Jimmy McGregor prepares drinks as a bartender at Shoeless Joe's Sports Cafe during the recently renovated Grand Opening event and fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Lee County. The restaurant also held a silent auction of memorabilia and fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Lee County during its grand opening. The cafe was able to generate $13,307 from $5 entry fees and the silent auction.
Shoeless Joe’s Sports Cafe is donating $13,307 to the Boys & Girls Club of Lee County following their recent Grand Opening celebration in south Fort Myers.
The Crowne Plaza hotel’s cafe at Bell Tower Shops held the fundraiser to show off a $75,000 remodel of the sports bar and do what they could to give back to the community.
“I was very impressed by how much (Boys & Girls Club) get down with the resources they have,” said Jim Larkin, the general manager of the hotel and the organizer of the fundraiser.
Larkin recently became a new member on the board for the Boys & Girls Clubs and felt it was his duty to help.
“We knew we were going to be doing this opening and try to raise money ... we have been blown away by how much reaction we have had,” said Larkin during the event in which more than 400 people donated $5 to enter.
A silent auction was also held and included sports memorabilia donated by 30 local collectors and about a dozen pieces that once decorated Shoeless Joe’s walls.
“Our goal is $8,000 and we feel that we will exceed that,” said Larkin before finding out that the goal was exceeded and almost doubled. “Our opening was a tremendous success.”
The success of the event not only exposed the clubs mission to the public but the money will be used to serve even more children.
“The key is that we serve a lot kids who can’t afford to get services ... this is an opportunity to get our board members to help the club,” said Bill Donahoe, the president of the Boys & Girls Club, adding that the money will also help run the club’s facilities.
Board member Lenny Katz attended the cafe was was suprised by the outpouring of support.
“There is such a need in this community for our services and with all that we do, we need additional money to do more,” Katz said. “We need the right mentors and then have to give them money so the kids get what they need.”
The cafe’s renovation took five months and includes the addition of a new meeting room that holds about 30 people and a dining area that can be used for meetings that seats 80.
“It’s a nice way to do it,” said June Remy, of north Fort Myers. She attended the event and donated money to the cause. “I feel good about giving back.”
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