Giving Back
Addessi Financial Partners has a great passion for supporting our community:
March 2024
On Saturday, March 2nd, Quantum Leap Farm held their annual fundraising gala: Stirrup Hope. Funds raised at this event go towards Quantum Leap Farm's equine-assisted therapy programs. This year's theme revolved around the heroic narrative of Hercules. His journey resonates closely with the experiences of veterans, pediatric cancer patients, and individuals with special needs. The event took place inside Quantum Leap Farm's riding arena with over 380 guests in attendance.
Members from the Addessi Financial Team attended the event and listened to testimonials from participants in the equine-assisted therapy program. It was an emotional and motivating evening.
For more information on Quantum Leap Farm, visit their website at www.QuantumLeapFarm.org.
November 2023
In honor of our Military Veterans, Addessi Financial Partners made their annual donation to the Fisher House Foundation. The Fisher House Foundation provides free housing to military families while their loved one receives treatment from a nearby Military or VA Medical Center.
In 2022, Fisher House served more than 27,000 families.
To contribute to the Fisher House located in Tampa, kindly explore their website wish list at James A. Haley Fisher House or consider visitng the Fisher House Foundation.
Mid Florida Community Services was established in Broooksville, Fl in 1968 as a result of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Today, it is considered one of Florida's largest nonprofit Community Action Agencies stretching over 7,000 acres in central Florida.
On September 22, members of the Addessi Financial Team attended the 10th Annual Fundraising Event to support the Children's Advocacy Center of Hernando County, a program under the Mid Florida Community Services umbrella that advocates for children in abusive environments.
Addessi Financial Partners continues our support of organizations in our community. For more information, please visit their website: Mid Florida Community Services
September 2023
Camp Boggy Creek is providing another year of magical camps for 7- to 16-year-olds diagnosed with a serious illness. These camps foster a spirit of joy by creating a free, safe, and medically sound camp environment. Camp Boggy Creek never charges campers to attend and only asks that they contribute a positive, playful attitude.
Addessi Financial continues to support those organizations, such as Camp Boggy Creek, that spread so much good throughout the community.
For more information, please visit their website at: www.BoggyCreek.org
July 2023
LiFT Academy is celebrating 10 years of successfully providing a learning environment for neurodiverse students to thrive and succeed. LiFT had their annual gala event: 2023 LiFT Your Spirits at the Diamond Derby on Saturday, May 6, at the St. Petersburg Coliseum. Proceeds from the event benefit the students of LiFT Academy and the LiFT University Transition Program. Addessi Financial Partners continued our tradition of supporting LiFT Academy.
For more information about LiFT Academy, visit www.LiFTFL.org
May 2023
This year's annual Stirrup Hope event took place on Saturday, March 4, with close to 350 guests in attendance in Quantum's riding arena. Quantum Leap Farm supports the well-being of individuals with physical, emotional, and intellectual differences, and empowers them to focus on their abilities. Their mission is to improve the quality of life and inspire personal growth through equine-assisted therapies. The evening was filled with stories of hope, love, and empowerment.
Addessi Financial Partners continued our tradition of supporting Quantum Leap Farm.
For more information about Quantum Leap Farm, visit www.QuantumLeapFarm.org.
March 2023
Throughout the U.S. and overseas, Fisher House provides comfort and support to the families of service members of past and present military conflicts. Fisher House is expanding its footprint to almost 100 houses worldwide to assist these heroes and to keep their families together throughout the duration of a loved one’s treatment.
Addessi Financial Partners continues our support for this organization.
For more information, visit its website: www.FisherHouse.org.
November 2022
On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian slammed into Southwest Florida, decimating some of the prettiest parts of state: Sanibel and Captiva islands, Naples, Fort Myers Beach, and surrounding areas. Ian then carved its way through the center of Florida and continued out the east coast of the state, pretty much affecting the whole state. Lives were lost and homes and businesses were destroyed.
The Addessi Financial Partners team has donated funds to help those affected by Hurricane Ian. If you would like to donate, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org.
