2023-09-13T11:47:11-04:00 Zend_Feed_Writer https://www.ewrunnerctr.org

2023-09-13T11:47:11-04:00 2023-09-13T11:47:11-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/36 Good morning Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center,    I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center to Ms. Runner, and the staff. Quick back story, I used to volunteer back in High school with the tutorial center. I was even awarded a scholarship with the center before graduating high school, which I was very grateful. As you know years passed by of adulting. I reached out to Ms. Runner in August 2021 about an internship position that I needed in my last semester of college. Ms. Runner took me in with open arms, and I applied for the position. As getting to know the staff, I was treated like family, which I loved. The couple months I worked with the staff and children a bond was made, with the compassionate, caring, nurturing, and helpful that everyone showed is really appreciated and goes a long way.  While interning at the center I was explaining to Ms. Runner and Travis that I was applying to get into Nursing school, without hesitation they both were willing to help me. From knowing people in high and different places to help me get where I needed, resources were given and confirmation of if I needed anything else to just reach out. My internship did come to an end when I graduated from Florida Atlantic University in December 2021. Big congratulations were given from Ms. Runner and the staff and everyone would still reached out to me and would send encouraging, heart warming words everyday and not to give up on trying to get into nursing school.    I am happy to say as of today, I was accepted into South University College of Nursing and Public Health, Bachelor of Science in Nursing program 2023. I wanted to give the center give a big thank you for the generosity and thoughtfulness it has truly made a difference in my life, and I am deeply appreciative. Please know that I will always remember your kindness and generosity, and I hope one day have the opportunity to pay it forward and make a difference in someone else's life, just as you have done for me. I will definitely be coming back to give an update when I graduate Nursing school!!   Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for me. Your kindness has truly touched my life in a meaningful way.  Sincerely, Cheyenne. 

2023-05-11T11:11:05-04:00 2023-05-11T11:11:05-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/35 Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center recently received a $50,000 grant from the Admirals Cove Foundation for a 15-passenger vehicle.  This new van is critical to the center’s ability to bring students to the center after school and to make special outings possible for the students during the school year and during summer camp. “We are grateful for the generous support of the Admirals Cove Foundation which is committed to making an impact in our community.  We thank the members of Admirals Cove who see the importance of bringing new experiences to our youth so that they may expand their horizons and learn.” said Edna W. Runner, Executive Director of the Tutorial Center which bears her name.  Ms. Runner added that “By providing access to new experiences, Admiral’s Cove Foundation is allowing children in the summer camp and trade programs to visit sites throughout Palm Beach County they otherwise would never see.”   The West Jupiter Community Group, Inc. is a 501c3 organization that has been providing services in the West Jupiter community since 1986.  The tutorial center is a provider of after school, spring break, and summer camp services for children in grades K-8.  The mission of the center is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk students and families so they may pursue academic and personal excellence. The staff and a cadre of volunteers help students develop interests, skills, and knowledge in a variety of areas all within a safe, warm, and nurturing environment so they may pursue academic and personal excellence.     About Admirals Cove Foundation Admirals Cove Foundation is the philanthropic foundation of The Club at Admirals Cove, a private community in Jupiter, Florida. The Foundation board, members and volunteers are comprised exclusively of Admirals Cove residents. ACF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was founded in 2004 by then Club President, Donald Daren, who saw the need to strengthen the community outside Admirals Cove’s gates. www. https://admiralscovefoundation.org/   About Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center Founded as the West Jupiter Community Group in 1986, the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center provides a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk students and families so they may pursue academic and personal excellence.  The Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center provides after school, spring break, and summer camp services for elementary and middle-school-aged students. The tutorial center fosters educational achievement, positive self-esteem, and character development in a supportive and safe environment so that young people can flourish and grow to their fullest potential.  www.EWRunnerCTR.org

2022-11-02T13:08:37-04:00 2022-11-02T13:08:37-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/34   Congratulations to our own Ms. Edna W. Runner! On Saturday, October 15th, Ms. Edna was bestowed with a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This award has a long and distinguished history. In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too. Congratulations, Ms. Edna! We appreciate you!

