KIDS TAG ART PROGRAM DELIVERS SMILES AND FUNDS TO OKALOOSA COUNTY SCHOOLS

Okaloosa County Tax Collector Ben Anderson was joined by Superintendent Marcus Chambers and Sheriff Eric Aden in presenting certificates to Award of Distinction winners before the School Board meeting Monday night during the Kids Tag Art program presentation.
The Kids Tag Art program is a partnership with the Tax Collector’s Office and the School District. The program started in 2013 and has contributed $119,786.26 to participating schools.  As an art project, this program gives students a chance to create their own specialty license plate. As a fundraiser, those student-created plates can be purchased by parents and the proceeds from school sales stay in that school. Combining in-school sales and local sponsorships, the Kids Tag Art program earned $16,591.06 this year.  
  Tax Collector Ben Anderson says, “This is non-tax generated revenue and comes at a time when money for art curriculum is hard to find.” Sponsor dollars for the Kids Tag Art program are divided equally among participating schools through the Okaloosa Public Education Foundation. This year, those schools received checks for $1,200.00 each. Anderson said the program is so successful this year because of the parents and families who purchase their students’ tags and because of our sponsor, The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.   Complete list of Award of Distinction winners:

Bluewater: Layla Whitley Madison Cole	Edge: Gabe Maconi	Elliott Point: Ashley Kochan Ian Homandberg	Kenwood: Lilly Sailer
Lewis: Brianna Sierra Braydon Hope	Northwood: Liliana Allen Kayla Duarte	Plew: Tenley Dempsey Lilly Warrington	Riverside: Damir Donaldson Camila Gaviria
Shalimar: Ella Phillips Emma Torres	Silver Sands: Anna Walters Avy Reyes-Fajardo	Walker: Lilly Blair Carley Odom
Tax Collector’s Choice: Julian Rivers (Lewis) Sheriff’s Choice: Emma Amador (Riverside) Superintendent’s Choice: Camila Gaviria (Riverside)