Suzanne, Thomas and TJ Clapp

Suzanne, Thomas and TJ Clapp

PINE ISLAND, Fla. (Oct. 21, 2015) – The Bobby Holloway, Jr. Memorial Foundation recently hosted a sold-out fundraising dinner and auction at the historic Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island.

Approximately $11,500 was raised during the evening to support the foundation’s $18,000 endowment with the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, including $7,500 from The Flats tournament presented by Advanced Roofing and Sheet Metal.

A popular Pine Island youth, Bobby Holloway Jr., lost his life in a hunting accident in 1997 at the age of 11.

During the past 18 years, the Bobby Holloway, Jr. Memorial Foundation has raised $255,000 and awarded 175 scholarships. Through fundraisers, including the annual Bobby Holloway, Jr. Memorial Fishing Tournament held each March, the mission of the fund is to provide enrichment for virtually every local youth activity in education, sports, the arts and more – from learning to swim to earning a college degree.

The endowment was established with a gift of $5,000 in 2012 by someone who had heard of Bobby’s precocious personality and his love of fishing, boating, hunting, sports, school, and his family and friends.

“It’s because someone heard Bobby’s story and was able to secure a $5,000 gift to start the endowment fund at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, so we can assure that his legacy lives on forever to help the children of Pine Island,” said Thomas Clapp, Bobby Holloway, Jr. Memorial Foundation board member.

“This is the perfect example of an agency endowment, because its donors and supporters continually put money into the fund from proceeds of their events throughout the year; piece by piece, they are saving for the future,” said Sarah Owen, president and CEO of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. “With this fund in place, it also makes it easier for donors to give appreciated assets or give through their will or trust as a legacy gift to the children of Pine Island, which will last in perpetuity.”

This year’s annual tournament was held on Saturday, March 28 at the Pine Island Marina.

The Bobby Holloway Memorial, Corp. is a nonprofit charity designed as tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

For more information, visit www.hollowaytourney.org, call Ernestine Holloway Squires at 239-281-8225 or email squires55@comcast.net.

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