Sandbar & Grille to hold Hope Hospice benefit
The Sandbar & Grille is celebrating six years in the business with a fund-raising anniversary golf tournament and a post-event party featuring drink and food specials this Saturday, Sept. 24. The events coincides with the second anniversary of Owner Craig Hildreth’s other establishment, Naples-based Mulligan’s Sports Grille.
Beginning with a 9 a.m. shotgun start, the sixth annual golf tourney will be held at Arrowhead Golf Club (2205 Heritage Greens Dr. in Naples). The event, which benefits Hope Hospice, has a full field of 144 golfers.
Once the clubs are back in their respective bags, the tournament participants will head to the 19th hole at either Sandbar or Mulligan’s for an after party to continue to help generate money for the worthy cause.
In fact, both establishments will be celebrating the anniversary before, during and after the event at the same time.
“A lot of sales from beverages and food from the day will go towards Hope Hospice. We’ll have food and drink specials from open to close. We’ll also have raffles, golf bag giveaways and 50/50s that go toward the benefit,” said Hildreth.
Sandbar & Grille, which opened on Sept. 30, 2005, is anticipating roughly 100 of the golfers coming to the 7205 Estero Blvd. location once they are through driving and putting. The owner would like to see locals and visitors come out to celebrate with that large contingence.
“We’ll be having a buffet for the players, but you don’t have to be a player to make a donation to Hope Hospice,” said Hildreth. “We’re still open to the public, and we’ll be watching football all day, so it’ll be a big party. It’s our sixth anniversary.”
Hildreth’s good friend, Whitey Phillips, is helping with the organization of the golf tournament. He began running benefit golf tournaments for Hope Hospice six years ago when his mother, Robbie Lee Phillips, received in-home hospice service when she was a stroke victim with broken vertebrae.
“Her health was so bad they couldn’t operate, but her mind was very, very sharp,” said Phillips. “On Thanksgiving 2006, my mother promised me to do something for this organization because they were so good.”
Phillips stated he ran a golf tournament that December and raised $3,000 for Hope Hospice. After his mother passed in March 2007, he did another tournament and collected $6,000 for the same cause and continued in subsequent years with involvement from the Moose Club, VFW and Eagles organizations. To date, he has given Hope Hospice $51,000 from the various benefits.
“I was talking with Craig about this year being my sixth year with Hope Hospice and he said it was his sixth year with the Sandbar. We decided to combine them and help each other run it and give the money to Hope Hospice,” said Whitey.
Hope Hospice is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) community-based health care program serving Lee, Hendry, Glades, Highlands, Hardee and Polk counties. Its mission is “to provide exceptional care and support to every individual and their loved ones as they fulfill life’s journey,” while its vision is “to create an environment in which life’s journey is cherished.”
Both men have high regards for Hope Hospice. Phillips will be running another golf tournament on Oct. 29 at Arrowhead in his mother’s memory.
“There is probably not a better organization out there,” he said. “It was so meaningful. They are the most caring organization for people around here.”
“It’s a great cause,” Hildreth agreed. “We are glad to be a part of it.”