CHRISTMAS FIRST RESPONDER STYLE

The Island Country Club Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Marco Island Police and Fire Rescue Departments, introduced the first annual Christmas First Responder Style event. It was held at the Island Country Club December 5^th. A total of 134 school children from Tommy Barfield, Marc Island Charter Middle School and Marco Island Academy received Christmas presents and had their pictures taken on various police and fire rescue equipment.

Gary Landis, Chairman of the Charitable Foundation said “we were looking to do something in addition to Joy of Giving, something that focused more specifically on Marco Island kids. What better partners than the Police and Fire departments to whom we all owe so much”.

“This event would not have been possible without the generosity, kindness and passion of the members of Charitable Foundation who are committed to giving back to our community”, said Fire Rescue Chief Chris Byrne.  “I must recognize Gary Landis who steered the ship, Island Country Club Manager Bid Bakkar who accommodated every need of the event, and Jennifer Orr who kept our planning sessions on track, also Firefighter Chris Bowden and Sergeant Mark Haueter who coordinated with the business community and located the families and children in need”.

Police Chief Tracy Frazzano stated that this was one of the most rewarding events that she had participated in since coming to Marco Island. “We look forward to many more years of our association with the Island Country Club Charitable Foundation”.

The generosity of the Island Country Club membership is overwhelming. We just closed the Charitable Foundation’s May 2020 $20,000 matching fundraising drive for “Our Daily Bread”, the local food pantry. Island Country Club members hit it out of the park.

The ICC Charitable Foundation board raised $20,000 and our club members not only matched but exceeded that amount by raising an additional $76,000, for a grand total of $96,000 to buy food for the needy and unemployed.

Here is what $96,000 means to Our Daily Bread. When we started our fund raiser they were providing food to 300 families weekly. That’s up from a pre-COVID-19 norm of 100 families per week. The new norm is 650 families or roughly 2600 people. Their food costs have tripled. Our funds will cover the increased food costs for the next 4 to 5 months. Hopefully by that time many of these people will be back to work.

Because Community Matters…….Thank You!

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