Top schools, parishes honored for \u2018acts of mercy\u2019<\/p>\n
ST. PETERSBURG \u2014 The Diocese of St. Petersburg has honored its top schools, parishes and ministries for performing nearly 2 million \u201cActs of Mercy\u201d in 2025, a challenge inspired by the faith\u2019s Jubilee Year of Hope.<\/p>\n
The challenge invited Catholics across the diocese to intentionally live out the \u201cCorporal\u201d and \u201cSpiritual Works of Mercy\u201d and record their acts of service on Mercy2025.org<\/a>, with the collective goal of reaching 1 million \u201cActs of Mercy\u201d in one year.<\/p>\n That goal was surpassed ahead of schedule. In September \u2014 three months early \u2014 Bishop Gregory Parkes announced that the diocese had reached 1 million Acts of Mercy. By the close of the Jubilee Year on Jan. 6, the total had grown to nearly 2 million acts of service.<\/p>\n The following schools, parishes, and ministries were recognized as top contributors:<\/p>\n \u2022 Top Elementary Schools<\/p>\n Cathedral School of Saint Jude \u2014 16,829 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n Guardian Angels Catholic School \u2014 14,687 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n \u2022 Top High School<\/p>\n St. Petersburg Catholic High School \u2014 21,125 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n \u2022 Parish with Top Youth Participation<\/p>\n St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church \u2014 50,726 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n \u2022 Top Diocesan Entity<\/p>\n WBVM Spirit FM 90.5 \u2014 74,902 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n \u2022 Top \u201cSmall\u201d Parishes<\/p>\n St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church \u2014 59,556 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n St. Patrick Catholic Church (Largo) \u2014 36,176 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n \u2022 Top \u201cMedium\u201d Parishes<\/p>\n St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church \u2014 345,954 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church \u2014 309,201 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n \u2022 Top \u201cLarge\u201d Parishes<\/p>\n St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church \u2014 305,954 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church \u2014 181,296 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n \u2022 Top Overall Parish<\/p>\n St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church \u2014 345,954 Acts of Mercy<\/p>\n Janovsky Group links with Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/p>\n TAMPA \u2014 A new signature luxury real estate team has emerged across Tampa Bay with the official launch of The Nick Janovsky Group, backed by luxury real estate brokerage Premier Sotheby\u2019s International Realty.<\/p>\n The Nick Janovsky Group is intentionally structured to operate across South Tampa, St. Petersburg and the Gulf Beaches, a reflection of the way today\u2019s luxury buyers and sellers move throughout the region, the firm said in a press release. Core markets include Old Northeast, Snell Isle, Downtown St. Petersburg, Treasure Island, Pass-a-Grille, St. Pete Beach, Palma Ceia, Hyde Park and the Keystone\/Odessa corridor.<\/p>\n The Nick Janovsky Group is comprised of four seasoned Premier Sotheby\u2019s International Realty advisors, each living and working within their respective territory to provide true hyper-local expertise. This structure is supported by centralized leadership, elevated marketing and consistent execution under the direction of Nick Janovsky, whose record-setting sales and notable transactions have helped shape the region\u2019s luxury market.<\/p>\n Collectively, the group\u2019s advisors represent nearly $500 million in lifetime sales, delivering institutional-level expertise to buyers, sellers and global relocation customers. Through Premier Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\u2019s national and international reach, the group provides sophisticated advisory services and best-in-class marketing for luxury, waterfront and complex transactions.<\/p>\n Janovsky is the No. 1 volume producer at Premier Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\u2019s St. Petersburg office for the fifth consecutive year and has closed more than $200 million in personal sales in his first nine years in real estate. His career includes the highest sale in Pinellas County, the highest sale ever recorded in St. Pete Beach and Pass-a-Grille, and multiple neighborhood price records throughout Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n The team of global real estate advisors includes Lisa Farmer, specializing in Pasadena Yacht & Country Club, the beaches and Downtown St. Petersburg, Jessica Denig, focused on Pinellas Point and St. Petersburg\u2019s luxury waterfront and condominium markets, and Jen Dunn, serving South Tampa, Palma Ceia, Hyde Park and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n Duke foundation launches grant opportunity for Florida nonprofits<\/p>\n ST. PETERSBURG \u2014 In honor of America\u2019s upcoming 250th anniversary, the Duke Energy Foundation is inviting qualified nonprofits in Florida to apply for America250 grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. The enterprise request for proposals (RFP) opened Jan. 12 and will fund projects that demonstrate local impact and alignment with spirit of the Foundation\u2019s America250 core themes, including:<\/p>\n \u2022 Careers for veterans: Workforce development programs that help veterans transition to civilian careers.<\/p>\n \u2022 Sharing the American story: Local history projects, public exhibits, preservation of historic sites, educational programming, or field trips that celebrate America\u2019s founding and ideals.<\/p>\n \u2022 Care for our country: Community cleanups, park revitalizations, public landscaping, or improvements to shared green spaces.<\/p>\n Eligible applicants are qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Duke Energy Florida communities.<\/p>\n Deadline to apply is Feb. 20. Interested nonprofits should title their application \u201cAmerica250: [Insert description of the request].\u201d<\/p>\n Visit the Duke Foundation website to learn more or apply.<\/p>\n USF speeds past peers in new research rankings<\/p>\n TAMPA \u2014 A newly released research ranking is reinforcing the University of South Florida\u2019s standing as one of the country\u2019s top institutions, while also showing research at USF is growing at a faster rate than most peers in higher education.<\/p>\n According to a new National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey, USF ranks No. 47 among the nation\u2019s 422 reporting public universities based on research activity, up two spots from the previous year. USF is No. 69 out of more than 900 public and private institutions \u2014 up from No. 75 in fiscal year 2023. USF ranks No. 2 among Florida\u2019s public universities.<\/p>\n USF\u2019s $522 million spent on research in fiscal year 2024 is a $61 million increase over the previous year. More than half of those expenditures came from dollars awarded by federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Defense and National Science Foundation. USF\u2019s 13% year-over-year growth rate is higher than 90% of members of the Association of American Universities. Over the past two years, USF\u2019s research spending has increased by nearly 29%.<\/p>\n HERD rankings are based on research expenditures \u2014 the amount of funding universities spend \u2014 rather than the total value of grants awarded. Awards reflect the most recently completed fiscal year, while expenditures come from the prior cycle.<\/p>\n Research that falls under the category of Computer and Information Sciences experienced the greatest gains among all disciplines, climbing 26 spots since the 2022 HERD survey to No. 25 among public universities, with $25.3 million in research expenditures. The growth reflects the rapid trajectory of faculty research in the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing.<\/p>\n Single-day tickets available for Firestone Grand Prix<\/p>\n ST. PETERSBURG \u2014 Single-day tickets to the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online at gpstpete.com<\/a> for the 22nd annual running of the iconic event Feb. 27-March 1.<\/p>\n The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will bring fans three full days of family fun and nonstop racing action with seven total races from five different racing series. Daily general admission tickets are $30 for Friday, $55 for Saturday and $70 for Sunday. Single Day Grandstand tickets are $135 for Silver and $110 for Bronze seating. Junior pricing is available for attendees ages 12 and under.<\/p>\n