Good News Friday: Good Deeds - April 10, 2015
Neal Communities donated $10,000 to benefit the Boca Royale Semper Fi Fund Charity Fundraiser, a local nonprofit established by Boca Royale Golf and Country Club residents dedicated to helpings it parent organization, the Semper Fi Fund, and its subsidiary, the America’s Fund. This year’s Boca Royale Semper Fi Charity Golf Tournament raised an impressive $204,000. Neal Communities has been supporting the event since 2012. The Semper Fi Fund and its program, America’s Fund, provide immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to post-9/11 wounded, critically ill and injured members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast recently received more than $26,000 in donations and awards from several organizations. Bon Secours Southwest Florida Health Initiative awarded $10,000 for the BBBS Gateway to Success Program , with the Bank of America Charitable Foundation awarding an additional $5,000 grant toward the program; Staples Foundation awarded $5,000 as part of its 2 Million & Change initiative, with the funds supporting the Reading Bigs Program; The Weichel Family Fund and Beckstein Family Fund of Manatee Community Foundation also supplied $3,000 for the Reading Bigs Program in Manatee County; and 80 background screenings to BBBS is made possible by $3,190 from the Venice Golf & Country Club Foundation.
Gettel Automotive contributed $2,500 to the Manatee County Humane Society. The no-kill shelter employs 25 people and has 35 foster families for young animals, as well as 16 dog kennels and 12 cat condos. The humane society is funded solely on donations, grants and independent funding.
The Allen Wirtz Nobbe and Jo Bowen Nobbe Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County granted $3,000 to underwrite the cost of work with outcome consultant Hal Williams for Forty Carrots Family Center. Forty Carrots Free Community Outreach program travels into the community five days a week helping to foster essential parent-child bonds, prevent child abuse and increase school readiness for children from all walks of life. In addition to services offered at the Family Center, classes take place at 27 partner agency locations throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties.
During a two-day annual “Spring Fling” golf tournament, the Palm Aire Country Club Women’s Golf Association raised $1,100 in support of an innovative local literacy program committed to helping children become better readers, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. The money was donated to the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.