Renee Blain Named ‘Citizen of the Year’

Renee Blain said she couldn’t have been named the ’s “Citizen of the Year” without the help of her family.

Renee, her husband Wally Blain, and their daughters, Abbie and Allie, founded Clouds of Hope, a non-profit organization that provides support for organizations and groups that care for families of children with life-altering illnesses and disorders.

“This is an unbelievable honor for our whole family,” Renee said after the chamber’s 49th annual Awards and Installation Banquet Thursday evening.

Allie has idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or ITP, a condition in which the blood doesn’t clot at the levels it should. If she falls, she could bleed to death, so she can't play on typical playgrounds.

Renee initially approached the City of Temple Terrace, requesting that it install playground equipment that was adaptable for children of all abilities.

Through her efforts, the city incorporated her suggestions into planning play space for this “all-inclusive” equipment. She also organized and managed several fundraisers to secure funding for this equipment.

The playground at  was  and the larger playground at was .

Renee said Clouds of Hope is still raising money for additional elements to the Riverhills Park playground.

Renee also developed Camp CHEER in conjunction with the . The once-a-month respite care program gives children with special needs a place to have fun and be encouraged while their parents experience rest.

Additionally, Renee has been involved with the  PTA, holding a variety of offices for six years and serving as the president for two years. She devoted endless hours to engaging parents into the life of the school and working with schoolteachers and parents through transition to a new administration.

“I think it means new opportunities,” Renee said of the award. “There’s still more people out there we can help.”

See also:
Chamber Presents Awards, Installs New Leadership