Florida Catholic | Diocese of Orlando News Briefs

April 2008

JMJ Center to hold fundraiser May 3

Posted: 04.18.08

The JMJ (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) Life Center is offering a new twist for its annual fundraising event — “Bet on Life” casino night. Revelers at the May 3 fundraiser at the Hilton Hotel in Altamonte Springs will be able to enjoy the usual banquet and dancing, as well as casino-style games, raffles and a silent auction.

For the past 18 years, the JMJ Life Center has provided assistance to pregnant women and their families. “This is a refuge, a place where women can come to just breathe,” said Susan Munsch, executive director. “Many times they’re overwhelmed and we want them to choose life and feel good about their choice.”

The center has three Orlando locations that served 4,000 families in 2007 with pregnancy tests; counseling; prenatal and parenting education; maternity clothes; and assistance with infant layettes, furniture, and vitamins — everything that is needed for a tiny life to reach his or her first birthday.

Ultrasound is currently available at two locations and hopes are that the fundraiser will provide the resources for ultrasound at the third, as well as fund expanded community outreach and a bigger location downtown.

Tax-deductible tickets are $65 per person and include dinner, two drinks and initial play money. For more information, visit the Web site, www.JMJLifeCenter.org, or call 407-839-0620.

Eccentric thinkers are Maryland bound

Posted: 04.10.08

A team of fifth graders from Holy Family Catholic School, Orlando, will be going to the Odyssey of the Mind World Competition in College Park, Md. in late may. The team recently qualified at the state level in competition held at the University of Central Florida on April 5. They previously garnered a first place win at the regional contest in February.

The students competed against 19 other teams in the Eccentrics challenge, creating an original comedy about three misfits who solve an Earth-related problem.

Holy Family students excel at penmanship

Posted: 04.08.08

Five students at Holy Family Catholic School in Orlando have been named Florida State Champions in The National Handwriting Contest sponsored by Zaner-Bloser Educational Publishers.

Taylor O’Neal, grade 2, Gabriella Guzzi, grade 4, Jade Cheek, grade 6, Anyssa Fernandez, grade 7, and Jacquely Gutierrez, grade 8, will go on to compete against other state winners in national competition.

As State Champions, the students, their teachers, and school principal, Sister Dorothy Sayers receive beautifully engraved wood pens, a special award certificate and a $50 gift certificate for Zaner-Bloser materials.

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JMJ Center to hold fundraiser May 3

Eccentric thinkers are Maryland bound

Holy Family students excel at penmanship

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