HurricaneWilma

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT FONDA ANDERSON (727) 821-2056
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2006

GOVERNOR BUSH PRESENTS "POINTS OF LIGHT"

HURRICANE HERO AWARD
TO SUMMIT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

TALLAHASSEE—Governor Jeb Bush today recognized Summit Christian School in West Palm Beach as this week’s Points of Light Award recipient. Following Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, the faculty and staff at Summit Christian School volunteered their time to clean and repair the damaged school.

“The self-sacrifice, dedication and perseverance demonstrated by the faculty and staff of Summit Christian School serves as an inspiration to us all,” said Governor Bush. “These dedicated teachers and school officials went above and beyond the call of duty, temporarily putting their needs aside, focusing instead on serving others. This is a positive example of the things that can take place when people unite in a common purpose and goal to overcome hard circumstances.”

Summit Christian School was one of the schools most greatly impacted in Palm Beach County following Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Even though the faculty and staff of Summit Christian School had homes badly damaged or destroyed as a result of the hurricanes, they focused first on rebuilding the school. They spent their time removing debris and clearing buildings of damaged materials. In addition to their volunteer efforts, the faculty and staff worked for two weeks without pay and made several cash donations as well. Due to their service, the school was able to reopen a couple of weeks later.

“Receiving this prestigious award is an honor for everyone in our school,” said Summit Christian School Headmaster Skelton. “After our campus was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Frances, our teachers, staff and families spent many days and hours working together to get our school re-opened. Their efforts serve as an example to both our students and to the community.”

Summit receives award from
Governor Jeb Bush and the
Volunteer Florida Foundation

Monday, June 26 - Summit was elated to receive the "Points of Light - Hurricane Hero" award on behalf of Governor Jeb Bush. Kim Stryker, Summit's Director of Outreach and Development, opened the ceremony with prayer and introduced Liza McFadden, President of the Volunteer Florida Foundation. McFadden is committed to a philosophy of "neighbors helping neighbors" and is currently involved in developing programs to help migrant families, the elderly, fishermen, and others impacted by Hurricane Wilma to rebuild their lives. She explained the function and purpose of the foundation and who the sponsors of the "Points of Light" award are. McFadden commended the families, students, teachers and staff of Summit Christian for their magnified efforts in reclaiming their campus from the ravages of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. "As soon as you knew your families were safe and secure (following Hurricane Frances), you came to the school, buckled down and really went to work". Upon receiving the award, Headmaster Sam Skelton added that "our first priority will always be Christian education. It is important for us to remember the greatest two commandments...
to love the Lord God with all your heart, mind and soul and second, to love your neighbor as yourself. With this in mind, SCS will always play an integral part in the community."

The Governor’s Points of Light Award, sponsored by Royal Caribbean international and Celebrity Cruises, recognizes a Florida resident or organization that demonstrates exemplary service to the community. Award recipients are announced weekly. A panel of judges comprised of leaders in the areas of volunteerism and service evaluate all nominations and make recommendations to Governor Bush. The Volunteer Florida Foundation manages the program. For more information,
or to nominate, please visit

www.VolunteerFloridaFoundation.org.

The award will be displayed in the Headmasters Office at Summit Christian School.
Many thanks to Governor Jeb Bush, Liza McFadden, The Volunteer Florida Foundation,
Royal Caribbean International / Celebrity Cruise Lines and our nominator.

EXTREME FENCE MAKEOVER - May 20, 2006
Thanks so very much to the many wonderful volunteers that came out and helped during our Extreme Fence Makeover workday May 20th. Thanks also to the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund and the Volunteer Florida Foundation (see below.) Much was accomplished by the hard work and dedication put forth by folks willing to tear down fencing and vegetation out in the athletic field, remove deteriorated decking, old damaged fences and dig up existing, broken fence poles... and then turn around and replace it all with new materials. Wow! What a difference! Thank you again to those that worked so tirelessly to accomplish this task. Bless you all! - Mrs. Stryker

www.FlaHurricaneFund.org

Summit Christian School Receives Grant
from Florida Hurricane Relief Fund
It is my pleasure to announce that Summit Christian School has been awarded funding in the amount of $136,000.00 from the Florida Hurricane Relief fund to assist with our rebuilding efforts. The Florida Hurricane Relief Fund was established by Governor Jeb Bush to assist in hurricane recovery by addressing needs not met by federal, state, and insurance assistance. The fund is managed by nonprofit Volunteer Florida Foundation.

