FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 4, 2015) – More than 400 people came out to JetBlue Park on March 2 to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County at the 10th Annual Evening with the Red Sox dinner and auction.

The evening included a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, dinner, a silent and live auction, and autograph signings from Red Sox Manager John Farrell, former Red Sox player Derek Lowe and current players Brock Holt, Joe Kelly and Tommy Layne. The list of silent and live auction items included exciting trips to major cities, sports memorabilia packages, theme park passes, golf outings and more.

Funds raised during the event will provide more than 30,000 hours of service to more than 420 young people in our community who are a part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County. Last year, more than 1,300 youth demonstrated academic success, character and leadership and healthy lifestyles from the agency’s programs.

Joe Castiglione, radio announcer for the Red Sox, author and lecturer, served as the event’s emcee, while the Red Sox Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor Dr. Charles Steinberg served as the guest speaker, sharing his experience working with the team and how small actions can make big impacts in our community.

Presenting sponsors for the event were Allstate Insurance and Ted Todd Insurance. Additional sponsors included Bell Tower Shops, Coca-Cola Company, Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Bell Tower Shops, CVS Pharmacy, Devitt & Smith, Diversified Yacht Services, Dr. Garramone, Encore Bank, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Power & Light Company, Hoover & Associates, Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, Jaguar, JetBlue Airways, Morgan Stanley, Owen-Ames-Kimball, Perfect Game in Ft. Myers, Pools Pros, Inc. and Aqua Illusions, Priority Payment Systems, Quattrone & Associates, Red Sox Foundation, Ron’s Painting, St. John’s Insurance, Suncoast Beverage, TECO Energy, UBS Financial Services, Inc., and Universal Insurance.

Celebrating 40 years of providing quality youth programs and brighter futures for young people in the Lee County community, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County works to inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The BGCLC strives to provide a safe, world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who walks through its doors. The organization envisions all of its members graduating high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character, citizenship while adapting a healthy lifestyle.

The area’s five Clubs are located in communities with the greatest need where similar services are limited or nonexistent. Membership dues are $10 per school year so that all children can have access to its programs. The BGCLC relies upon the philanthropic support of individuals, corporations and foundations in order to sustain and grow its services.

For more information, visit www.bgclc.net.

Katie Haas & Joe Mitchell

Jim Larkin & Justin Stockman

Amber & Aaron White, Lenny & Angela Katz, & Jace Eddy

Derek & Carolyn Lowe, Lauren & Jim Colantoni

Dharmesh Patel & C.J. Hurrell

Dave & Sue Hughes, Michele Hoover & Al Hernandez

Todd Schusterman, Jeannie Cummings & Jason Sherman

Rodney Ford & Robert Parks

Richard Fain, Victor Mraz & Jimmy Hunter