2022-09-01T10:40:45-04:00 2022-09-21T10:40:45-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/33

2022-03-02T07:35:02-05:00 2022-03-09T07:35:02-05:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/32   JUPITER, Fla. (CBS12) — This week’s “Hometown Hero” is a woman who’s dedicated most of her life to helping kids and families who need it most.   Edna Runner’s passion for education inspired her to create an afterschool program for kids in her hometown of Jupiter nearly 35 years ago and she hasn’t looked back since.   “I never thought, never imagined, it would grow like this,” Runner said.   From the basement of a local church to a building bearing her name, Edna Runner helped create a safe space for kids in need.   “There was a group of concerned citizens that realized we needed an afterschool program for our kids that needed help with their homework here in the west Jupiter area,” Runner said.   It started in 1986 as the “West Jupiter Community Group” with 45 kids.   Since then, this labor of love has impacted thousands of students.   Read More >

2022-01-04T16:10:56-05:00 2022-01-23T16:10:56-05:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/31 Home-grown vegetables, herbs can stretch food budgets as prices rise Katherine Kokal Palm Beach Post USA TODAY NETWORK JUPITER – Although Hattie Dupree grew up in rural Clewiston, she’d never spent much time growing any plants or her own food. “I’m a country girl, I promise, but I’d never planted anything. I’d never dug into the dirt,” she said. “I love plants and flowers, but mine are all artificial because I always kill them.” That changed when she and more than a dozen other older and retired local residents gathered at Jupiter’s Edna Runner Tutorial Center in early December to plant “giving gardens” – vegetables and herbs they brought home and planted to share with their neighborhoods. “I’d never been able to watch something grow,” Dupree said of her collard greens, which she noted are already taking off. The Giving Gardens project, funded by a $100,000 grant, aims to fight poverty by creating more options for fresh food in communities around northern Palm Beach County. The grant, awarded in June, was from Impact the Palm Beaches, a women’s philanthropic organization that donates money to educational, arts, culture and environmental organizations. Read More >

2021-12-16T12:19:23-05:00 2021-12-16T12:19:23-05:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/30 2021-09-27T13:56:40-04:00 2021-09-27T13:56:40-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/29

2021-06-28T00:07:38-04:00 2021-06-28T00:07:38-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/28 Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center awarded $100K to ‘grow’ ‘Edna’s Community Garden Project’ by Impact the Palm Beaches Funding supports limitless opportunity for children to learn about gardening, healthy meals -- with eye on goal to give back to the community 200 container gardens   Kids bloom when they are ‘planted’ at the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center, and thanks to a $100,000 coveted award by Impact the Palm Beaches, the children served by the afterschool program, will now truly experience the impact of seeds sown in the nonprofit’s beautiful, newly-constructed and planted campus gardens. “This award enables us the limitless opportunity for our children to not only learn and practice hands-on, all aspects of gardening, but to gain understanding and awareness about giving back to the community,” said Edna W. Runner, Executive Director of the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center. “We are so appreciative and honored that Impact the Palm Beaches recognized our belief that Edna’s Community Garden Project will help children build confidence and understand things that will carry them through their lives in a different way, impact the community for years to come,” she said. Having three gardening and nature sites near the Center, the Center is poised to have a transformative impact on the education, mental health and wellness of the community’s students and residents. The newly constructed Simon’s Giving Garden, dedicated with a ribbon cutting ceremony in April, provides community food, butterfly garden, outdoor seating, and is a place for students to learn the benefits of healthy eating and how to grow affordable herbs, fruits and vegetables with an environmental curriculum and STEM activities to improve scientific knowledge. Additionally, container vegetable and herb gardens will be shared to create 200 community gardens that can be planted at home, at businesses, and in the County’s vacant lands. Edna’s Community Park includes two areas full of trees, brush, and native plant species and an additional .4 acre preserve at the Tutorial Center. Both preserves will include the planting and monitoring native plants and animals to document the recovery and health of the native habitats, planting of native fruit trees, and development of a butterfly garden for the community’s enjoyment and environmental education. The Center is actively seeking funds to complete and launch these healthy programs and wellness initiatives and is proud to be recognized for their ongoing efforts and the honor of this award. Entering its 35th year of service, the West Jupiter Community Group, Inc. is a 501c3 that serves the West Jupiter community. In 1993, In 1993, the tutorial building, was rededicated as the “Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center” in honor of its Executive Director, Ms. Edna. Its mission, to provide a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk students and families so they may pursue academic and personal excellence, fosters its vision – to empower the children of West Jupiter to overcome the circumstances of poverty, excel educationally, and live meaningful lives.   For more information about the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center, or schedule a tour, contact Mary Kay Willson at 561-745-0950 or marykay@ewrunnerctr.org. To learn more, visit www.ewrunnerctr.org.    

