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Heights Early Learning Golf Tourney Brochure 2026-compressed

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Susan Scott

Make the season brighter! Purchase a Scookie Dough charity dozen and help The Heights Center provide Christmas gifts to families in need. $10 from every dozen goes directly to the Christmas Outreach Program.

The Heights Foundation announced that Saltwater Cowboy raised $165,000 to support The Heights Center’s Early Learning and AfterSchool programs, which provide a safe, nurturing place for kids to learn and grow while their parents work. The event was held on Friday, October 24 at MarineMax Fort Myers.

“We believe a quality education empowers at-risk kids to meet, challenge, and raise the bar on the world’s narrative of them,” said Kathryn Kelly, Founder, President, & CEO of The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center. “Our enriching preschool, AfterSchool, and Summer Camp programs ensure parents can work while their kids learn, are safe, and have fun. In addition, our adult and family programs provide opportunities for self-sufficiency. This event supports our children and families — and everyone had a great time!”

Guests enjoyed an extensive raw bar by Matt Asen of Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market, signature cocktails, and a steak dinner accompanied by fresh Gulf shrimp, prepared by Chef Jay Johnson of Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon. Live music by the Back Country Boys kept the dance floor full, and attendees explored a selection of luxury boats on display courtesy of MarineMax. Guests were greeted by children from The Heights Center’s programs.

A lively silent auction and live auction led by Bill Riddick of Saffer + Company Benefit Auctions boosted the fundraising total, featuring: an Everglades python hunt with Huntress Amy Siewe, an in-home dinner for eight by Chef Teh Peng, a trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights, a sunset yacht cruise courtesy of MarineMax, and an ultimate at-home raw bar party for sixteen from Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market. A wine tasting and tapas for six at Jordan’s Wine Bar & Cellar was raffled off at the end of the auction for $100 per person, and raised more than $3,000.

Sponsors included: Hightower Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management, B&I Contractors, Owen-Ames-Kimball Co., RG Architects, Cheryl & Dave Copham, The Kelly Family, Laurie and Bill Harkey, FPL, RS Walsh Landscaping, Matern Engineering, Commercial Concrete Systems, Lee Drywall, Gulf Shore Cooling, Collaboratory, and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank.

Well-known media personality, Gina Birch, emceed the event.

The fundraiser was chaired by Jamie Fautz and Tiffany Kelly. Additional community partners and volunteers contributed to the event’s success.

“A special thank you to our generous sponsors, donors, supporters and volunteers for making the event such a wonderful success,” said Annie Campbell, Development Director of The Heights Foundation. “It was an incredible evening that truly impacts kids and families in Harlem Heights.”

For more information about The Heights Foundation, or to get involved, visit www.heightsfoundation.org or call (239) 482-7706.

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.