This story ran on the front of the Local & State section in Metro. It was written on deadline for the next day's paper.
Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers rocked Sunday as more than 4,000 came out for the 16th annual River and Blues Festival.
They enjoyed the music, but they came for more — to support the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida.
The food bank, which works with 140 partner agencies in five counties, is seeing a 30 percent increase in clients in need of food, money and other services.
“This year more than ever ... this event is extremely important because with the economic situation in Southwest Florida, a lot of people in construction have lost their jobs,” said Fred Richards, the food bank’s development director. “We have such an increase in demand that we have to work harder.”
Working harder for the money is why the blues fest, for the first time in its history, lowered its entrance price from $10 to $5 to encourage people to attend.
“We just want people to come out and have a good time and help a good cause,” said Debbie Jordan, the president of the Lee and Charlotte County Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, who helped organize the event. “The economy has been really rough for everyone, and hopefully we will be able to double our efforts and raise more.”
Organizers brought together five area bands, expecting to raise atleast $20,000. Final figures should be available today. The money will be given to the food bank, which is able to buy food at a discount.
“We serve 60,000 square miles and that need adds up,” said Joyce Jacobs, the food bank’s associate director.
Jacobs, a 17-year veteran of the agency, said the need has never been as dire as what she has seen in the past six months.
For every dollar collected at the festival, Harry Chapin can provide $5 worth of food. The food is later delivered to its partner agencies.
Eula Shanks, 49, has been attending the festival for more than 12 years.
“We have people that need our help, and I might not know when I might need the help, too,” said Shanks of Lehigh Acres. “The economy is a bit tighter than it was before.”
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Doctor volunteers for Cancer Society 50 years
Fifty years is just a marker along the way.
At least, that's how Dr. Joseph Isley of south Fort Myers sees it.
He has volunteered with the American Cancer Society since 1958.
During the past half century, Isley has worked to help educate people about prevention and detection of cancer.
"Cancer is an ongoing thing and you can't be in medicine without having an interest in cancer," said Isley, 84, who completed his residency at Duke University and moved to Fort Myers in 1958. "We try to help people out if they have it or to keep them from getting it."
That's why Isley has dedicated his life to the society that has named him an Honorary Life member.
"Dr. Isley has been a stellar volunteer for the American Cancer Society. He is always available even at a moment's notice," said Sherri Nowlin, the area executive director of the American Cancer Society. "It's very rare that someone would give 50 years of their life to an organization."
But giving of his time to the organization for Isley means more than just showing up.
"I look back on it and I wouldn't have done it any different. And I don't think 50 years is something you say, 'Well I've done 50 years and I'm going to stop' or anything like that," Isley said.
Although he is now semi-retired, Isley has served as president of both the Lee Unit and State Division, Chairman of the Breast Cancer Task Force and Colon-Rectal Cancer Task Force and received the Connie Mack Humanitarian of the Year Award for the Lee County Unit.
"He is incredibly passionate and driven, his heart is in it and he definitely cares about the patients and finding a cure for the disease," said Nowlin, adding that Isley has been nominated for a distinguished service award. He will also be recognized at this year's ACS dinner in September.
Awards, though, aren't that important to Isley. He does it for his patients.
"I never liked to tell patients that I saw something suspicious or bad, but it was important that I told them they needed to see their physician as soon as they could," said Isley, who works part-time in the Radiology Department of the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Fort Myers. "My favorite involvement is just being able to communicate with people about ACS."
Delivering the ACS message is what Isley said will keep him going for another 50 years if he could.
"Everyone would like to see a cure for cancer, but even better than that would be the prevention of cancer," he said. "Fifty years is just one of the markers along the way."
At least, that's how Dr. Joseph Isley of south Fort Myers sees it.
He has volunteered with the American Cancer Society since 1958.
During the past half century, Isley has worked to help educate people about prevention and detection of cancer.
"Cancer is an ongoing thing and you can't be in medicine without having an interest in cancer," said Isley, 84, who completed his residency at Duke University and moved to Fort Myers in 1958. "We try to help people out if they have it or to keep them from getting it."
That's why Isley has dedicated his life to the society that has named him an Honorary Life member.
