LEFT Gary Huggins, Executive Vice President of NDC Construction Co. and Mary Glass listen as Laurie Hagberg, the Director of Development of Art Center Manatee accepts an award.

(BRADENTON, FL - May 25, 2007) The morning after the 2006-2007 school year came to a close, hundreds of local business, community and educational leaders flocked to Freedom Village in west Bradenton for the 17th Annual Business/Education Partnership Awards Breakfast.

The breakfast was hosted by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Bradenton Herald, Freedom Village, Tropicana and Bradenton Press. After a plentiful buffet breakfast, the attendees filled an auditorium to honor 450 businesses, government entities and community organizations for their outstanding efforts for this school year by providing time, people and resources to enhance educational opportunities for Manatee County Schools through Business/Education Partnerships.

“Business partnerships are vital to our success as a school system,” said Superintendent Dr. Roger Dearing. “It takes the involvement of our entire community to provide our children with all of the resources they need to pursue their dreams and goals.”

The awards presentation was emceed by Marilynne Bolek, Chairman of the Education and Workforce Partnership Committee for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. Other guest speakers included Tom Danahy, Chairman of the Board for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and President of LWR Communities LLC; and William Fleet, President and Publisher of the Bradenton Herald.

“It's a really nice way for the School District and the Chamber to recognize the businesses and other organizations that contribute to our schools,” said Amy Van Dell, Director of Public Affairs for Bright House Networks, which won the Partner in Excellence Award. “What better way to give back to our community than to invest in the education of our children.”

Mary Glass, Director of the Manatee Education Foundation congratulates Amy Van Dell of Bright House Networks

A gathering of honorees at this year's breakfast