provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Spots are filling quickly for the Sanibel School Fund’s Blue Ribbon Classic Golf Tournament, to take place at The Sanctuary Golf Club on Saturday, May 14, followed by an after-golf evening celebration at Sanibel Community House. The school’s teachers, families, and students invite all residents of the islands to contribute to this critical fundraiser for The Sanibel School.
The Blue Ribbon Classic has been a Sanibel School tradition since 2007. COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 event, a tremendous fundraising setback for the school. However, the event successfully returned in 2021, raising more than $125,000 for the school.
All funds raised through the Blue Ribbon Classic supplement The Sanibel School’s budget to enhance curriculum. 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.
“This event is more than just a golf tournament. It’s a chance to showcase our school to everyone on the island,” said Jeff Muddell, president of the Sanibel School Fund. “If you want this community to know that we need their support to continue to make the school the best it can be.”
Volunteers with the Sanibel School Fund are enthusiastically working on the golf event and celebration – the event’s 16th year.
Two high-profile raffles are also available for those who want to contribute to The Sanibel School. A special custom painting by famed artist Myra Roberts and a Moke from YOLO Watersports will be raffled off during the event. You can learn more about how to obtain tickets by visiting the Sanibel School Fund website or emailing thesanibelschoolfund@gmail.com.
Opportunities to join the Blue Ribbon Classic as an event philanthropic partner begin at $1,000 and include a foursome of golf. Partnerships are also available at the $2,500 and $5,000 levels. Individual playing spots will be $300.
If you are not a golfer, your gift to The Sanibel School is appreciated. If you are interested in joining the event or making a gift, contact TheSanibelSchoolFund@gmail.com or Jeff Muddell at 321-217-3946.
Several families and community businesses have already stepped up to provide support for this year’s fundraising efforts. Michael and Gretchen Betten, a generous school family, are Title sponsors.
Additional Premier Sponsors to date are The Doss Family, David and Mika Filkins, Brenda and Marty Harrity and their team at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, YOLO Watersports, and Champaign Chrysler Dodge Jeep. Joining as Grand Sponsors are Sanibel Captiva Trust Company and a generous school family who chooses to remain anonymous.
Because of the size of the Sanibel School — less than 300 students — the budget provided by the school district, calculated per pupil, does not provide robust funding to support special programs. Therefore, the Sanibel and Captiva communities have supported the Sanibel School Fund through financial gifts, including the current STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program.
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