provided to The Santiva Chronicle
An outpouring of community support for The Sanibel School’s annual Blue Ribbon Golf Tournament led to a record fundraising year for the island’s K-8 school.
The Sanibel School Fund broke its $125,000 goal for the school year, bolstered by record participation – and a beautiful day – at The Sanctuary Golf Club on May 15.
After a postponement in 2020, the Blue Ribbon Golf Classic returned with nearly 100 golfers taking to the links. The big winners of the day – Flight A champions Gary Biltgen, Eric Biltgen, John McCabe and Dan Kennedy. A group sponsored by Sanibel School Fund board member Michael Murray won Flight B, thanks to golfers Matt Fannon, Jim Loundes, Taylor Trinkle and John Guinee.
The golf event kicked off the night before with an intimate thank you event for sponsors, hosted by the Harrity family at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille. After golf on Saturday, the party moved to MudBugs Cajun Kitchen, where golfers reviewed results and enjoyed a beautiful night in the outdoor garden of the restaurant.
At MudBugs, the Fund wrapped up a successful silent auction, and drew the winner of the python hunt raffle, sponsored by Keller Williams Realty Ft. Myers & The Islands. Kim Kouril was the lucky name drawn, and she will now have the opportunity to take a trip for four into the Everglades to go on a hunt for the big snakes with Bill Booth, known for his appearances on the History Channel series “Swamp People: Serpent Invasion.”
All dollars raised supplement The Sanibel School’s budget to enhance the curriculum, and will directly support the unique STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program at the school, as well as other special services, programs, and supplies.
While the school is public, the private funds from the community are important to maintaining the school’s Blue Ribbon status, improving its ranking as one of the best elementary and middle schools in the state, and — most importantly — providing the best education it can for our Islands’ students.
The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation and two families with children enrolled in the Sanibel School – the Doss Family Fund and the Filkins Family – all committed to title-level sponsorship this year.
Premier sponsors this year are Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, the Sampas Family, and Doc Ford’s. They are joined by grand sponsors Brenda and Marty Harrity, Sanibel Captiva Trust Company, Bank of the Islands, and The Stevens Family and June Bailey.
If you are interested in learning more about the Sanibel School Fun or making a gift, contact TheSanibelSchoolFund@gmail.com or Jeff Muddell at 321-217-3946.
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