Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation presents more than $1.6 million in grants to serve at-risk children in Southwest Florida

Apr 9, 2025 4 min read

The Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation has awarded over $1.6 million in grants to six designated charities of the 23rd annual Nichols Cup tournaments and auction gala, bringing its total fundraising to date to $20 million for children’s charities in Southwest Florida.

“This milestone reflects not just the success of our events but the heart and commitment of our board members, volunteers and Fiddlesticks residents,” said Bryan Simmering, president of the Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation. “Their generosity over the years has allowed us to touch countless lives and transform our vision for Nichols Cup into a reality for local children in need.”

Since 2002, Nichols Cup has supported local children’s charities in helping more than 100,000 abused and neglected children. Funds from this year’s event were distributed at Fiddlestick’s annual Piper’s Meeting on March 25 among the foundation’s two primary charity partners, Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida and Abuse Counseling & Treatment, and additional beneficiaries Blessings in a Backpack, Liberty Youth Ranch, Pace Center for Girls, Lee and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice.

The foundation’s first and primary charity partners, Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida and Abuse Counseling and Treatment, were each awarded $575,000. The Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida aims to provide a coordinated response to child victims of abuse and neglect and improve the lives of at-risk children and their families through prevention services. Abuse Counseling and Treatment supports victims of domestic violence and their children, along with survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking in Lee, Hendry and Glades counties.

Blessings in a Backpack received a $175,000 grant to support its ongoing mission in Southwest Florida. With the funds, the nonprofit provides backpacks filled with kid-friendly, ready-to-eat food items to more than 1,200 underserved children at Colonial Elementary and James Stephens Elementary to take home every weekend during the school year. Liberty Youth Ranch, a charitable residential program based in Bonita Springs, received a $140,000 donation. The long-term children’s residential group home provides a safe home, education and family to abused, neglected and homeless children.

The foundation awarded a grant of $56,000 to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, to support its Anti-Human Trafficking Program. Serving 10 counties in Southwest Florida, the program provides intensive case management and mental health counseling to victims of severe human trafficking as they attempt to integrate into society after being rescued. Pace Center for Girls of Lee County also received a $56,000 grant to support its Reach Program. Through Pace Lee, Reach therapists bring mental health support directly to girls ages 11 to 17, meeting them in their local schools, within their communities, or even at home at no cost to families.

Founded by longtime Fiddlesticks resident Bobby Nichols, winner of 14 PGA Tour tournaments, the PGA recognizes the Nichols Cup golf tournament as one of the most successful community sponsored pro-am tournaments in the U.S. For 23 years, Nichols Cup has transformed into a four-day fundraising event that includes tennis and pickleball tournaments, a neighborhood fundraiser, an auction gala, and culminates in a pro-am golf tournament.

To learn more about the Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation, email info@nicholscup.org or visit NicholsCup.org.

About Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation

The Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation was founded in 2002 by a group of Fiddlesticks members, known as Pipers, who volunteer to organize and run the annual Nichols Cup Pro-Am Golf & Tennis Tournaments. The annual tournament recognizes the contributions and accomplishments of golfer Bobby Nichols, a longtime resident of Fiddlesticks and winner of 14 PGA Tour tournaments including the 1964 PGA Championship and 1974 Canadian Open. Since the formation of the Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation 23 years ago, more than $20 million has been donated to local children’s charities. To learn more, visit NicholsCup.org or call 239-633-4579.