#FMB4PULSE benefit at The Cottage all day Saturday
Having been in the works since a day after the tragic event in June, the staff of The Cottage and Gulfshore Grill is hosting an all-day benefit Saturday, July 30, for the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting and their families, at the 1250 Estero Blvd. establishment.
“I can’t believe it’s less than a week away!” said Roxanne Jakaitis, general manager of The Cottage. “The awesome response from this community amazes me every time we do something like this.”
Live music will reign from the stage from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, and the full schedule includes: Bobby Blakey; 1 to 2:30 p.m.; The Side Project, 3 to 4:30 p.m.; Cross Eyed Chicks, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; The New Vinyls, 7 to 8:30 p.m.; and The Trio, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
“Donations for prizes such as hotel/resort stays, restaurant gift certificates, golf outings, wine dinners and many more have been showing up on a daily basis,” Roxanne said. “It’s refreshing to know that there are so many givers in this crazy world we live in.”
Raffle ticket sales will begin around 1 p.m. that afternoon, with the first giveaway drawings starting at about 3 p.m. Also taking place Saturday is the memorial service for island local and humanitarian Bruce Cermak (see page 15). In order to allow time for islanders to attend both events, the times have been pushed back a bit at The Cottage benefit.
“When we picked the date and began promoting for this benefit, our dear friend, Bruce, was still alive, and to honor him, we will wait until a little later to really start the party,” Roxanne said. “It’ll be quite an emotional day, but Bruce would want us to continue on with our fund-raising plans, so that’s what we will do.”
Roxanne is also happy to offer additional fun events throughtout the day during the benefit, including a face-painting table and peace-sign arts and crafts from 1 to 4 p.m. for the kids.
And, with the recent tragic shooting in Fort Myers, The Cottage is doing their part to contribute. “After hearing the devastating news of the mass shooting that occurred in our own backyard early Monday morning, we decided to donate 20 percent of the money we raise Saturday to the ‘Together Fort Myers’ fund, in hopes of helping the surviving victims, as well as the families of the two young men who lost their lives way too soon,” Roxanne said.
For further information on the upcoming benefit concert at The Cottage, call 239-765-5440.