BEACH KIDS: New foundation strictly raises funds for children
There is a new organization on Fort Myers Beach -one totally devoted to the island’s children.
The Beach Kids Foundation has formed to coordinate fundraising activities and events for the young at heart, stature and age. The official filing for non-profit status was Oct. 3.
Beach Kids Foundation is actually a name change from the FMB Chamber Foundation. Members of the Foundation are currently organizing community events for “Spirit of the Holidays” to raise money to purchase gifts for the many families in need in the Beach area.
“It’s a changeover from the Foundation of the Chamber,” said Beach Kids Foundation Chairman of the Board Fran Myers. “Our focus will be more on just the Beach school, Beach kids, scholarships and that sort of thing. I say we have grown up, and we needed to be on our own. This is the course we have chosen to take.”
Beach Kids Foundation is comprised of Myers, Secretary/Treasurer John Albion and four board directors: Gini Smith, Shannon Smith, Linda Beasley and Ann Alsop. It was Shannon Smith who pitched the name for the Foundation.
“Some of the Beach kids were around when we were talking about a name,” said Myers. “That’s what they wanted. They always talk about themselves as Beach kids, even when they are 30 or 40 years old.
At this time, the main focus of Beach Kids Foundation is on “Spirit of the Holidays” events that have been a fundraising staple in recent years for needy children in the 33932 and 33931 zip code area. Spirit of the Holidays committee members include Beach Fire Chief Darren White, Assistant Fire Chief Tom May and Fire Fighter Shawn Jensen and Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy George Schwiing as well as Councilwoman Summer Stockton, Tracey Gore, Lauri Albion and Amy Mellott. The goal is $15,000.
“We are working with Beach Elementary and making sure that families who couldn’t otherwise have Christmas can have Christmas for their kids,” said Lauri Albion.
“This program is open to anyone who lives or works on the island,” said Mellott. “If they work on the island, they have to provide proof of employment, like a pay stub.”
The Spirit of the Holidays Dinner Auction will take place at South Beach Grill on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. In the past, businesses in the community have been very generous by donating auction items for both a silent auction and a live auction. Committee members are now seeking and collecting donations for the auctions. The Foundation is also seeking bidders filled with kind spirit to help buy gifts for the kids this season.
The Spirit of the Holidays Pancake Breakfast will be held at Red Coconut RV Resort on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 7 to 11 a.m. Beach fire fighters will be the cooks and Kiwanis K-Kids will serve you. Cost is $5 per person.
The annual Gift-Wrapping Party will be held at Red Coconut RV Park on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m. Community members are being sought to help in that capacity. Fort Myers Beach fire fighters cook a quick meal for all the volunteers.
Beach Kids Foundation officials are also seeking any business that would like to participate in the Giving Tree program, where trees are on displayed and ornaments represent the child in need.
“Each child is assigned an ID number,” said Mellott. “On each ornament is their ID number, their sex and their age and things they want for Christmas. It’s all anonymous. Nobody knows who the kids are.”
On Dec. 21, Santa and his Elves will board his sleigh for the evening at the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department Station 31 (by Donora Street). Santa and his Elves, including the Fort Myers Beach Firemen and the Lee County Sheriff’s West District, will begin loading the sleigh (aka the fire truck), and gifts will be delivered starting from the south end of Fort Myers Beach to Pine Ridge Road.
“We are working very hard with the Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Office to raise money to provide toys and whatever the children need. We hope that other folks will come forward and want to work with us, being that it is just for the Beach kids,” said Myers. “So far, we have had a great response from the public.”
Beach Elementary School Principal Larry Wood and Secretary Renee Mulloy have helped locate elementary age children who are in need, but middle school and high school age children that qualify have been tough to find. Lee County Sheriff’s Office is helping with that mission.
“Unless somebody had a brother or sister, we weren’t in touch with the older kids,” said Myers. “We know the need is there.”
Once the Christmas season is over, Beach Kids Foundation will work on other projects, like the annual Easter Egg Hunt and College Scholarship Program for in providing clothing or other essential needs to those in need.
“We plan to answer that need year round,” said Lauri Albion. “When it gets cold and a child needs a jacket, we’ll try to help. Those necessities are above and beyond what Christmas is.”
Lauri Albion said the transition in the Foundation evolved naturally.
“We just felt that with the name change, it would be more appropriate to draw all the Beach kids together,” she said. “The name is more indicative of what we do. We would love to have more volunteers.”
If interested in helping out, Beach Kids Foundation will have a meeting at Red Coconut RV Resort today (Wednesday, Nov. 5) at 10 a.m. and possibly each Wednesday at the same time, same place until Christmas.
Beach Kids Foundation also plans to reinstitute the Golden Coconut Award (teacher of the year) at Beach Elementary. A January date is being looked into for that designation.
“We sincerely thank the community for all the support over the years and look forward to enhancing those partnerships as we continue our mission,” said Myers.
For more information, to acquire tickets or inquire about a need, call Red Coconut RV Park at 463-7200 (ext. 207), send an email to info@redcoconut.com or drop by the 3001 Estero Blvd. location.