HOLIDAY CHEER: Community “Spirit” raises hope and funds for needy
More than $15,000 was raised in one night of fundraising for the needy children during the holiday season and beyond.
The Beach Kids Foundation’s “Spirit of the Holidays” Dinner Auction at South Beach Grille on Tuesday, Dec. 2, welcomed its largest crowd so far and elevated hopes that every child in need in the Fort Myers Beach area will wake up Christmas morning with gifts under the tree and smiles on their faces.
In all, 156 dinner/auction participants opened up their wallets/pocketbooks and contributed to the annual cause. The breakdown involved 34 live auction items raising $11,390, funds from silent auction items, 30 straight $25 donations worth $750, $2,340 from the half-price donated dinner cost and $836 from the 50/50 raffle.
“Spirit of the Holidays” organizers now have a jump on purchasing gifts for the many families in need in the Beach area. These dedicated volunteer committee members are working hard to insure families are well cared for.
“This money goes to the kids of Fort Myers Beach. It also goes to the parents who want support and feel the needs for their kids,” said Shannon Smith, Beach Kid Foundation board director and emcee for the night’s events. “We can give any time of the year. It is not just Christmastime. If there is ever a family in need on Fort Myers Beach, our organization wants to know so we can help.”
The island community also showed what generous giving means at this time of year. The dinner auction was sold out two weeks prior to the event.
Smith reported the Beach Kids Foundation changed its name in early October so that it could work with other organization within the community.
“During the cold snap we had, we went out and bought cold weather items for families,” she said.
Within the fundraising was South Beach Grille’s payback contribution. While dinner auction participants paid $30 for each ticket, management at the 7205 Estero Blvd. restaurant donated back $15 of the ticket price to Beach Kids Foundation – a measure they have done since hosting the event years ago.
Auctioneer Rick Gallo, owner of CloseWatch Services in Estero, volunteered his time during the live auction. In 2013, he helped in raising $2.1 million for charitable organizations.
“Please keep in mind why we are here,” he said at the start of the auction. “There are very deserving families here on Fort Myers Beach.”
The top live auction items as far as price were a three-day, two-night stay at Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa (value: $1,100) that sold for $700 and two donated five-course dinners for 4-6 guests by the FMB Fire Control District at the firehouse. One went for $675, while the other sold for $600. Other traditional top sells included the “wagon of booze” for $575, a mermaid wood carving for $500 and a three-day, two-night stay at ‘Tween Waters Inn Island Resort on Captiva for $500.
A 50-50 raffle also was extremely fruitful to the cause. While $419 cash was supposed to be generated from that, raffle winner Nicole Bennett from Bennett Chiropractic decided to return her portion to Beach Kids Foundation to increase the full contribution to $836.
The full monetary value of such a cause doesn’t even count the countless bags of toys donated by The Beach Pub during their annual toy drive. A new partnership with the Mike DeCarlo Foundation has helped to add a new event called the Spirit of the Holidays Christmas Village and Santa’s workshop on the grounds of Fort Myers Beach First Baptist Church on Dec. 21, from 4 to 7 p.m.
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council also approved to donate $10,000 from its contribution funds to help a growing need on the island. It was reported Monday evening that there are 188 children that are in the program this year and that the cutoff date for any others is Friday.
Next up for the fundraising efforts is the “Spirit of the Holidays” Pancake Breakfast at the Red Coconut RV Park’s clubhouse (3001 Estero Blvd.) this Saturday, Dec. 13, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Beach fire fighters will be the cooks and Kiwanis K-Kids will serve you. Cost is $5 per person.
During the breakfast, a raffle for a paddle board will be drawn for the cause. Valued at $1,400, the Yolo Paddle Board donation is a collaboration between Century 21 Tripower’s Judy Haataja (who purchased it for raffle) and Holiday Water Sports’ Sharon Faircloth (who purchased it at wholesale price). Raffle tickets have been sold and will continue to be sold at $10 apiece until the drawing (do not need to be present to win). Drop by Red Coconut RV Park or call 463-7200 to purchase tickets.
“‘This will make a great gift for your child or your grandkid,” said Faircloth.
Beach Kids Foundation members will then hold a wrapping party at the Red Coconut RV Park clubhouse on Wednesday, Dec. 17. It begins at 5 p.m. and goes until all the gifts are wrapped. Anyone interested in joining in that fun is asked to call officials (463-7200) to join the party. Dinner will be served.
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.
“I just want to remind everyone exactly how small of a community we have. If we can take care of our community, then there can be nothing greater than what we get,” said Smith. “When you build a Beach kid, you build a better community.”