With a grant from the Pilot International Foundation and matching funds raised by the Pilot Club and Foundation of Ft. Myers Beach, $5000 was presented to the Lee County Sheriff’s Department for use in the Project Lifesaver program.

West District Command’s Captain Matt Powell and Crime Prevention specialist Michelle Sargis accepted the check from Pilot President Donna Raymond at the Town Hall Meeting held on March 19. Project Lifesaver is part of the signature focus of Pilot International on brain disorders, prevention and awareness.

Clients of the Lifesaver program wear a personalized wristband. It emits a tracking signal that relies on proven radio technology and search and rescue teams whom the Sheriff’s Department specially trains. Caregivers of Alzheimer patients or people suffering from Downs Syndrome, autism or other mentally dysfunctional disorders notify the Sheriff’s Department that the person is missing. The rescue team responds and searches with the mobile locater tracking system. Search times have been reduced from days and hours to an average of less than 30 minutes.

With the government mandated recent changes in the frequencies of the wristbands the Lee County Sheriff’s Department must replace approximately 22 wristbands at a cost of $275 each. This donation enables the replacement of these outdated wristbands.

The Beach chapter of Pilot supports many local causes including BrainMinder programs at Beach Elementary School, Beach Library Senior programs, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Keep Lee County Beautiful and Ostego Bay Foundation. These projects and the Pilot Scholarship House at FGCU will be the beneficiaries of funds raised at the annual fashion show to be held this Saturday at South Beach Grill.

For information on the Club’s activities and meetings please contact Donna Raymond at 463-1839.