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Free Internet Safety Workshops for the 50+ Adult Community From the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

Workshops, Funded Through a $25,000 Grant from the Verizon Foundation, to be Held in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota

Sarasota, Fla. – (March 12, 2009) The University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee will host a series of free Internet Safety workshops this spring designed specifically for computer users in the 50+ adult community. The hands-on workshops will take place at various locations in Bradenton and Sarasota in April and May.

The workshops, funded through a $25,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation, will be held to educate people ages 50+ about potential online risks such as credit card and computer fraud, banking transactions and identity theft.


The workshops will be held at the following locations:

  • Monday, April 13 – 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Renaissance on 9th, 1816 9th Street West in Bradenton. The topic will be identity theft.
  • Monday, April 20 – 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at FCCI, 6300 University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch. The topic will be online banking.
  • Monday, April 27 – 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. The topic will be credit card fraud.
  • Monday, May 4 – 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Senior Friendship Center, 1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota. The topic will be identity theft.
  • Friday, May 8 – 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at Selby Library, 1331 1st St. in Downtown Sarasota. The topic will be online banking.
  • Monday, May 11 – 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at Renaissance on 9th, Bradenton. The topic will be online banking.
  • Monday, May 18 – 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at Renaissance on 9th, Bradenton. The topic will be credit card fraud.


USF Sarasota-Manatee faculty will lead the workshops and provide in-depth information for computer users on many key Internet Safety issues.

“The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee is excited to be partnering with Verizon to conduct important hands-on workshops in the community,” Dr. Arthur Guilford, vice president and CEO, USF Sarasota-Manatee. “The workshops will be offered in both spring and fall. We are very committed to helping educate our local community on a variety of topics at all age levels.”

USF Sarasota-Manatee and the Verizon Foundation announced the grant and planned workshops on Feb. 19th at an Internet Safety Forum in Sarasota.

“Providing a safe online environment for families, particularly the 50-plus adult community, is a priority for Verizon,” said Michelle A. Robinson, Verizon’s Southeast region president. “We are proud to partner with the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, and other state and local leaders to bring this valuable information to the community.”

Those interested in learning more about the upcoming workshops, should contact Barb Bainbridge, development director, USF Sarasota-Manatee, at 941-359-4737 or bbainbridge@sar.usf.edu

Verizon is engaged in Internet safety on multiple fronts. The company provides customers with an industry-leading slate of online cyber-security tools and education programs to empower all users. Verizon offers a suite of computer security programs that can keep your computer, information and family safe from online threats, including viruses and spyware. Those resources and others, including free parental controls, can be found at http://parentalcenter.verizon.radialpoint.net/.