September 2022
The Children's Advocacy Center of Hernando County, under the umbrella of Mid Florida Community Services (MFCS), has been serving underprivileged and at-risk members of our community since 1968. On Friday, September 23, 2022, members of the Addessi Team attended the 9th Annual Designer Purse Bingo fundraiser, with proceeds from the event benefitting the Children's Advocacy Center of Hernando County. It was a fun evening for a great cause.
For more information, please visit their website: www.mfcs.us.com.
Since 1996, Camp Boggy Creek has made it possible for children with serious illnesses to enjoy a camp experience in a safe, medically sound environment. A year-round retreat, Camp Boggy Creek is able to serve thousands of campers and their families through activity-packed weekly and weekend camp programs.
Addessi Financial Partners continues our support for Camp Boggy Creek, an organization providing a place for these children to have fun.
For more information, visit www.BoggyCreek.org.
July 2022
LiFT Academy and LiFT University held their annual event on
May 7, 2022, in Saint Petersburg, Florida. All proceeds from the event benefited
the neurodiverse students of LiFT Academy and the LiFT University Transition
Program. These programs inspire and empower the students to learn, thrive, and succeed.
Addessi Financial Partners continued our tradition of supporting LiFT Academy and University.
For more information about LiFT Academy, please visit www.LiFTFL.org.
Quantum Leap Farm's Stirrup Hope 2022 event was held in the Quantum Leap riding arena in Odessa, Florida on Saturday, March 5, 2022. This year's theme was "This is Me" based on the movie The Greatest Showman. We listened to moving and inspirational stories from courageous equine therapy participants. The evening was filled with hope and appreciation for Quantum Leap and all they do for those in need in our community.
Addessi Financial Partners continues our tradition of supporting Quantum Leap Farm.
For more information about Quantum Leap Farm, visit www.QuantumLeapFarm.org.
In honor of Veterans Day 2021, Addessi Financial Partners made its annual donation to support the Fisher House Foundation. Fisher House builds homes for military and veteran families where they can stay free of charge while their loved one is in the hospital. Since 1990, more than 10 million lodging days have been offered to those in need. These homes are located at military and VA medical centers throughout the world. We continue to support those who have sacrificed so much.
For more information, please visit Fisher House at www.FisherHouse.org.
Members of the Addessi Financial Team attended the 8th Annual Designer Purse Bingo. Proceeds from this event benefited the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) of Hernando County, which is under the umbrella of Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. The CAC provides multidisciplinary services designed to reduce the stress a child experiences through the investigative process concerning physical and/or sexual abuse, drug endangerment, mental injury, child trafficking, domestic violence, and other circumstances that bring harm to a child. Professionals representing the different disciplines spoke of the successes of the program and the number of children assisted each year.
We were happy to be a part of this evening, raising funds and awareness for this much-needed community program.
For more information, please visit their website: www.mfcs.us.com.
Congratulations! Camp Boggy Creek is celebrating its 25th anniversary! In 1996, Paul Newman and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf founded Camp Boggy Creek. Situated on 232 acres in the central Florida town of Eustis, Camp Boggy Creek has served more than 85,000 children ages 7 to 16 living with serious illnesses. There is no cost to the families for their children to attend Camp Boggy Creek. The only thing the camp asks is for campers to contribute a positive playful attitude. Donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, healthcare partners, and volunteers are vital for creating opportunities for these children.
Addessi Financial Partners continues to support this organization, providing a place for these children to have fun.
For more information about Camp Boggy Creek, visit www.BoggyCreek.org.
The 8th annual Lift Your Spirits at a Lucky Derby gala was held virtually again this year but that didn’t stop the LiFT organization from hosting nearly a week of Kentucky Derby-themed celebrations including a Derby attire contest, prize drawings, live auctions, and a poker tournament. They even provided a virtual concert from Broadway star and Nashville recording artist Rachel Potter who happens to be from our very own St. Petersburg, Florida. LiFT Academy and LiFT University Transition Program, based in Pinellas County, is a non-profit school that provides a safe, inclusive environment for students with neurodiversities including autism, Down Syndrome, development delays, intellectual disabilities, and various other spectrum disorders.
