Centerline supports Building the Future Foundation, which is a 501C3 certified non-profit organization, established in 2009, which focuses on community service, education, nation building, environmental awareness and spiritual growth. Our vision is to contribute to the formation and development of society by empowering students and partners to engage in social transformation. www.buildingthefuturefoundation.org
Centerline Services personnel and key members of the foundation traveled to Cartagena, Colombia along with a group of volunteers. The first place visited was the the school that we sponsor, Arroyo de Piedra, where we delivered an informational and interactive workshop to 80+ students and staff, regarding environmental awareness, the importance of solidarity and social service. After this, we all went to the beach where we collected 2 tons of garbage which included items such as: bottle caps, plastic bags, soda cans, toothbrushes, etc. The project made a significant psycho-social impact on the community as a whole and a betterment to the environment.
Furthermore, our foundation and partners have planned, organized and hosted over 50 fund raiser events with an average of 50+ people per event, during the past 10 years in support of the following projects which include, but are not limited to: Building Libraries in Colombia, Renovating Sports Fields for Schools, Beach Clean-Ups, Performing Eye Exams for Children, Student Interchange Programs, Supporting His House Children’s Foster Home, Serving meals to the homeless at Camillus House and Offering Seminars to the Public.
The creation of the foundation was inspired by Kenneth Plotkin’s encounters with spiritual masters and professors dedicated to serving humanity through their school, Institución Educativa Ramon Messa Londoño In Quimbaya, Colombia. Since then, Kenneth has been joined by his wife, sister, mother, nieces and many other family members and friends, on this quest to making the world a better place.
In addition, Centerline is supporting Graffiti Artist Juan Pablo Almonacid’s efforts to beautify McCollum Hall in coordination with the Fort Myers Mural Society of Lee County.
During its heyday, McCollum Hall was considered the jewel of the Dunbar business community. The two-story 10,000-square-foot Art Deco building was part of the “Chitlin’ Circuit in the 1930s and ‘40s” and the second-floor dance hall hosted such internationally renowned musicians as Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, B.B. King, Lionel Hampton, Otis Redding, Lucky Milliner and Duke Ellington and his orchestra. During performances, area residents would gather in the parking lot, affectionately named Buck’s Backyard, where they would play along with the musicians inside on slap boxes, harmonicas and other instruments, eat barbeque, drink beer and smoke cigars.
The mural project will be painted on seventeen concrete panels on the eight-foot-tall wall that separates McCollum Hall from the residential neighborhood just to the north. Almonicid and Schlake were chosen from a field of nine applicants by a gold star five-member selection committee who scored the artists’ submissions on the basis of originality, technical ability, visibility by motorists passing by on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, style and how well their designs express the Buck’s Backyard theme.
Centerline also supports Middle Georgia Power Youth Football Team, a proud organization dedicated to nurturing young athletes and instilling values of teamwork, discipline, and community spirit. 8U, 10U, and 12U travel football teams have earned the incredible opportunity to compete for the national championship title in Panama City, Florida in 2024. We are thrilled to share that all our age groups have remained undefeated throughout the season and were recently awarded the Southern United Northern Division 2024 titles, while our 6U group proudly finished as runners-up. Our players have consistently excelled both on and off the field, demonstrating hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship. These players represent the future of our community, with aspirations to shine on local high school teams such as Perry High, Warner Robins High, and Houston County High. Their success today lays the foundation for their achievements tomorrow, and our support plays a pivotal role in their journey.