"Dr. Isley has been a stellar volunteer for the American Cancer Society. He is always available even at a moment's notice," said Sherri Nowlin, the area executive director of the American Cancer Society. "It's very rare that someone would give 50 years of their life to an organization."
But giving of his time to the organization for Isley means more than just showing up.
"I look back on it and I wouldn't have done it any different. And I don't think 50 years is something you say, 'Well I've done 50 years and I'm going to stop' or anything like that," Isley said.
Although he is now semi-retired, Isley has served as president of both the Lee Unit and State Division, Chairman of the Breast Cancer Task Force and Colon-Rectal Cancer Task Force and received the Connie Mack Humanitarian of the Year Award for the Lee County Unit.
"He is incredibly passionate and driven, his heart is in it and he definitely cares about the patients and finding a cure for the disease," said Nowlin, adding that Isley has been nominated for a distinguished service award. He will also be recognized at this year's ACS dinner in September.
Awards, though, aren't that important to Isley. He does it for his patients.
"I never liked to tell patients that I saw something suspicious or bad, but it was important that I told them they needed to see their physician as soon as they could," said Isley, who works part-time in the Radiology Department of the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Fort Myers. "My favorite involvement is just being able to communicate with people about ACS."
Delivering the ACS message is what Isley said will keep him going for another 50 years if he could.
"Everyone would like to see a cure for cancer, but even better than that would be the prevention of cancer," he said. "Fifty years is just one of the markers along the way."
Casino night to help raise funds
Get ready to roll the dice with the Canterbury School at this year's Casino Night and Auction.
The south Fort Myers school is hosting the fundraising extravaganza on April 26 in hopes of collecting money to add to its need-based financial aid fund.
"We wanted to do something that was going to be fun and not dealing with gobs of gambling pieces ... ," said Chris Fusco, the school's director of development noting that some of the money will also be used to send teachers to conferences for training. "We usually have done it on site at Canterbury but we wanted something different."
And different is exactly what event attendees will get when they arrive at the Hyatt Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Estero and make their way through the blackjack, craps, poker and roulette tables.
"It doesn't hurt that these games are so popular right now and we can give them more than just coming to a dinner dance," Fusco said.
The event has taken a year to plan and will include a live auction, a silent auction and prizes like Waterford Crystals, gift certificates to area restaurants and a $3,000 credit for a child to attend Canterbury.
"It's the perfect night to come and gamble and even stay at the hotel if they want," said Lou Ann Ozboyaci, the school's events coordinator, noting that the hotel agreed to special room rates for participants. "We've never done a Casino event but I think it will be very successful."
The success for the gamers at the event won't come in green dollar bills though, Ozboyaci said.
Players will be able to hit the tables and collect their winnings in tickets that can later be applied to prizes throughout the evening.
"There is no cash involved with the event but people will have a good time ... ," Fusco said. "We gave the event a new look and people will really enjoy it."
The south Fort Myers school is hosting the fundraising extravaganza on April 26 in hopes of collecting money to add to its need-based financial aid fund.
"We wanted to do something that was going to be fun and not dealing with gobs of gambling pieces ... ," said Chris Fusco, the school's director of development noting that some of the money will also be used to send teachers to conferences for training. "We usually have done it on site at Canterbury but we wanted something different."
And different is exactly what event attendees will get when they arrive at the Hyatt Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Estero and make their way through the blackjack, craps, poker and roulette tables.
"It doesn't hurt that these games are so popular right now and we can give them more than just coming to a dinner dance," Fusco said.
The event has taken a year to plan and will include a live auction, a silent auction and prizes like Waterford Crystals, gift certificates to area restaurants and a $3,000 credit for a child to attend Canterbury.
"It's the perfect night to come and gamble and even stay at the hotel if they want," said Lou Ann Ozboyaci, the school's events coordinator, noting that the hotel agreed to special room rates for participants. "We've never done a Casino event but I think it will be very successful."
The success for the gamers at the event won't come in green dollar bills though, Ozboyaci said.
Players will be able to hit the tables and collect their winnings in tickets that can later be applied to prizes throughout the evening.
"There is no cash involved with the event but people will have a good time ... ," Fusco said. "We gave the event a new look and people will really enjoy it."
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