Even though the Addessi Financial team was unable to attend the event in person, our tradition of supporting this worthy cause through donation continued.
For more information about the LiFT Academy, visit www.liftfl.org.
In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, Addessi Financial Partners has decided to support a unique and worthy cause—Collettey’s Cookies. Collette Divitto, a tenacious young woman with Down syndrome, developed her passion for baking and what became her signature cookie recipe while only in high school. After completing Clemson University’s three-year LIFE program in only two years, Collette moved to Boston to pursue what she hoped would be the ability to do meaningful work while earning a living. Despite countless interviews that appeared successful, she continued to hear the same response, “You’re not a good fit for our company at this time.” Rejection wasn’t going to stop Collette from living the life she wanted to live. She turned to her love and talent for baking and opened a business. What began as sales in local grocery stores quickly turned into a greater mission. Collette decided to help other people in her shoes. After a local news story about her cause went viral, her company has sold more than 180,000 cookies and employs 13 people. Collette travels around the country to share her inspiring story and the message of focusing on what you CAN do instead of what you can’t. Our office loved the chocolate and cinnamon combination in her aptly named "Amazing Cookie." Check out her website below to try for yourself!
For more information about Collette and Collettey’s Cookies, visit www.colletteys.com
For more information about World Down Syndrome Day, visit www.worlddownsyndromeday.org
Quantum Leap Farm’s Stirrup Hope 2021 event was held virtually and, as with everything Quantum Leap does, this event was beautifully done. Hosted by Fox 13’s Cynthia Smoot, the theme for 2021 was Lean on Me—an appropriate ode to the universal circumstances of living through a pandemic. Dr. Edie Dopking, the founder and community relations director of Quantum Leap Farm, spoke about how the farm has adapted to continue to serve our community safely. The event featured three of their clients: an Army veteran named Kim struggling with PTSD and depression; Austin, a local teenager living with Duchenne, a progressive neuromuscular disease affecting only 0.006% of people in Europe and North America; and finally, Tia, a fun-loving child with both Down syndrome and autism, lit up the screen with her joyful energy. The occasion concluded with an original song written and produced by M.S. and performed by Claudia Torres and Jenna Hernandez. Although our Addessi Financial team was not able to attend Stirrup Hope in person as we normally would, we continued our annual tradition of donating to this worthy cause.
For more information about Quantum Leap Farm, visit www.QuantumLeapFarm.org.
In honor of Veterans Day, the Addessi Financial Team chose the month of November to make our annual donation to the Fisher House Foundation. The Fisher House provides free, temporary lodging to military and veterans' families so they can be close to their loved ones during medical crises. For over 30 years, the Fisher House program has helped families stay with loves ones receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers across the United States because they believe, "A family's love is good medicine."
In the spring of 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs made the decision to temporarily repurpose multiple Fisher House locations by providing living accommodations to the heroic healthcare professionals who were risking themselves to save others. Most Fisher Houses have now returned to their original role of supporting veterans and their families in need. Due to the continued demand, they are actively working to expand their offerings. By the end of 2020, there will be a total of 91 Fisher Houses across America.
For more information about Fisher House, visit www.FisherHouse.org.
Addessi Financial Partners made our third annual donation benefitting the not-for-profit educational organization LiFT- Learning Independence for Tomorrow. LiFT is a Pinellas County based inclusive environment with two outstanding programs dedicated to providing challenging academics while building character and confidence in neurodivergent students. Serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade and beyond, LiFT helps each student reach their academic potential and develop the skills they need for independence. This year's event, LiFT Your Spirits Roaring Derby, was held virtually and featured an entire week of digital derby celebrations including a silent auction, drawings, and music from Colt Clark and the Quarantine Kids.
For more information about the LiFT Academy, visit www.LiftAcademy.org.
