that impacting children early is vital to academic success, and these school supplies can

significantly influence the lives of these young learners and the overall educational system,” said

Rachel Spivey, Director of Grant Management at the Early Learning Coalition. “School supply drives

are a meaningful way to support education and empower young children to reach their full potential.

We are incredibly grateful to HCA Florida Blake Hospital and the community members who have and will donate. Your contributions and community-building efforts will supply educational cargo for

teachers and students in early learning classrooms."

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About HCA Florida Blake Hospital

HCA Florida Blake Hospital is a 383 licensed-bed tertiary hospital and leading provider of quality

healthcare that has been serving Manatee County and its surrounding communities since 1973. Blake provides the only Trauma Center (Level 2) and acute inpatient rehabilitation center in Manatee County. It is also home to one of only 6 accredited Burn Centers in Florida. The hospital offers a wide range of healthcare services including a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, complex hand repair, neuroscience center, open-heart surgery, cancer care, joint replacement, spine surgery, breast health center, inpatient and outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation, and many other specialized services. Affiliated with HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare, HCA Florida Healthcare is a leading collaborative healthcare network connecting approximately 11,000 physicians, 79,000 colleagues and more than 650 hospitals, physician practices, urgent care centers and other care sites across the state. For more information about our hospital or to receive a free physician referral, call (844) 70-NURSE, or visit www.HCAFloridaHealthcare.com/BlakeHospital.



About ELC of Manatee County

The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, Inc. is a multi-service agency dedicated to helping children develop skills that they will need to be successful in school and life. The agency's focus is on high-quality school readiness opportunities for all children and their families, understanding that it is in the first years of life that a child's future educational success is determined and the critical role of parents, as their child's first and most important teacher. To learn more about Coalition's services, go to www.elc-manatee.org or call 941-757-2900, extension 2100.