FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Known for her passion for literacy, Teresa Rizzo was literally on fire for literacy at this year’s annual Josh Crews Gala as she fluttered about greeting guests in her flame costume.
Taking attendees to the forests of India, this year’s theme ‘The Jungle Book’ had all the makings of a wild adventure, right here in Flagler County. Transforming the Florida Cracker Ranch into the book’s setting, owner Swayne Strickland was excited to see what gala planners could come up with when offering his property for this year’s event.
A close friend of Josh Crews, the event’s namesake, Strickland was honored to honor his friend when asked.
“It was wonderful. Josh was an old friend of mine. We went to elementary school together. Loved him like a brother, so my door’s always open,” shared Strickland, pleased by the transformation for the evening. “They have done a fine job. A lot of work went into it.”
Started as a therapeutic way to process their close friend’s passing, Carla Cline and Joe Rizzo teamed up to create the Josh Crews Writing Project. The initiative offers youth grades 4-12th through their school’s writing club an opportunity to become a published author, with the annual Josh Crews Gala supporting the creation of the annual anthologies.
A natural creative, Cline is instrumental in the design and decoration of the theme’s setting each year.
“It was a massive group effort,” she said modestly, while looking back and debating which year was the best.
“That’s the hard part because then we’re like, what are we going to do next year,” pondered Cline. “The Ed Foundation is lovely to work with. Other people pick the book. They pick a theme and then you’re like, ok where in the county does that fit and then how can we pull it together and make it amazing.”
It was full on immersion in the theme, from tiki torches to the TikiTender (bartender), and there was even a live tiki wood carver. In spite of all the work, Cline says it’s worth it.
“I was able to do the radio show the other day with some of the authors and that makes the hard stuff worth all of it,” she said.
Decked out as The Jungle Book, with husband Barry as the CliffsNotes version, it was a match made in Heaven. But they weren’t the only attendees in full costume. The event offers business professionals from around town who usually spotted in suits, a chance to really cut loose and go all out for a good cause.
Emcee for the evening Jay Scherr dressed as the story’s author. As a national podcast host, Sherr interviews best-selling authors on a regular basis and knows the boost being published at a young age can provide for a student’s confidence.
“It’s amazing. Everyone deserves to find their voice and to be able to not only find it but to be able to put it down on paper and have it published, it’s pretty remarkable,” said Scherr. “What an amazing opportunity for the kids that get to participate in the Josh Crews Writing Project.”
“It’s huge in all those areas certainly, confidence boosting, being able to improve and refine their writing skills. as well. To be published at such a young age, that’s huge. You don’t find that in other areas typically, and so it really does give them a leg up.”
The Josh Crews Writing Project is overseen by the Flagler County Education Foundation, and Teresa Rizzo, the organization’s executive director, loves seeing the children and their families bonding over the program and April book launch each year.
“For a student to be able to graduate high school saying they’re a published author and put that on their college application, it’s just incredible,” said Rizzo, dressed as the Red Flower of Fire.
“It’s incredible because it’s creative writing. As a literacy teacher we always had to teach opinion writing or informational writing, and kids always wanted to write creatively. We never got that chance to give them that opportunity, and so this gives them that opportunity, especially for those kids who are a little bit quieter and so creative, they can get their thoughts down on paper, it’s just incredible.”
For more information on the Josh Crews Writing Project, visit https://www.flagleredfoundation.org/what-we-do/.
