The Heights Foundation’s tenth annual ‘Swing FORE the Kids’ golf tournament raised $47,000 to benefit youth programs at The Heights Center. These programs play a vital role in building strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Fort Myers.
“The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average,” said Kathryn Kelly, Founder and CEO of The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center. “Funds from this tournament support Early Learning, AfterSchool, and Summer Camp programs that give children the resources and encouragement they need to thrive.”
Tournament winners included:
First Place: Acentria Insurance — Jonathan Brooke, Todd Lawrence, Sean Rutherford, and Ryan Fowler
Second Place: AXIS Contracting Group — Scott Cray, Ross Hauser, Russ Hurst, and Jay Wade
Third Place: FineMark National Bank & Trust — Tom Lytton, Michael Goins, Patrick Halverson, and Blaine Lockhorst
Closest to the Pin: Men – Bruce Pattison, Women – Kaitlin Schafe
Longest Drive: Men – Jake Sherwin
Longest Drive: Women – Kaitlin Schafe
This year’s event was made possible by generous sponsors, including Title Sponsor Bill & Laurie Harkey as a tribute to America’s Servicemembers and Veterans. Additional sponsors were B&I Contractors, Quality Carpet + Flooring, Owen-Ames-Kimball Co., TRC Worldwide Engineering, RG Architects, Trane, Schoenfeld, Kyle & Associates, LLP, AXIS Contracting Group, ONEDIGITAL, FineMark National Bank & Trust, Everhart Advisors, Acentria Insurance, SKANSKA, and Advanced Capital Strategies.
“We are so grateful to our sponsors, golfers, and to The Plantation Golf & Country Club whose commitment makes this event possible,” said Annie Campbell, Director of Development at The Heights Foundation. “Their support ensures that kids in Harlem Heights have a safe place to learn, grow, and discover their potential.”
For more information about The Heights Foundation, visit www.heightsfoundation.org or contact Annie Campbell at (239) 482-7706 or annie@heightsfoundation.org
.About The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center
The Heights Foundation works to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood. Our mission is to support education and wellness, promote family and community development, and provide the benefits of enrichment and the arts. The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, is a place for Education, Opportunity, and Enrichment. Heights Early Learning serves more than 85 babies through 4 years old. The Heights Center serves 150 children in AfterSchool and 160 children in SummerCamp. The Harlem Heights Community Charter School serves 200 children from kindergarten through fifth grade.
Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community. Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 78% Hispanic, 16% African-American, and 6% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average. As a result, families cannot easily access family support services in downtown Fort Myers and benefit greatly from programs within the neighborhood.