The Addessi Financial Team made our fourth annual donation to Camp Boggy Creek. Their mission is to foster a spirit of joy by creating a free, safe, and medically-sound camp environment that enriches the lives of thousands of children with chronic or life-threatening illness. As a year-round retreat, Camp Boggy Creek provides campers and their families activity-packed weekly and weekend camp programs. The camp offers children the chance to catch their first fish, go horseback riding, or climb a ropes tower- all while making new friends. Although they are unable to host their usual camp experience due to the health risks presented by COVID-19, they have extended their services through their Beyond the Gates program. “Beyond the Gates delivers the impact of community, empowerment, engagement and the Boggy Creek spirit to campers and families in a virtual camp program through online and offline fun.” Addessi Financial Partners embraces the Camp Boggy Creek premise that every child, no matter their illness, should be able to experience the transformational spirit and friendships that go hand in hand with camp.
For more information about Camp Boggy Creek, visit www.BoggyCreek.org.
In honor of “Giving Tuesday,” the globally celebrated day of giving and unity, Addessi Financial Partners decided to donate to one of the many local charities working toward building a healthier community during this time- Feeding Tampa Bay. You might be surprised to learn that Florida is fourth in the nation for family hunger. Or, that 60% of the population in West Central Florida is eligible for food stamps. Feeding Tampa Bay focuses on providing food for families in need in the 10-county area of West Central Florida.
The #GivingTuesdayNow campaign is designed to drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world.
If you are interested in learning more about Feeding Tampa Bay, please visit their website: FeedingTampaBay.org
Emily and Holly attended the 20th Anniversary Stirrup Hope fundraising gala in honor of Quantum Leap Farm. This is the fifth year Addessi Financial Partners has served as sponsors and had the privilege of attending this wonderful event. Quantum Leap hosts over 350 guests from all over the Tampa Bay area to support their mission to “improve the quality of life and cultivate human potential through equine-assisted therapy.”
Several moving testimonials were shared with those in attendance- including one of a severely injured veteran who fell in love with his occupational therapist who he met while undergoing therapy at Quantum Leap. They now have beautiful twin babies together! This story and others truly resonated with this year’s theme: family.
Guests arrived in country chic attire and ended the program with dancing to live music from the Electric Moccasins. We hope to continue to be involved with this worthy organization for years to come.
For more information about Quantum Leap Farm, visit www.QuantumLeapFarm.org.
October 2019
Addessi Financial Partners made our annual donation to the Fisher House Foundation. The Fisher House Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides homes where Military and Veteran's families can stay at no cost while their loved one is receiving treatment. There are 85 Fisher Houses located on 25 Military installations and 35 VA Medical Centers. Since 1990, more than 368,000 families have been served by this Foundation. Addessi Financial Partners is proud support those who have given so much.
For more information, visit: www.FisherHouse.org
Addessi Financial Partners made our annual donation to Camp Boggy Creek located in Eustis, Florida. We enjoy supporting this charity as it is a local organization that benefits children with serious illnesses. Camp Boggy Creek provides these children the opportunity to attend camp and allows them to just “be kids”. Donations allow the children to attend camp at no cost to their families. If you are ever traveling in the Eustis Florida area, be sure to stop by and visit this wonderful charity. You will see why Addessi Financial Partners continues to support their Mission “to foster a spirit of joy by creating a free, safe and medically-sound camp environment that enriches the lives of children with serious illnesses and their families”.
For more information, visit: www.BoggyCreek.org
On May 4, 2019, Michael, Wendy and Christine attended the LiFT Academy and LiFT University Annual Charitable Event.
LiFT (Learning Independence For Tomorrow) is a not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the advancement in education for children and young adults in our community with neurodiversities (Autism, spectrum disorders, Downs Syndrome, ADHD and various other intellectual and learning disorders). The theme of this years’ event was “Belonging”, the need for everyone to belong to something. Sometimes those afflicted with the neurodiversities do not have a sense of belonging. After listening to one of LiFT’s graduating students give a standing ovation speech in front of 300 attendees, you can sense the positive impact LiFT has on their students. This is the reason Addessi Financial Partners continues to support and sponsor this organization.
