Release Date – Friday, July 30, 2021:
Joe G. Tedder, Tax Collector for Polk County, is proud to announce the Kids Tag Art (KTA) Program, an art fundraising program which originated in Polk County, just surpassed the $1.5 Million milestone in funds raised across the state of Florida in the 2020-2021 school year, punctuating the completion of the programs fifteenth year. Statewide, the program is currently in 15 counties with interest in the program continuing to grow every year.
To date, the Kids Tag Art program in Polk County has created over 58,000 pieces of artwork through the annual participation of public, private, and charter schools. Additionally, the Kids Tag Art program surpassed the $500,000 mark this past school year in Polk County. At the July 27, 2021 Polk County Public Schools board meeting, Joe G. Tedder and team presented a check to the school board in the amount of $40,779 which brought the grand total of funds raised for arts education in Polk County to $502,392. Joe G. Tedder said, It is amazing the Kids Tag Art program is making this kind of impact in Polk County and across the state. I am thrilled for our educators, students and the many community partners that have played a major role in the program since its inception.
The Kids Tag Art program continues to inspire fifth graders throughout the county in innovative thinking and creative problem solving, all while students design their own specialty vanity license plate. With the support of teachers, family, local business sponsors, and the community, Polk County public, private, and charter schools were able to sell the tag art at www.KidsTagArt.com, with all proceeds going back into the classroom for arts education.
Continuing their support as the founding, major sponsor for the Kids Tag Art program is Southern Homes of Polk County. Greg Masters, President of Southern Homes of Polk County had this to say, In the building industry, creativity, problem-solving and innovation is critical to our success. I have always felt the arts can provide an outstanding foundation for those skills; I know it did for me. This is why we are proud to support the Kids Tag Art program.
In addition to major sponsor, Southern Homes of Polk County, the Kids Tag Art program is supported by various local businesses and organizations including:D-print, Bartow Ford, LEGOLAND, Florida, Big 4 Radio 97.5 WPCV and Max 98.3, Lauren’s Kids, Bill2Pay, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, LAMAR Advertising Company, Polk Education Foundation, Florida Heart Research Foundation, South State Bank, Polk Arts Alliance, Publix Super Market Charities, Unlimited DPI, Polk County Public Schools, Polk Museum of Art and the Tax Collector for Polk County.
For those interested in supporting the Kids Tag Art program through the purchase of a vanity license plate, visit www.KidsTagArt.com to access vanity license plates from students for the current and past year.
For more information, please go to www.PolkTaxes.com.
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About the Office of Joe G. Tedder, Tax Collector for Polk County, Florida
Joe G. Tedder is elected by the people of Polk County to serve as their Tax Collector. The Office of Tax Collector is provided in Florida Constitution to serve in the state political subdivisions known as counties. The Tax Collector Office for Polk County has service centers in Bartow, Lakeland, Davenport, and Lake Wales. The Tax Collector Office serves over 720,000 residents in Polk County, offering services such as: Driver licenses and identification cards; motor vehicle registrations, decals, license plates, titles and disabled person parking placards; real estate and tangible personal property taxes; county local business taxes; tourist development taxes; concealed weapons license applications and renewals; and other services.