Books For Troops Program in Running For Donation

The GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club wants you to get out the vote.

No, we’re not still talking the Florida primary; the club’s Books For Troops program is one of five charities currently featured in Precision Kia of Wesley Chapel’s monthly “Pay It Forward” event on Facebook.

The car dealership has been selecting a handful of charities each month, then allowing Facebook fans to vote on their favorite charity. The charity with the most votes at the end of the month will receive a $1,000 donation. Fans can vote once per day.

“I can’t  believe we have been invited to participate because our project was kinda little compared to all the other charities that have been competing, but we are also the first New Tampa charity to compete,” Patricia Murphy, of the woman’s club, wrote to New Tampa Patch when she learned Books For Troops would be included. “I seriously can’t contain my excitement.”

Murphy said the Books For Troops project began Oct. 1 and has collected more books than it had anticipated. While the girls underestimated the support from the community, there is not enough money to ship all of the books to U.S. troops serving overseas.

“This donation from Wesley Chapel Kia would allow us to ship an additional 2,500 books,” Murphy said in a news release.

The other charities being featured in February are: The Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando counties, Mary & Martha House, The Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive and Foster Families and Voices for Children of Tampa Bay.

Leann Rowe of Precision Kia said the dealership has been running the Facebook contest since last August and probably will continue it through July.

Rowe said suggestions for charities come from friends, the public and personal research.

“Then I go on Facebook and search for them,” she said. “That is the most important part. They have to have a Facebook page. Then I try to match them up with other charities that have close to the same number of fans. So someone with 1000 fans is not competing with 100 fans.” 

Voters must have Facebook to participate in the contest.

More Information

• Want to vote? Go to Precision Kia’s facebook page and click "like."
• Want to learn more about Books for Troops? Go to the GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman's Club webpage.