For more information about the LiFT Academy, visit www.LiftAcademy.org
One of the Therapy Horses at Quantum Leap Farm
The Addessi Financial Team attended the Annual Stirrup Hope event benefiting the programs at Quantum Leap Farm.
This year's theme was centered on the word "Home". To the participants of the programs, Home is more than just a word, but a feeling. The participants and their families consider Quantum Leap as their second Home because the Quantum Leap staff creates an environment that promotes growth and personal discovery through equine-assisted therapies.
For more information about Quantum Leap Farm, visit www.QuantumLeapFarm.com
general assembly hall.
We made our second annual donation to Camp Boggy Creek benefiting the year round programs serving thousands of campers, ranging in age from 7-16, with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Their families are invited to join in the fun-filled experience defined by compassion, laughter and acceptance. The weeks are designed to have kids with similar conditions grouped together. These themed weeks facilitate an environment for children to feel comfortable sharing their similar experiences, while also providing medical training. Camp Boggy Creek embraces the promise of “yes” for these children and their families. We are happy to support their mission and are thankful to have a small part in making others smile.
For more information about Camp Boggy Creek, visit www.BoggyCreek.org.
We made our second annual donation benefiting the students at the LiFT Academy and LiFT University. LiFT is a not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the advancement in education for children and young adults in our community with neurodiversities, including Autism, spectrum disorders, Downs Syndrome, ADHD, and various other intellectual and learning delays. They assist each student to reach their potential academically and help them develop the necessary skills for independence within an inclusive setting. Michael and Wendy attended the LiFT Your Spirits at the Preakness charity event on May 19th. They enjoyed a fantastic evening full of excitement raising awareness for the LiFT programs.
For more information about the LiFT Academy, visit www.LiftAcademy.org.
Christine McLean, and Emily Addessi
Christine and Emily participated in the 5K Fun Run benefiting the programs at Quantum Leap Farm. The race was organized by a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, who is a participant at the farm. He wanted to do something to give back to the children and adults with special needs and veterans like himself, who receive equine-assisted therapy at Quantum Leap Farm. We always enjoy participating in their events, but this one was especially significant as Kelly and Christine are proud parents of their Marine son, Bryce.
While at the event Christine won two necklaces in a raffle and graciously gifted one to Emily. At first, they didn't realize the significance of the stone until the Marine Corps Veteran shared his incredible story. While stationed in Afghanistan he came across a semi-precious Blue Lapis stone and brought it back to America. He had a local artisan jeweler cut the rock into pieces, polish and set the finished stone in a wire wrapping. Christine and Emily felt honored to receive the jewelry, but also were aware of the bittersweet significance.
For more information about Quantum Leap Farm, visit www.QuantumLeapFarm.org.
Wendy Addessi, Dorothea Clarke, and Michael Addessi
For the second year, Addessi Financial Partners made a donation to the Annual Stirrup Hope event benefiting the programs at Quantum Leap Farm. Every time we visit the farm, there is a sense of excitement in the progress, hope in providing a place of understanding, and the passion to have others reach their goals. This was truly evident in hearing the compelling testimonials from those who have greatly benefited from the work of Quantum Leap Farm.
We are thankful to be a part of a very small fraction of what they do in the community and around the country. We will continue to support them in their mission to empower children and adults of all abilities to grow strong, achieve therapeutic goals, and overcome challenges through equine-assisted therapies.
For more information about Quantum Leap Farm, visit www.QuantumLeapFarm.org.
November 2017
We made a donation to the Metropolitan Ministries to support their mission in caring for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in the Tampa Bay area. They build hope and confidence for a better future of independence.
Metropolitan Ministries provides food and housing assistance, while also being committed to teaching life skills such as job training so that those receiving this help are able to support their families. These services are offered in the surrounding counties of Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Polk.
For more information about Metropolitan Ministries, visit www.metromin.org.
