On a sun-splashed day, United Way Suncoast joined the city of Bradenton, Realize Bradenton and other contributing organizations to celebrate the grand opening of the Riverwalk East Park.
Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown christened the tranquil park on Sept. 24. He gave a special recognition to United Way Suncoast and Chief Impact Officer Bronwyn Beightol for its role in helping create the outdoor reading room at the park. Sitting between the original Manatee Mineral Springs Park and the new Riverwalk, the reading room features murals modeled from the pages of the children’s book Old Manatee A to Z.
An additional panel, commissioned by United Way, promotes the role literacy can play in fueling the Freedom To Rise. It includes a QR Code that connects park visitors to United Way Suncoast’s United We Learn efforts.
Realize Bradenton coordinated the celebration with support from Florida Humanities and the Knight Donor Advised Fund at the Manatee Community Foundation. Children joined Mayor Brown and Manatee Chamber of Commerce CEO Jacki Dezelski in cutting the ribbon.
Along with Beightol, team members Andrea Doggett, Ernest Hooper, Cassandra Montes and Ana Rodriguez joined United Way Suncoast Manatee board member Michelle Grimsley in representing the organization at the event.