AMIkids benefit from Cabbage Key fallen dollars

Sep 14, 2011 3 min read

1 / 2

BOB PETCHER Officials from both AMIkids and Cabbage Key Inn gathered in front of the generous donation from the island inn. Pictured are AMIkids’ Dane Eagle, Cabbage Key Inn’s Ken Wells, Cabbage Key Inn’s Caroline Tomanek, AMIkids’ Windye McNeal, AMIkids’ John Ingraham, Cabbage Key Inn’s Kevin Tomanek, AMIkids’ Phyllis Ershowsky, Cabbage Key Inn’s Angela Dolby and AMIkids’ Marvin Metheny.

2 / 2

BOB PETCHER Cabbage Key Inn’s pictured donated amount of $5,000 in one dollar bills brings its full contributions to AMIkids Southwest Florida to more than $100,000.

AMIkids Southwest Florida received a generous monetary donation from members of the Cabbage Key Inn on Thursday, Sept. 8.

The non-profit school for troubled youth at 1190 Main St. on San Carlos Island was the recipient of $5,000 in $1 bills. The money comes from the island inn’s guests who have contributed single $1 bills to every surface in the dining room and lounge during the year and ups the total amount of contribution to more than $100,000 during a 20-plus year period.

“I just want to thank the Wells family for this donation,” said AMIkids Treasurer Marvin Metheny, who mentioned fishermen began the tradition of putting dollar bills on the walls many years ago.

Ken Wells, partner in the family owned Cabbage Key Inn, confirmed the history. He said the dollar bills have become the inn’s wallpaper over the years.

“Years ago, fishermen would come in, get a drink and celebrate after a good day,” said Wells. “They would take a dollar, put their name on it and tape it up on the wall. At a later date, if they were not having such a good day catching fish, they could come in and grab their dollar and buy a drink with that money. That’s how the idea of it started off.”

Wells stated the process involves the inn’s staff picking up fallen dollars, taking the tape and stickiness off of them and collecting them for the fundraising efforts.

“This is a culmination of our guests putting the money up and our staff taking the time to pick up the fallen dollars and organizing them before bringing it in to you guys,” he explained to the AMIkids students.

The Wells family and inn staff have contributed thousands of dollars to the collection every year. They have donated to AMIkids causes in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 at a time. Over the years, Cabbage Key Inn has given more than $100,000 to AMIkids Southwest Florida and has contributed to other charities as well.

The AMIkids Southwest Florida students, nicknamed the “Rough Riders,” thanked the Cabbage Key Inn officials with a hand-clapping chant before photos were taken.

According to the officials, the donations help support inspiring, motivating programs for the area’s non-profit school for troubled youth.

AMIkids is a nationally recognized nonprofit school started in 1969 that offers a promising future to more than 8,000 troubled youths each year through positive and motivating programs that inspire learning, leadership and personal growth.

Visit AMIKids.org for more information.