2021-04-29T16:09:49-04:00 2021-04-29T16:09:49-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/27

2021-02-13T17:45:05-05:00 2021-02-15T17:45:05-05:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/26

2021-02-04T18:54:46-05:00 2021-02-04T18:54:46-05:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/25   Click here to view the Jupiter Spotlight We are featured on page 4

2020-10-07T16:32:57-04:00 2020-10-07T16:32:57-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/24 JUPITER — 2020 was always going to be an important year for the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center in Limestone Creek. The after-school center planned to welcome children back to its expanded and revamped facility on Church Street this spring. But when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered Palm Beach County public schools to in-person classes, the Runner Center put its plans on hold and instead dove into shifting its programming to address the chaos of education in 2020. Like so many organizations across the county and nation, the Runner Center held its usual summer camp virtually, offering regular activities and grocery store gift cards to about 80 kids. When Palm Beach County public schools started online classes in August, the center opened its doors to about 50 students for reliable Internet and teacher supervision. And just last month, the facility finally reverted to its typical role as an after-school tutoring center for income-qualified children in the Jupiter area. "We didn't slow down as a staff," program director Travis Conway said. "We just had to keep going, just alter our plan." There's been a bevy of challenges that the center's 13-person staff has had to overcome. Staff members instituted temperature checks at the front door, set up plexiglass shields between students, regularly sanitized their fleet of buses and juggled schedules during the hectic online-only phase of schooling. "Everything had to be rethought," said Mary Kay Willson, the center's development director. She noted that the Runner Center found racially inclusive PSA-style hygiene posters for the center's diverse group of students. Despite the difficulties, leaders said the center was set up to succeed in a few key ways. For one, Conway said, they assembled a collection of roughly 80 laptops and tablets over the past few years with help from donors.   That haul was a quantum leap for the center, Conway said. In the years before, each classroom was outfitted with just four archaic computers, he said. For the students at the Runner Center, Conway said having reliable online access is important. Willson said the Runner Center was among those calling on the county school district to expand access to laptops and Internet during earlier stages of the pandemic. "If this place wasn't here, honestly I think our students would not have been online at all," Conway said. "A lot of them don't have Internet access online at home. ... It's a blessing that this place exists." Then there was the new building itself. The 1,000 square feet of indoor space added during the expansion has been crucial, Conway said. Edna Runner, the center's namesake and executive director, said the facility might not have been able to operate otherwise. "We didn't have to look for space," Runner said. "It was just meant to be." Difficulties remain. The center still seeks to raise another $300,000 tied to its roughly $2 million capital campaign for the expanded facility. As of last week, the center's small army of volunteers, many of whom are retired, had yet to return alongside the students, but a Zoom alternative is in the works. Staff members are still helping out students continuing with distance learning to protect at-risk family members, Runner said. But when the students returned, Conway said the payoff was clear. They were thrilled to be back, he said. Right now, Willson said staff members are serving about 50 percent of the 125 children they're licensed to accommodate at the Church Street facility. "Our main focus now is to try to make sure the kids get on track or if not on track, as close to on track as we can," Conway said. "And assisting the schools, assisting our community." showard@pbpost.com @SamuelHHoward

2020-10-05T16:54:20-04:00 2020-10-05T16:54:20-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/23

2020-08-24T16:33:19-04:00 2020-10-07T16:33:19-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/22     The Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center is grateful to have been chosen as the primary recipient for the 2020 Jupiter Invitational Golf Tournament, now in its 20th year.  Many thanks to County Commissioner, Hal Valeche, for donating the golf course, Trump International, located in West Palm Beach.  Each year, through an agreement with Trump International, 2 County Commissioners are invited to use the facility to benefit a local charity of their choice.  The Jupiter Children’s Foundation was selected to hold this charitable event to benefit Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center on November 2, 2020.  Many thanks to our Honorary Chairmen: Maria Marino, and Jack & Barbara Nicklaus.  They are joined by committee members Todd Wodraska, Mayor of Jupiter; David Benjamin, Bill Capko, Phil Danford, Ed Frankel, Brian Idle, Lee Owen, Scott Smith and Wary Wiatr.    Date: November 2, 2020  Time: 7:30 Registration /  9:00 Shotgun Trump International Golf Club 3505 Summit Boulevard West Palm Beach, FL 33406   To find out how you can join in on the fun, contact Mary Kay Willson at 561-745-0950 or email marykay@ewrunnerCTR.org 

