POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Put some color on your bumper! Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder is happy to announce this year’s Kids Tag Art (KTA) is now on sale at www.KidsTagArt.com. Tedder encourages people to purchase these special [vanity] plates as a fundraiser for elementary art teachers.
Tag Art 2025 at Florida Southern College, Branscomb Auditorium. March 5th 2025. Photo by Calvin Knight
When a person pays for a plate, all proceeds go to the very teachers that instruct these talented young artists. KTA has raised more than $650k over the nearly two decades it’s been in practice in Polk County. Since Tedder founded the program, other tax collectors across Florida have launched their own programs, too; they have collectively raised more than $2.3 million.
On Tuesday night in Lakeland at Florida Southern College’s Branscomb Auditorium, the 2024-2025 Kids Tag Art ‘Tax Collector’s Choice’ Award was announced, recognizing Cloey Ingram of Spook Hill Elementary as this year’s recipient.
“I was moved by Cloey’s design and the vivid colors which brought to mind the history of Polk County as the citrus capital of Florida,” Tedder explained of his selection.
Two ‘Awards of Distinction’ recipients were honored from each participating school as well, plus other special sponsor awards. A photo gallery is available at this link: https://bit.ly/4ivUZe9.
KTA was created as a program through which kids can be inspired to think creatively, see the real-world art application firsthand, and learn a civics lesson.
The Office of the Tax Collector for Polk County (TCPC) thanks its KTA program sponsors: Major Sponsor Southern Homes of Polk County, Dprint, LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Florida Heart Research Foundation, Lauren’s Kids, the Florida Department of Citrus, Big 4 Radio – 97.5 WPCV and Max 98.3, Regal Lakeland Automotive Group, Tampa Electric – TECO, Bill2Pay, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, LAMAR Advertising Company, the Polk Education Foundation, SouthState Bank, the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance, First Lakeland Tag Agency, Publix Super Markets Charities, Unlimited DPI, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital/BayCare Kids, the AGB Museum of Art at Florida Southern College, Straughn Trout Architects, WBF-FM Radio 102.9, and Polk County Public Schools. 