Relations Officer, Camp Boggy Creek) and Christine McLean
Sharon Couture, the Foundation & Corporate Relations Officer at Camp Boggy Creek, showed Christine around the beautiful camp, showcasing the many opportunities given to children with medical conditions. We hope our donation will help with their continued efforts in making kids feel like kids even when faced with a serious illness.
ABOUT CAMP BOGGY CREEK:
Since 1996, Camp Boggy Creek has made it possible for children with serious illnesses to enjoy a camp experience in a safe, medically sound environment. Located just a short drive from Orlando, Florida, the 232-acre camp serves children ages 7-16 who've been diagnosed with a chronic or life-threatening illness. Beyond boundless fun, Camp Boggy Creek provides fellowship. Children can spend time with others who are just like them and share their life experiences, which serves as a reminder that they are not alone.
For more information about Camp Boggy Creek, visit www.BoggyCreek.org.
and Wendy Addessi
We made a donation to the annual Stirrup Hope event benefiting the programs of Quantum Leap Farm. As a staff project, Addessi Financial Partners has volunteered at the farm and has sponsored a therapy horse. Through the initial volunteer engagement, it was evident how passionate and caring the staff was in providing people of all ages and abilities to grow strong, achieve therapeutic goals, and overcome challenges through equine-assisted therapies. Their programs serve adults and children with special needs, active, retired or wounded military service members, and children with cancer and their families. We look forward to more participation and promotion of such a wonderful organization.
For more information about Quantum Leap Farm, visit www.QuantumLeapFarm.org.
(Manager at Fisher House),
Michael O. Addessi, and Emily Addessi
We were given the opportunity to meet with Paula, the manager at Fisher House, who graciously toured us around Fisher House and shared heartwarming stories of families. The house is located next to the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa and offers families a truly exceptional place to stay that is close to their loved ones receiving medical care. We know our donation will have a positive impact on the families they serve.
ABOUT FISHER HOUSE:
A Fisher House is "a home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. The homes are normally located within walking distance of the treatment facility or have transportation available. There are 65 Fisher Houses located on 24 military installations and 24 VA medical centers. Many more houses are under construction or in design.
For more information about the Fisher House, visit www.tampa.va.gov/services/Fisher_House.asp.
(Founder and Executive Director of Quantum Leap Farm),
and Emily Addessi
In January, we revisited the farm to deliver our donation. We met with the founder, Edie Dopking, and were introduced to more of the dedicated staff. Their passion really shows in the incredible work they do.
ABOUT QUANTUM LEAP:
This organization serves children and adults experiencing mental, physical or behavioral disabilities including those resulting from accidents or wounds from war. Participants in the therapy programs range from age 2 to 92 and are diagnosed with a variety of conditions. Participants are referred by word of mouth, physical practitioners, and byother agencies serving handicapped adults, veterans, and children.
For more information about Quantum Leap Farm, visit www.QuantumLeapFarm.org.
As a staff, we thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at Quantum Leap to help decorate the farm for the holiday season. We also learned more about the impact that this wonderful organization has on the community.
manager), Emily Addessi, Michael O. Addessi,
Joo Hooi Albritton (business manager), and Debbie Moore
We visited the Ronald McDonald House located next to Tampa General Hospital. Joo Hooi, the business manager, and Chelsea, the development manager, shared the organization’s vision and mission, which was evident as the house truly offers a wonderful place of comfort to accommodate families of hospitalized children. Our donation to the Ronald McDonald House covers 12.5 family nights in the house. We are happy to support the families who are struggling with a child's illness.
ABOUT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES:
Helping a sick child fight their illness takes a big enough emotional toll on a family. Adding a financial strain can make it all almost too much to bear. RMHC can help address those problems, whether they involve housing that’s near a hospitalized child, the expense of staying together in another city, or even getting basic medical and dental care in a vulnerable community.
For more information about the Ronald McDonald House, visit www.rmhctampabay.com.
Michael V. Addessi, Wendy Addessi, and Michael O. Addessi
Thank you to everyone who attended our Grand Opening and for your donations to Toys for Tots. We collected more than 250 toys!