Every year, Battle of the Minds offers fabulous silent and live auctions, a gourmet dinner, and a competitive trivia challenge game where teams compete for the coveted Mastermind Cup. Will your team win this year? SPONSORSHIPS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. Click here for a downloadable sponsorship form.

Our auction committee has been able to secure two brand new auction items for the tenth anniversary of Battle of the Minds:  an African Photo Safari for two and a John Kelly Band Concert for 80.

I’m a teacher and I love what I do. My students inspire me and give me joy on a daily basis. And on occasion, there are moments so meaningful that a warmth consumes me and emblazons an unforgettable feeling to be cherished forever. Today was one of those days, but the glow came from an unexpected source.

Today, I volunteered with Shorecrest middle division colleagues at the Beacon House, a transitional shelter for homeless men that provides dinner to anyone in the community. We waited tables, prepared food, and adorned the room with student-made holiday decorations that included edible ginger bread houses, table runners, and repurposed plastic bottles turned Christmas trees.

I was stationed in the dining room, greeting guests and serving food. Immediately, I was humbled by their politeness and gratitude. Every plate I served or glass I offered to refill was followed by a heartfelt, “Thank you.” Repeatedly, I was told how appreciative they were and how wonderful the food tasted. One gentleman in particular, Rick, responded to my queries in the most engaging way which led to a very rewarding conversation.

It began when I asked Rick how the food tasted and then followed it up with a toungue-in-cheek “And how about my singing?” (we had just finished a six-song set of Christmas Carols that I had more than likely butchered 80% of). “It was horrible,” he said with a straight face that quickly turned to a smirk. “I’m just kidding,” he assured me as I complimented him on his wry humor. He then commented on how pleased he was with the end of the Iraq War and from there we talked about Afghanistan, Vietnam, his childhood horse, Betsy, and watching golf on television. I was so engaged in the conversation that I didn’t even notice that the group was leaving until I was tapped on the shoulder as my colleagues were walking out the door.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines beacon as a source of light or inspiration. My experience at the Beacon House was more than inspirational. I was genuinely touched by the warmth, gratitude and politeness displayed by the men and women I was so fortunate to spend time with today. I am still glowing, consumed by an unforgettable feeling and I’ll be going back for more — soon.

Jeff Diedrich
Assistant Director of Athletics
Physical Education Department Chair
Boys’ Varsity Soccer Head Coach
Shorecrest Preparatory School

“I am extraordinarily excited to be joining the St. Petersburg Free Clinic as its Executive Director. The mission of providing for basic unmet needs is near to my heart. It is often said that there is a place for everyone at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic — those who care and those who need care. After years of being a donor, volunteer and Board Member, I am happy to find a new place for myself at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic,” said Ms. Houghton.

Beth has served on the Board of Directors of the Free Clinic for six years and for the last two years was Chair of the Board. She is also a weekly volunteer who packs groceries for individuals and families in need. She holds a JD with highest honors from the Stetson University College of Law and an MBA from the Tulane University Graduate School of Business.

Previously Ms. Houghton was Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel of All Children’s Health System and is Vice-President of Houghton-Wagman Enterprises, Inc. A familiar volunteer in the community, she currently serves as Treasurer for the Foundation for International Missions and has personally taken 15 mission trips to the medical health clinic in Honduras. She has served on the Hospital Board of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in a variety of roles including Board chair. She is a member of First Presbyterian Church and Board Chair Emeriti of Great Explorations.

The St. Petersburg Free Clinic, for forty-one years, has provided temporary assistance to individuals and families in the community who are in need of health care, food, and shelter. The programs of the Free Clinic include Free Clinic Food Bank, Free Clinic We Help Services, Free Clinic Health Center, Free Clinic Women’s Residence, and Free Clinic Beacon House.

St. Petersburg Free Clinic sponsors several activities for both our shelter programs as well as for the community. At the present time, we are focusing on providing Thanksgiving dinners for 400 clients through We Help Services. Links are provided that show all the holiday activities we sponsor, as well as food donations needed for the holidays and for the time between holidays.

We thank you for your support of people in need in our community.

Click here to download a spreadsheet of Free Clinic holiday activities.

Click here to download a pdf of food donations needed for the holidays.

Click here to download a pdf of food donations needed for the time between the holidays.

Seventy physicians and nurses treat 6,500 people a year, and they’re predicting more this year.

Patients are treated with anything from high blood pressure to diabetes.

Click here to see the Fox 13 News Report.

Wilson will be joined on stage by his older brothers, Paul, owner of a St. Pete-based advertising agency, WILSONMedia (www.wilsonmedia.tv), and Mark, anchor/reporter for WTVT FOX 13. Broadway actor/singer Matt Stocke and several local friends will round out the band known as Van Wilson (www.vanwilsonband.com), aptly-named, as the brothers are known for performing Van Halen tunes in addition to some other rock classics.

“It’s a great opportunity to give something back,” says Patrick, whose busy schedule shooting A Gifted Man limits his trips to the Bay area. “We’ve known of the great work the Free Clinic has been doing for years in St. Pete and we’re happy to be able to help them and have a little fun at the same time jamming to music we grew up with.”

Eldest Wilson brother Paul says they enjoy making the most of their limited time together. “Family reunions for us are usually loud, “ Paul says. “Some families have picnics, we have jam sessions.” Paul, Mark and Patrick are the sons to veteran FOX 13 news anchorman, John Wilson, and Mary K. Wilson, a renowned voice teacher and musician. While their parents have performed locally together in the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years, the Wilson brothers have played only a handful of times together publicly. In 2010, Van Wilson performed for the St. Petersburg-based Sunscreen Film Festival and their holiday jam December raised more than $3000 for All Children’s Hospital.

Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter John Kelly (www.johnkelly.biz) and the John Kelly Band will also perform some of their originals. Kelly owns and manages St. Petersburg’s Hideaway Café (www.hideawaycafe.biz) on Central Avenue, an ORIGINAL music cafe and production studio which showcases a variety of local and national talent and also regularly hosts charitable events.