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'Jailbirds' Wing It For Jerry's Kids

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By BOB FRYER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 13, 2008

CARROLLWOOD - Tough economic times did not stop a group of "jailbirds," including a couple of cops, from doing their best to make things easier for Jerry's Kids.

Business professionals in the Carrollwood and Town 'N Country area were accused of having big hearts and tossed into a rather comfortable jail on Aug. 6, where they did not-so-hard time raising bail. Carrabba's restaurant at 11435 N. Dale Mabry Highway served as the hoosegow. Carrabba's staff also served breakfast and lunch to the folks in lock-up.

Most had no idea who turned them in but were not in the least upset about securing their freedom by tapping friends, family members and co-workers for donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

"It's a good experience and for a good cause," said Tom Russell, manager of the Publix supermarket on Hillsborough Avenue in Town 'N Country. A repeat offender - this was his second time in MDA jail - Russell brought his sons, Austin, 13, and Brandon, 8, with him. They watched as their dad called a lot of other Publix folks and asked them to help bail him out.

"I remember as a little kid watching the Jerry Lewis telethon, and it seems like they do a lot of good," he said.

Two years ago, when Russell was a rookie jailbird, raising money was easy. This time he felt he was doing well but said the faltering economy made the task harder.

Fellow jailbird Sandy Ward, human resources manager with Cemex in Tampa, was among many of the inmates who agreed with Russell. "It's a little tougher for a lot of people," she said. "But I was up to $1,420 last time I checked."

While the Jerry Lewis Telethon every Labor Day weekend is the MDA's best known fundraiser, the lock-up program also brings in significant money for the association.

Sherry Yagovane, district director of the Tampa MDA office, said about five times a year, in communities throughout Hillsborough and Polk counties, business professionals are rounded up, given a limo ride to and from "jail" and asked to raise money for Jerry's Kids. Generally the participants are only in lock-up for about an hour. Prior to the day of their arrest, MDA staffers assist the jailbirds in developing contact lists and with other tips to help them bring in the bucks. Yagovane said last year's jail event at Carrollwood raised about $35,000 for MDA and, in spite of a sluggish economy, she was hoping this year's event would top that. It didn't, but Yagovane said the event nearly matched last year's total.

About 60 jailbirds participated in last Wednesday's fundraiser.

A waiter already had brought warm bread and seasoned oil to Jason Ashton's "cell" - a comfortable booth at the restaurant - as he settled in to begin soliciting donations. But Ashton, general manager of salesgenie.com, a company providing sales and marketing information and database services, was ahead of the game. "One hundred percent of what I've raised was through online efforts. I probably have more e-mail contacts than phone contacts."

Tampa police Sgt. Ruben Delgado and Capt. Sal Ruggiero did not seem to mind their inmate status as they called fellow officers and other contacts to raise money. Both were first-time MDA jailbirds.

Two-time offenders Aleisha Linck and Natalia Lavallee, who both work at Independent Living, a pediatric clinic on Gunn Highway in Citrus Park, shared a table with first-time offender-fundraiser Evelyn Green, who manages the Big Lots store on Gunn Highway.

Lavallee said it was easier to raise money the first year she was a jailbird. "This year it has taken more time. The economy is an issue."

Linck agreed but said that because the clinic offers in-home services to a lot of patients, many with muscular dystrophy, it is good motivation for them to try to help.

"Last year, we raised $2,000, and we hope for more this year. We're happy to do it," she said.

Judith Bagshaw, office manager of Gulfcoast Oncology on Habana Avenue, and co-worker Nora Rivera, who handles patient referrals at Gulfcoast, both said a lot of the people they called were surprised by their participation - because of their occupations.

"Most people we contact wonder why we are doing this, because we're talking to people who have dealt with cancer in their family and have contributed to the cancer cause. But they have been good to respond," Bagshaw said.

Rivera pointed out that making a lot of calls before their day of lock-up helped them generate donations.

"I am glad I did this. It is a very worthwhile cause," Bagshaw said. "Anytime you help a child, it's a very good cause. Whatever I come up with is more than they had before."

Reporter Bob Fryer can be reached at (813) 865-1510 or bfryer@tampatrib.com.

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