2020-05-21T13:50:13-04:00 2021-09-27T13:50:13-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/21 Edna W Runner Tutorial Center is honored to have been a fund recipient from a local law firm this month.     Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers mission is to provide injury victims with diligent, solution-oriented legal representation through meticulous case management, personalized attention, and exceptional client services.    In March 2020, local communities were severely affected by the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Partners, Attorney Steven Frankl and Attorney Ethan Kominsky, recognized the need to help our community.    Through this contribution, the firm was hoping to aid the most critical infrastructure of our communities, such as family services, anti-hunger initiatives, education, shelter, mental health counseling, and more.    The firm dedicated a fund to provide grants to our local nonprofits in dire need of immediate funding during this uncertain time. In less than 60-days, we have partnered with over 20 local organizations to support their cause throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020-04-30T16:46:34-04:00 2020-10-05T16:46:34-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/20 Friends and families gathered on March 13th at the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center, in Jupiter, to celebrate its grand re-opening, and to cheer the completion of its $2 million construction project that broke ground in January 2019. Following a lively ribbon cutting outdoors, with officials, board members, students, volunteers and teachers, Edna W. Runner led a short program to thank all who made the dream of expanding programs and services for children, families, and members of the senior community – a reality. Runner introduced Derrick Pollock, an alumni of the Center, who shared his personal story of how, as a child, the afterschool program, and Runner’s genuine caring, guided him on a positive path. The short program, emceed by Tim Byrd "The Byrdman" from True Oldies Channel 95.9, kicked off with Board Chairman Lee Owen, who welcomed guests and introduced Runner.   Guests were treated to musical performances by the students, that got the crowd dancing on their feet - and amazing food samplings, provided by Little Moir’s. Next, guests, among the first to enter, toured the refurbished, enhanced Center, to experience first-hand, improvements to the afterschool facility that include: a state-of-the-art kitchen to support cooking lessons, music instruction room and counseling room. The structure has a new roof, HVAC, added office and classroom space and more science materials and equipment. Outdoor recreation and learning spaces were increased and will now also include a new synthetic turf playground, event and sports field and regulation-length basketball court. The Simon’s Giving Garden will house a butterfly garden and provide students a natural environment to learn about healthy eating by planting, harvesting, and cooking with the seeds they will sow!  Additional parking will provide easy access to the entrance for visitors to the facility. In a vast showing of support, guests ordered recorders for the music program and too home adopted plants to help fund the new garden. To date, the $2M Capital Campaign to expand the campus and community services has raised $1.67M. Corporate and Naming opportunities are available to bridge the $320,000 capital funding gap and help the Center avoid loan interest payments. To learn more about the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center, or to make a donation, email marykay@ewrunnerctr.org, or call 561.745.0950.

2020-02-10T13:48:00-05:00 2020-02-10T13:48:00-05:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/19 Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center set to open ‘new’ doors March 13th with an invitation only event to showcase enhanced opportunities to help children succeed in school, life!   Jupiter nonprofit asks community to support ongoing capital campaign to fund, refurbish the nonprofit’s careworn facility  On March 13th, the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center will enthusiastically re-open its doors with an exciting celebration that cheers the completion of its $2 million construction project that broke ground in January 2019. The festive open house ‘Back-to-School Backyard Bash’ will reveal ‘everything-new,’ welcoming guests from 4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. and continuing until 7 p.m. with tours, music, food, drinks, activities and games for kids and adults. A short, celebratory program, with an official ‘ribbon-cutting’ ceremony, will take place at 6 p.m. Highlights on the program include a welcome and thank you from the Center’s Founder Edna Runner, and remarks from student-alumni, local government officials, volunteer tutors, and members of the Center’s Board of Directors.    When students, parents, volunteers and staff return to the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center they will find the same safe, supportive, nurturing environment they have grown accustomed to.  The Center’s careworn facilities have been expanded to enhance social opportunities for seniors and engaging learning opportunities and mentoring for elementary students along their educational journey to success. Nestled in the heart of the community at its 7187 Church Street location in Jupiter, the Center, remains as steadfast in its commitment to help all children succeed in school since it first opening its doors more than 30 years ago. But new surprises await - inside and out!   While touring, attendees who know the Center, will be pleased to find improvements to the facility such as: a state-of-the-art kitchen to support cooking lessons, music instruction room and counseling room. The structure has a new roof, HVAC, added office and classroom space and more science materials and equipment. Outdoor recreation and learning spaces were increased and will now also include a new synthetic turf playground, event and sports field and  regulation-length basketball court. The Simon’s Giving Garden will house a butterfly garden and provide students a natural environment to learn about healthy eating by planting, harvesting, and cooking with the seeds they will sow!  Additional parking will provide easy access to the entrance for visitors to the facility.  The Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center needs your help: To date, the community has successfully early commitments from generous private and business donors but still falls 20% short of reaching its $2 million goal to complete the project.  Sponsorship opportunities exist for corporations and individuals who wish to support our local community.  In addition to serving children, the Center offers extensive outreach to the senior citizen members of the community by busing them to the center to enjoy activities and holiday functions, hosted by the students, some of whom are grandchildren.  “While we still need more help, these improvements were critical. Our children need to Center to gain the skills and experience necessary in today’s competitive higher education environment.  We know our mentors help them achieve and reach their goals,” said Edna Runner, Executive Director. “We continue to be amazed by the generosity and support of the community and are so glad that people can clearly see the impact of their support.”       To  R.S.V.P. for the “Back-to-School Backyard Bash,” or make a tax-deductible donation to the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center, please call 561-907-4882    

