Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation funds endowment at Florida Southwestern State College
Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation (FMBCF) came together for the final meeting of the season last month under the co-presidency of Nancy Bouchard and Kelly Smith. Under their joint leadership, the organization has evolved and grown, enabling the group to provide greater and more varied assistance to meet the needs of the Fort Myers Beach community and the changing times. This was accomplished during the Covid pandemic, not an easy task, but one that required a high level of creative leadership, which the two women successfully provided.
During the Bouchard-Smith tenure, revisions were made to the FMBCF mission statement and by-laws to provide a clear vision for the group and enable it to better serve the community. A permanent scholarship endowment was created and assistance made available to all ages and for non-traditional students. Over the last two years, the FMBCF has given away $134,000 to the Fort Myers Beach community, providing support to a variety of groups and organizations.
The creation and sale of #WeAreFMB merchandise has helped to support the area’s hospitality workers who suffered financial hardship during the early days of the pandemic. Thanks to our volunteers and Barefoot Event Group’s Janeen Paulauskis, in 2022, the first-ever #WeAreFMB Live! concert series was a great success.
At the meeting, some of the groups receiving donations included Choice Market, St. Vincent de Paul, God’s Table, Beach Elementary PTO, The Mound House, Edison Sailing Center, Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center, Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, Lovers Key Summer Camp, Turtle Time, Fort Myers Beach Art Association, Fort Myers Beach Film Festival, Estero Island Historic Society and the Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation (FSW) for the FMBCF scholarship endowment.
The group was proud to present a check in the amount of $16,000 to Heather Chester, from the Florida SouthWestern College Foundation, to fund a permanent endowment for scholarships. The FMBCF initiated the endowment and funded it with $50,000 in less than two years under the leadership of Bouchard and Smith.
The President’s Award was presented to Mary Louise Bauman, who as the head of the Scholarship Committee has worked tirelessly to promote all forms of education, identify those who would benefit from a scholarship and inform the community that the funds are available. In the fall, the FMBCF will assist 13 scholarship recipients.
Each year the FMBCF members vote to select and recognize a member who has made significant contributions to the group. The Star Award for 2022 was presented to Co-President Kelly Smith. Smith has helped organize and participate in nearly every fundraising and service project for the FMBCF. The popular cookbook she created with the talents of Sandy Sandness has provided funds that are put back into the community. Kelly was also on the front lines of the #WeAreFMB gift card distribution, helping the island’s workers by providing gift cards for groceries.
A special recognition was given to the Island Pancake House, the gracious hosts of the FMBCF membership meetings. That evening they set up the restaurant for an early Cinco de Mayo celebration and served a Mexican-themed dinner of fish tacos, rice and beans and flan cake.
The FMBCF presented the new slate of officers for the upcoming year.
The new slate is:
Directors: President Robin Bush, Vice President Paula Smith, Treasurer Patti Coleman and Secretary Robin Nuccio;
Board Members: Julie Fite, Jessica Hernstadt, Susan Krajewski, Jane McClosky, Kelly Smith and Mary Wright.
For more information about the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation, visit FMBCommunityFoundation.com or email FMBCFCommunications@gmail.com.