Chamber golfers go to bat for little league
Beach children will be the main beneficiaries of an annual event of the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce this Saturday.
While kids are swinging baseball bats and gearing up for the upcoming season, golfers will be swinging clubs and woods to benefit the Fort Myers Beach Little League (sporty children) and the Beach Chamber Foundation – which raises funds and sponsors the Easter Egg Hunt (little children), Spirit of the Holidays (needy children) and college scholarships (ambitious children) among others for our island youth.
The FMB Chamber will hold its annual golf scramble tournament at The Fort Myers Beach Golf Club this Saturday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start. Teams of four will shoot a round of golf, receive a goody bag, enjoy lunch and have opportunities to win raffles, prizes, games on the course and, of course, have the knowledge that he event supports a good cause.
“This event is sooo important for our island youth,” said Tracey Gore, the event coordinator. “The Little League gives them an outlet to participate in a team, meet people, exercise, learn social skills, build self esteem and more. The Chamber Foundation provides our island kids with college scholarships, Spirit of the Holidays, Easter Egg Hunt and more. This event will raise funds to help keep these much needed organizations running for our island kids.”
Chris Heidrick of Heidrick & Company Insurance and Risk Management Services will again sponsor a $10,000 cash prize for a hole-in-one on hole #11 as well as five other bonus prizes at other holes. Sponsor signs at designated holes are $50 each, and there will also be a ball drop cash prize of up to $500.
“The Ball Drop is a game where tickets for golf balls are sold for $5 each or 5 for $20,” said Gore. “This is the only game of the tournament where you don’t have to be present to win. The tickets are given to Mike Dagnese of MD Electric who assigns each name to a numbered golf ball. At about 8:15 a.m. Saturday, Mike drops the balls from a bucket truck and whichever lands closest to the circled hole wins the prize.”
Businesses can sponsor holes, donate a door prize or goody bag item up to the day before the tournament. Volunteers for the event can call Bonnie at the Chamber 454-7500.
“The more sponsors and donations the more support for the kids,” Gore said. “The Little League and Chamber Foundation take donations all year long. These are two fantastic and greatly needed organizations for the island children. If anyone wants to help out with Little League, call the Beach Chamber or Charlie Whitehead.”
Whitehead, who is the president of the Beach Little League organization, said funds are needed for the reconstruction of the league’s concession stand. The cost is roughly $2,500.
“Rick Loughery (vice president of Beach Little League) has graciously donated the labor (70-80 hours),” he said. “The chamber is putting on the golf tournament for us, and we can really use the money. We have to pay for new equipment. The people of Fort Myers Beach has always taken care of the little league, and I’m sure they will continue to do so.”
Proceeds from the tournament that benefit the little league and chamber foundation are players fees, hole sponsors, door prizes, games at certain holes, 50/50 raffle, ball drop, mulligans, sandy savers, and drink tips.
“All of us working the event are volunteering, so every dollar earned goes to these organizations for the kids,” said Gore. “I personally want to thank all of our supporters who golf all the tournaments for the kids and also for the 4th of July Fireworks “You are all so much appreciated. I wouldn’t want to do these events without you. Our community is so unique. I am often asked by other event planners how we do it. I simply say ‘it’s the beach!'”
For more information, contact Tracey at 849-3603, Jill Newman at the FMB Golf Club at 463-5700 or the Chamber at 454-7500.