2019-11-18T13:39:44-05:00 2020-02-10T13:39:44-05:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/18 In the coming months, the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center expects to finish an expansion project of almost $2 million for its facility on Church Street in unincorporated Jupiter.   JUPITER — The Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center is more than brick and mortar, its executive director says.   “No matter where they put us, we’re still going to be a quality after-school program,” said Edna Runner, the leader and namesake of the Limestone Creek-based non-profit.   Still, she acknowledged her volunteers and the kids they serve can’t help but look forward to the day they move into their soon-to-be-remodeled facility on Church Street.   Follow this link to read more >

2019-11-04T14:19:48-05:00 2019-11-04T14:19:48-05:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/16 Academic lessons continue even after school lets out in Jupiter's Limestone Creek community. The Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center, partners with the School District of Palm Beach County, to provide children with after-school homework help and much more. See how this not-for-profit center, and the woman for whom it is named, are helping students succeed in school and in life.   To watch the video, click here >

2019-11-04T14:19:28-05:00 2019-11-04T14:19:28-05:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/17 Santa arrives in many forms over the holiday season. In Jupiter, a local legend, fits the bill. Meet Edna Runner, a woman who has dedicated her life to tutoring disadvantaged children, and making sure that they, and their families, feel extra special over the holidays. The Center is operated by the, not-for-profit, West Jupiter Community Group.   To watch the video, click here >

2019-10-14T13:16:24-04:00 2019-10-15T13:16:24-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/15 Tequesta resident Ida Harris turned 100 years old last week. Friends, family, and local dignitaries heaped praise on her last Thursday at a birthday event hosted by the Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center.   Jupiter- Idella Simmons Harris Connaway stood up from her makeshift throne and raised her arms.   A crowd of more than 50 roared. Those who affectionately refer to Connaway as “Ms. Ida” had plenty to celebrate Thursday morning at the West Jupiter Recreation Center. It was her 100th birthday.   Friends, family and local dignitaries — Rep. Brian Mast, state Sen. Bobby Powell and county commissioner Hal Valeche among them — swapped memories and heaped praise onto Connaway, a near-lifelong resident of the Jupiter area and fixture of the community there, particularly its African-American residents.   “I remember just always her serving the community,” said 29-year-old grandson Shaheed Stone.   Click here to read more

2019-10-11T14:14:23-04:00 2019-10-14T14:14:23-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/14 JUPITER, Fla. (CBS12) — A major milestone for a pillar in our community.   A woman in Jupiter just turned 100 years old. Ida Harris was dressed to the nines in her high fashion and hat for her party.   CBS12 News photojournalist Dave Werthemeimer takes us there.   Click here to view the CBS12 news article   Click here to see a youtube video for more information

2019-06-17T12:40:50-04:00 2019-06-18T12:40:50-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/13 Article written by Anita Winkis, Quality Advisor, Prime Time Palm Beach County   As the 2018-2019 school year came to a close, I spent time with out-of-school time directors as they prepared for summer. I discovered one consistent theme among them all: OST directors LOVE summer camp.  They broke out into smiles when I asked them about  the upcoming summer months.  They enthusiastically told me about their plans and described looking forward to the end of the school year and the launch of summer camp. You would think that they would be looking forward their own rest and relaxation after their super-human efforts of running quality programs for 10 months, but no; they looked forward to spending the day with the youth in their summer camps...   Click Here to view the rest of the article

2019-04-18T14:41:22-04:00 2019-04-18T14:41:22-04:00 https://www.ewrunnerctr.org/news/detail/id/12     Click Here to View the Article