VISIBLE MEN ACADEMY HOLDS ANNUAL IMPACT AWARDS
Visible Men Impact Awards shine the light on visible men in Sarasota and Manatee Counties who mentor, educate, and inspire underserved boys in our communities. This year’s honorees were L-R: Dr. George Van Buren (Health and Wellness Award), Coach Robert Powell (Community Service Award); Keenan Wooten (Education Award); Neal Phillips (VMA’s Executive Director); Henry Blyden (Community Service Award); Jose Lozada (Community Service Award); and Michael Mendez (The Arts Award). The Zenith received the Com munity Partner Award. Visible Men Academy, now in its 5th year, serves nearly 100 students, 100 percent of whom live at or below the poverty line, and 12 percent of whom are homeless. According to Neal Phillips, Executive Director, VMA’s mission is to provide these boys “the suns” with a strong academy and social education while building character in a nurturing environment. The purpose of VMA is to deliver a high-quality educational experience that meets the specific needs of at-risk elementary and middle school aged boys through the collaborative efforts of administrators, teachers, parents, the broader community, and the students themselves. VMA students gain vast exposure to future personal and career possibilities. These combine to cultivate within VMA students an unyielding sense of control over their futures – a critical orientation for lifelong success, personal fulfillment, and societal contribution. Over 300 guests were in attendance, the event was held at the Art Ovation Hotel in downtown Sarasota. To get more information about the Academy, you may contact VMA via phone at 941758-7588; located at 921 63rd Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34203.
