Cindy Venezia, Katie Haas, Ryan Kalish and Barbara Wells with CCMI Preschoolers
FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 13, 2013) – The Boston Red Sox recently donated $10,000 to four local nonprofits as a follow-up to its 3rd Annual Week of Service, a weeklong series of volunteering and giving back to the Southwest Florida community.
In February, the Red Sox organized a four-location, two-day volunteer effort in which Red Sox uniformed personnel and front-office staff volunteered at Habitat for Humanity of Lee County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, Treeline Elementary for CCMI’s Backpack Program and the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
Red Sox volunteers were involved in a variety of activities at each location including the rehabbing of affordable housing for families in need, assisting children who may not have a strong male or female presence in their lives with homework, arts-n-crafts and outdoor recreational games, filling backpacks with non-perishable food items for local elementary students that otherwise might go without a meal during the weekend and fighting hunger by helping the food bank package food items that will be sent to feed the needy across Southwest Florida.
Each of these organizations received a donation of $2,500.
“We have supported various organizations in Southwest Florida for many years, but in 2011, we increased our involvement to highlight the good work of Lee County organizations that, every day, are serving people here who are most in need,” said Larry Lucchino, Red Sox president and CEO. “We look forward to branching out and helping even more of our community neighbors as we grow in our new spring training home at JetBlue Park at Fenway South.”
In addition to volunteering at four local nonprofits during this year’s Week of Service, the Red Sox held its 8th Annual Evening with the Red Sox benefitting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County raising more than $90,000 and its 20th Annual Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity Classic raising $700,000.
The Red Sox Foundation is a 501(c)(3) and the official team charity of the Boston Red Sox. The foundation’s primary focus locally is in serving the health, education, recreation and social service needs of children and families across Southwest Florida. The Red Sox Foundation is one of the most successful in all of Major League Baseball.
For more information or to stay updated, visit JetBlue Park’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/JetBlueParkFenwaySouth or follow them on Twitter @FenwaySouth.
Katie Haas, Angela Melvin with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ryan Kalish, Anthony Feliz and Jay Fandel
