Beach Kids Foundation award scholarships, plan Christmas Gala
The Beach Kids Foundation has been busy this summer – awarding scholarships, planning for this year’s Golden Coconuts Award and working on the first Spirit of the Holidays Christmas Gala since COVID-19 forced the popular event into a two-year hiatus.
“We are proud to announce that we had 16 applicants for our Foundation scholarships this year and all 16 were awarded $1,000 each,” said Foundation President Linda Beasley. “These funds can be applied to the students’ university or business school, and we have Beach Kids attending schools from nearby Florida SouthWestern University to as far away as Arizona State. Four of our kids are even continuing on to graduate school.”
Scholarship recipients
This year’s scholarship recipients are:
– Madison Tezak
– Arden Fancher
– Cameron Fancher
– Annelisa Swiersz
– Bobbi Leonard
– Kailyn Haataja
– Keara Haataja
– Bridget Myers
– Katrina Schiel
– Ben Faircloth
– Kacie Faircloth
– Victoria Weeg
– Sydney Schiel
– Emma Stam
– Riley Catlett
– Joseph Didier
Golden Coconut Award
The Beach Kids Foundation is next looking forward to selecting a year for this year’s Golden Coconut Award sometime next month at a ceremony held at Beach Elementary School.
“We started giving this award back in 1990 as a way to honor our local teachers,” Beasley said. The idea for the award came about one afternoon as board members discussed Lee County’s Golden Apple award and how to bring an honor like that to island teachers. “The kids love it,” she said. “Before we announce the winner, we read a bio of the teacher and they always figure it out and start saying the teachers’ name before we’re through.”
Return of the Spirit of the Holidays Christmas Gala
Beasley announced the return of the Spirit of the Holidays Christmas Gala. The gala, which sells out every year, will be held Dec. 2 at DiamondHead Beach Resort.
The gala features a delicious dinner in a holiday setting where participants bid on gifts donated by local businesses – everything from spa treatments to 3-day night stays at local resorts – with all the proceeds going to benefit local kids. “We were forced to put the event on hold during the pandemic, but this year it’s coming back and we are all very excited,” she said.
Ticket sales start on October 15. The foundation is also planning a pancake breakfast with the Fort Myers Beach fire department and delivering holiday presents to island families on the fire truck.
“Stay tuned for more details on these events and more,” said Beasley. “It is so wonderful to work with this community helping our beach kids. We know that everyone is ready to get out and celebrate – so are we.”