Howl-O-Ween Wildlife Fundraiser on the Beach to benefit CROW
The Beach community has an opportunity to support the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife at a special Howl-O-Ween Wildlife fundraiser be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Matanzas on the Bay.
Matanzas General Manager Tony Coppolino said this is their first year working with CROW.
They wanted to hold a fundraiser for the Sanibel-based non-profit, especially after the organization’s efforts to help red-tide affected wildlife last year.
“We use them here when we need them for wildlife. They come right out. They take the animal and bring it back. They are a good service,” he said. “We are fortunate enough to be surrounded by wildlife. They have helped us throughout the years. We were really affected by red tide. It was a sad time last year. It affected everything. The fish died, all the birds left. That’s why we looked to help them this year. The guests love the wildlife. Birds and wildlife, it is pretty important to us. The birds, pelicans, egrets, manatees and dolphins are all back.”
CROW’s Education and Development Coordinator Rachel Rainbolt said Matanzas on the Bays want to be good partners with everything that happened last year with water quality issues and wildlife.
“They wanted to help us out,” she said. “Last year was definitely a really challenging time for us, but it allowed us to band together with the community and the staff here.”
The purpose of the event is not only to raise money for CROW, but also to share what the organization does at a family-friendly event that both adults and children alike will enjoy, Rainbolt said.
“It will be fun. It will all be on the waterfront with music, food and good times,” Coppolino said.
With the event taking place the Saturday before Halloween, all of their faces will be painted like animals, Coppolino said. The face painting also will be available to those who attend the event for donations.
Guests also will have the opportunity to paint pumpkins, for a donation, that they can take home.
“All the donations will be given to CROW,” he said.
The event will feature interactive games and animal-themed arts and crafts as well.
CROW will deliver three different overview presentations at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. for the public, Rainbolt said.
“We will have two CROW animal ambassadors that we will rotate through to get pictures of them and our team,” she said.
Coppolino said the pictures are also for donations.
Guitarist and singer Scotty Bryan, a local favorite, will perform live music all day.
“He is definitely very popular,” he said.
Some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes – ribs, bacon-wrapped shrimp, pizza, corn on the cob, potato salad and pineapple coleslaw – will be available at the $14 buffet.
Coppolino said Fort Myers Brewing Company is also supporting the event. Proceeds from the beer sales will go to CROW.
“Businesses are contributing different prizes,” he said, such as hotel stays. “There will be a number of prizes that we will be giving away.”
Rainbolt said the proceeds will benefit CROW’s work by supporting its patient care, student teaching and educational programs.
“Hopefully we will get a nice crowd all day. It’s our way of thanking Matanzas for hosting us and for the community in being so supportive of us,” she said.
Matanzas on the Bay is at 416 Crescent St., Fort Myers Beach.