We are very grateful to be recipients of this grant. These funds will be used towards rebuilding our fences, elementary bathrooms, awnings, and replacing the high school glass double doors. Several volunteer groups have offered assistance, as well. The first “hurricane work day” was a great success and more volunteer opportunities are soon to come! Call 686-8081 ext. 316 to make your commitment to be considered for our next volunteer campus work day!

Hurricane Wilma
As the 2005 hurricane season wound down, many Florida residents sat silent in the dark. Hurricane Wilma's thumbprint pressed firmly against the Palm Beaches as the will of it's residents was tested by yet another storm striking in late October. Among these was the Summit Christian school family.

Please call (561) 686-8081x337 for all hurricane related inquiries.

Please remember that all gifts to the school are tax-deductible.

In 2004, Summit Christian School bore the brunt of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, sustaining significant damage taking a huge financial blow in the process. After 13 months of prayer and perseverance Summit was slowly returning to normal when along came Wilma. The storm tore into Summit's campus, the third storm in 14 months to do so. Compared to last year’s one-two hurricane punch, however, Wilma spared Summit major structural damage. Roofing, recently repaired from last year, was partially peeled back causing water damage and covered walkways are no longer covered. Several elementary school portables were affected as well. A campus lush with newly planted vegetation became stripped of trees and shrubbery, but by-and-large, the school was spared. Headmaster Sam Skelton estimates the impact to the school to near the half-million dollar mark, and that doesn’t include losses that still need to be recovered from the 2004 hurricane season.

The determination of Summit’s faculty and staff and their faith in God’s Work make all the difference. Despite communication lines down, power out and families displaced, the morning after the storm a small army of Summit staff went to work sawing, dragging, clipping and raking the grounds, preparing it for a speedy return to normal. Chainsaws whined and tractors roared as, little by little, the campus began to shape up. Power became the main issue. Generators rumbled supplying power where it was needed most. Exactly one week after Hurricane Wilma stopped by; Summit Christian opened its doors again. With most of the power restored at press time, the kids are back from their unscheduled hiatus and faculty and staff have changed from their gardening clothes to more classroom-friendly attire.

Despite damages to the campus, the school still focuses its ministry where it always has, on the community. Summit is still moving forward with its participation in the “Food for Families” can drive, and the annual Christmas Stroll for the community. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Summit Christian School sent representatives to help truck much needed supplies to the gulf-coast region and is partnering with the emergencyhousingconnection.com website. The philosophy at Summit is simple. While striving for excellence in academic achievement, reaching out to neighbors is a natural gesture. Now those neighbors have reached out to the school. Two days after the storm hit, a Summit parent showed up with enough fuel to replenish generators and work vehicles. Parents have dropped by to donate money, water and food. A restaurant ice machine was recently donated and calls come in daily from concerned people eager to learn more about how SCS fared in the storm. The school continues to accept donations and support of all kinds from the community.

As Palm Beach County struggles with power outages, roof leaks and yet another storm clean-up, the Summit Christian family embodies the best of what people can be. Working together with determination to overcome leads to more than just an effort to do so. It leads to triumph.

Here are some more pictures of the damages to our campus caused by Hurricane Wilma...

There are many more photos of damages not included here... lots of vegetative damage, aluminum, siding and fencing damages as well. Below are some pictures of our wonderful, hard-working, and tremendously dedicated faculty and staff (and even some of their children) working together in the effort to clean the campus and make it safe and secure again.




		God bless you all, and again, Thank You!